Untamed

This review is only based on the first two episodes. Bana as always gives a good watchable performance and Neil is always solid. Also good is Santiago from the La Brea series. Beautiful landscapes though I've read it's not filmed in Yosemite where we've been to so that's a shame. It is a slow burn but so far not the least bit boring. Good mystery so far and there was a twist not related to the crime which was shocking but makes sense in the proceedings. So far the only detraction is the pining of the ex wife who obviously still cares for him but settled for some boring dude. Perhaps this will become relevant in succeeding episodes but for now the scenes just drag. Despite that at a short 6 episodes this is an easy watch. Don't let the haters of virtually just about everything except of course when it's pretentious junk ( which is the only thing they like) deter you from a good show. Try to give it a chance and you might find some great entertainment here. Highly recommended so far.

In 2016 I fulfilled one of my life's dreams and I stayed 2 nights in Yosemite park, at the Ahwahnee Lodge. From this point of view the series is a true reward. The plot is a different thing. At the end you can't help but ask yourself what was the core story to begin with: the Caleb story, the Lucy story, the drug subplot... The problem with convoluted plots is that they get too twisty for their own good, and as a screenwriter and novelist myself I know what I'm talking about. The main character, a federal agent in charge of crime investigations in national parks, never connects with the viewer, or with other characters for that matter; not once he allows himself to even grin, never. His detachment from everything, except from his obsession to solve Lucy's death, puts us off from his emotional core as a human being. We care more about Vasquez, a normal person, or even Jill, his ex wife. Main characters don't need to be too complex or traumatized to be interesting, especially if they have to solve complex crimes. What about just doing their job in a professional and efficient way without spending too much time brooding? Direction is functional, acting won't earn them any awards, writing wants to be clever sometimes, and there are even some magic realism touches. All in all is a quite pleasant series to watch, but 4 episodes might have done it just as well. 7/10.

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!)

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.

First, I spent most of my life just two hours from Yosemite, going there at least once a year as long as I can remember. That is not Yosemite. Sure, the production sent a cameraman there to film some establishing shots. But as a Boy Scout who has hiked all over that park for years and could walk the park blindfolded, it's incredibly obvious that it's really filmed in Vancouver, BC. There's so much wrong with the park's portrayal I won't go into. But if you're going to set a series in an iconic world-renowned location you need to get some of the details right. And really, at that point why not just set the series in either generic unnamed Yosemite-like area or just make up a fictional park. Probably the only detail I appreciated was that the murdered girl was from my hometown of Merced.

Other than that, it's just a forgettable cliched murder mystery. There's nothing setting it apart from the hundreds of other murder mysteries coming out. Mysterious body, personal tragedies that somehow tie into it, new mysteries uncovered, main characters secretly involved. All the usual stuff that has become overused by now. I correctly guessed who was in on it by the end of the first episode, it's so predictable.

The dialogue is dull and stilted. I saw one review accusing the show of being written by AI. I don't know about that, but it certainly feels that way. There's good actors but they seem to have trouble bringing this stuff to life.

As I said, there's good actors in the show. But, as Stephen King said, you can't polish a turd. Eric Bana and Sam Neill have done amazing work, but even they can't get this off the ground. Kyle is stoic to the point of lifeless. It never once seemed like Kyle and Jill were once exes who loved each other. Vasquez is every Hallmark movie cliche about a woman who leaves her husband rolled into one. Everything with her ex-husband with cliched to the point of cringe-inducing. The relationship between Kyle and Vasquez is the same exact thing every other movie/show has done between the tired veteran and overeager rookie.

I will give the series some credit. The mystery stuff is okay if you don't mind the overused story and wooden characters. The British Columbian scenery is shot beautifully. I won't remember the series a week from now but it's a somewhat decent way to spend a few hours.