--- title: "UNTAMED: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/untamed/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/untamed" critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # UNTAMED (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 56 from 9 reviews: 2 positive, 4 mixed, 3 negative. 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 — Carol Midgley Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/untamed-review-eric-bana-jjvtqwvqg) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/untamed-review-eric-bana-lily-santiago-netflix-yosemite-1236317823/) ## Radio Times — Jack Seale Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-n8yzvi/untamed/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/17/untamed-review-eric-bana-national-park-thriller-netflix) ## The AV Club — Saloni Gajjar Rating C. 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/untamed-review-netflix-tv) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/untamed-review-eric-bana-new-netflix-show-1235138694/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/untamed-review-netflix-eric-bana-yosemite-series.html) ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Rating Critic's Pick. 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/untamed-review-netflix-1236462751/) ## NME — Matt Maytum Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/untamed-review-netflix-eric-bana-sam-neill-3878516) ## Collider — Samuel R. Murrian Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://collider.com/untamed-review-netflix-eric-bana-sam-neill/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/untamed.md