Detective work requires meticulous attention to detail, regardless of the setting. However, when a crime occurs amid one million acres of wilderness, investigations can take on a life of their own. Written by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, Netflix‘s new mystery-thriller, “Untamed,” is an engrossing ride that encompasses secrets, deep-seated wounds and one tenacious investigator’s attempt to lay it all bare. Set in the picturesque Yosemite National Park, the limited series follows Kyle Turner (an exceptional Eric Bana), a special agent for the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB). After a body is discovered in the park, Turner embarks on a ruthless quest to determine what happened. Gutting and unnerving, “Untamed” is an assessment of the human condition, showcasing just how animalistic we can be when backed into corners.
“Untamed” opens in the vast wilderness and lush greens of Yosemite. Two young men are seen climbing the massive granite monolith called El Capitan. Though the top of the surface is within reach, things become perilous when a woman comes tumbling over the side of the mass, nearly taking down the men with her. Sometime later, park rangers, including Chief Park Ranger Paul Souter (Sam Neill) and LAPD transfer Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), are questioning the men about what exactly they saw as the woman’s body descended upon them. Unfortunately, their questioning is thwarted by the arrival of Kyle Turner. Stoic and borderline rude, he shows a clear disdain for the rangers before completely taking over the investigation.
Since none of the other rangers are willing to work with Turner, rookie Vasquez finds herself partnering alongside the special agent who would much rather be leading a one-man investigation. Still, even Vasquez can admit that, despite Turner’s off-putting tone and demeanor, he unearths fragments of evidence that others overlooked. By the time Jane Doe #1711 is sent to the morgue, Turner is sure she was dead before falling off the side of El Capitan. Additionally, he hypothesizes she had been hunted down for some time by her killer.
Navigating a crime scene the size of Rhode Island is one thing, but simultaneously, Turner is also trying to reconcile his personal traumas. Although he mostly stays to himself, he and Chief Souter have a friendly rapport. He also has a close bond with his ex-wife, Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt), a former schoolteacher, who has remarried since their divorce. As he and Vasquez try to uncover Jane Doe’s identity and her connection to Yosemite, slivers of Turner’s past begin to emerge, forcing the audience and his colleagues to question whether he’s up for such a massive undertaking.
Amid a plethora of investigative dramas littered across television, creating a truly unique show is a challenge. However, the Smiths are obviously up to the task. Using the beauty and splendor of the park as its backdrop, the six-episode series infuses numerous elements into the narrative, ranging from previous investigations to Indigenous practices and complex human relationships, making “Untamed” a wholly distinctive show.
The characters themselves make for an exceptionally engaging series. Embodying someone who could have simply been a curmudgeon, Bana portrays a man tortured by his past and the incident that shattered his marriage, pushing him to find justice for Jane Doe. Likewise, Vasquez, a single mother to her 4-year-old son, appears eager to learn while adjusting to this new and textured landscape. Yet, she is also keeping her private affairs closely guarded. Still, the truth has a way of revealing itself, especially in the wild.
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Deeply layered and gripping, “Untamed” is a brilliant detective tale anchored by some of our worst human impulses. It is a story of pain, shame and the hope of redemption, even when there appears to be no way out. A series about justice, control and who gets to be remembered, it’s also a reminder that in the end, our true nature will always be revealed.
“Untamed” is now streaming on Netflix.
From Variety US