Critics’ reviews

UNTAMED (2025)

10 reviews from 10 publications. Critics’ score 56: 2 positive, 4 mixed, 3 negative.

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56
Positive
2
Mixed
4
Negative
3

The consensus on UNTAMED is mixed: the reviews generally find capable performances in a detective story that relies heavily on familiar devices. Praise clusters around Eric Bana, with Lily Santiago’s partnership with him and Rosemarie DeWitt’s supporting work also drawing approval. Several critics find Yosemite’s landscapes a welcome distinction, while the more favourable accounts describe an accessible, gripping mystery whose pace helps compensate for predictable plotting.

The spread is wide, and the setting itself becomes a point of disagreement. Variety finds a distinctive, engrossing story in the combination of mystery, relationships and place; IndieWire and Vulture argue that Yosemite is barely used beyond the premise. Reservations elsewhere centre on detective-drama clichés, thin character development, crowded subplots and contrived twists. What some critics accept as an effective procedural, others find too generic to sustain either suspense or interest.

The Times
17 July 2025 · Carol Midgley
80*

The series delivers shocking and original moments with a gripping story that keeps viewers hooked despite some clichés. It singles out the visually dramatic opening and strong performances by Bana and Santiago for praise.

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The Hollywood Reporter
17 July 2025 · Daniel Fienberg
65*

The critic describes the series as uneven but promising, a rushed Yosemite-set mystery that aims for Western-infused Americana like a slightly undercooked True Detective. They praise the central mismatched partnership of Eric Bana and Lily Santiago while noting its fast pace and genre appeal.

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Radio Times
· Jack Seale
60*

The critic notes that the series relies on every detective-drama cliché but is redeemed by its unusual Yosemite setting. It highlights the maverick agent investigating a murder with a rookie partner.

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The Guardian
17 July 2025
60*

The series is a serviceable but undemanding and predictable thriller that feels retro and lacks depth. It singles out the beautiful Yosemite landscapes and strong supporting cast for praise while noting the macho, straightforward storytelling.

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The AV Club
17 July 2025 · C · Saloni Gajjar
57

The miniseries is described as a generic crime drama that stretches itself thin with too many subplots and contrived twists, despite solid performances from Eric Bana and Rosemarie DeWitt. The critic singles out the phenomenal visuals of the wilderness for praise while faulting the lack of intensity and meaningful character development.

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IndieWire
17 July 2025 · Ben Travers
40*

The critic calls the series tedious and finds that it squanders its Yosemite setting by falling back on familiar crime drama tropes instead of using the unique location effectively. The review singles out the generic plotting and lack of fresh perspective on the wilderness as major flaws.

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Vulture
17 July 2025
35*

The review states that the series peaks with its shocking opening scene and then becomes a meandering collection of cop-show clichés that could have been set anywhere. The critic singles out the failure to make the story or visuals specific to Yosemite National Park as its greatest shortcoming.

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Variety
17 July 2025 · Critic's Pick · Aramide Tinubu

The critic finds the series an engrossing and gripping detective tale that layers secrets, wounds, and human impulses into a distinctive narrative set against Yosemite's beauty. They single out Eric Bana's exceptional performance and the show's blend of mystery, relationships, and Indigenous elements for praise.

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NME
17 July 2025 · Matt Maytum
75*

The critic finds the Netflix miniseries a formulaic but effective procedural that benefits from its striking Yosemite National Park setting and Eric Bana's gritty lead performance as the haunted investigator. It is well-paced across six episodes and makes for an easy, enjoyable binge despite predictable story beats.

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Collider
17 July 2025 · Samuel R. Murrian
30*

The series is an underwhelming and formulaic whodunit that fails to deliver suspense or originality despite its premise. It singles out the predictable killer reveal and lack of visual or narrative exploration of the Yosemite setting for criticism, while noting the cast's solid efforts with thin material.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate