Une nature sauvage

Rating: (5.5/10)

Summary: Untamed promises a tense, atmospheric crime thriller set against the stunning backdrop of Yosemite National Park - but ultimately stumbles under the weight of weak writing, cartoonish characters, and squandered potential. Despite a few solid performances, especially from Eric Bana and Sam Neill, the series never earns the emotional or narrative stakes it aims for.

Full Review: I came into Untamed expecting something right in my wheelhouse: crime, mystery, drama, all set in the gorgeous expanse of Yosemite National Park. With Eric Bana back in a lead role, alongside Sam Neill and Rosemary DeWitt, I was hoping for something rich and layered. Unfortunately, the series just doesn't deliver. The first episode starts strong - two climbers stumble upon a body, setting off a chain of investigation - but from there, things unravel.

The characters often feel paper-thin or cartoonish. Bana's Carl Turner has almost no inner life, and his dynamic with Lily Santiago's sidekick character, Naya, is reduced to the same joke repeated endlessly. Rosemary DeWitt's ex-wife role feels shoehorned in, adding little beyond forced drama. Characters swing wildly in behavior from one scene to the next, and it's hard to get attached when motivations shift purely to create artificial tension.

As the investigation unfolds, major plot turns rely heavily on coincidence or characters just happening to talk to the right person by chance. A ridiculous example is a scene where someone falls down a mineshaft - instead of climbing back up (which visually, they clearly could), they panic and pretend to be stuck, generating fake suspense. And time after time, someone miraculously shows up to save the day. There's also the strange editing, which constantly bounces between face shots, wide shots, and quick cuts, undercutting emotional moments and making deep conversations feel weightless.

One of the most frustrating parts of Untamed is how the final episode handles the resolution - or rather, fumbles it. By episode five, the main mystery is essentially wrapped up, but instead of ending with a satisfying close, episode six feels like an unnecessary epilogue tacked on to stretch the runtime. Characters behave out of sync with how they've been written all series; there's a final twist that comes out of nowhere, feeling unearned because there were no earlier hints or layered performances to justify it. Even worse, a major character death happens with almost no consequence - no investigation, no fallout, just... silence. For a show supposedly rooted in grief, loss, and healing, this lands awkwardly flat. The final moments, meant to symbolize Carl moving on from his son Caleb's death, feel rushed and emotionally thin, because the series only ever sporadically engaged with that core trauma. Instead of a hard-hitting conclusion, we're left with a deflated, shrugging end to a story that had the potential to deliver much more.

The Yosemite setting, meanwhile, is a total missed opportunity. Instead of making the landscape feel like a character, as True Detective or The Revenant did so well, most of the show feels shot on obvious sets. Scenes meant to feel rugged or wild - like a camp of off-the-grid survivalists - come off staged and fake. Social commentary, like the treatment of Native American characters or addiction themes, is handled with the same clumsiness, bringing nothing fresh or thoughtful to the table.

In the end, Untamed isn't an outright disaster, but it's deeply frustrating. There's a version of this show that could have been thoughtful, moody, and emotionally sharp - but this isn't it. If you're just looking for background noise, it's passable. But if you were hoping for something with the atmosphere of Yellowstone or the layered grit of True Detective, you'll likely come away disappointed.

Untamed is a good watch-the stunning backdrop alone, will make it worth your while. Bana delivers an intense performance, embodying both vulnerability and strength, while Santiago adds emotional depth with her portrayal, creating a strong chemistry that will draw you into the story. It was also good to see Raoul Max Trujillo (Apocalypto). The cinematography is great, and captures the majestic landscapes, enhancing its menacing atmosphere. However, the pacing is a little off, it feels somewhat rushed, with key plot developments and character arcs lacking exploration, which will tend to leave you wanting more depth. Despite these issues, it's engaging with a blend of suspense and emotional resonance, making it captivating. Give it a shot.

I binge-watched Untamed and recommended it to friends. Yes, it was cheesy and unrealistic at times-but still an engaging watch with lots of moving parts.

I love a good whodunnit and enjoyed trying to piece things together along the way. Some twists genuinely threw me off, which kept it interesting. The acting was good, and I appreciated that the show didn't leave me hanging-unlike other series that end with vague interpretations. This one tied up the loose ends and gave me closure, which I loved.

Overall, it's worth watching!

I was hooked right away and binge watched the 6 episodes without a single break, literally! I didn't realize I'd barely moved until I was done! My knees made me acutely aware though upon standing up!

Seriously though, gripping slow burn plus the landscape and cinematography is amazing of course. The mixed reviews on here so far just tells me that you will either love it or maybe not.

After watching I thought that the feeling or pull was very similar to the first season of Pickett on Prime. If you've seen that show's first season and liked it then Untamed is for you. To all readers though, I suggest watching the first episode and I guarantee you'll know whether or not it's for you by the end.

I would like to add that yes of course there are some things, just like in every show or movie, that the viewer thinks could have been better. But this was one of the best shows I've seen in a while.

(...That being expected of course with Netflix's production budget that has taken TV Shows to another atmosphere! So thanks for putting our subs to good use Netflix!)

I just binge-watched all the episodes and loved the beautiful and breathtaking nature as well as the cinematography. The plot was interesting and kept me engaged until the end. The actors' performances were solid, though not particularly memorable. Unfortunately, the twist at the end was somewhat unsatisfying and felt implausible.

While Turner has previously been known for tying up loose ends, this miniseries didn't quite manage that. The pacing felt rushed, and the editing prevented the story from building any real suspense. Certain scenes were predictable, and some of the minor subplots had potential but were not developed to their fullest.

I appreciated the personal stories of Turner and Vasquez, but I was left with many unanswered questions about the murder and the events that led up to it.

All in all, a solid production and time well spent-but not something I'll remember or feel the need to watch again.