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Eric Bana's Untamed leads best new TV shows to stream this week
Eric Bana's Untamed leads best new TV shows to stream this week

Courier-Mail

time13 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Courier-Mail

Eric Bana's Untamed leads best new TV shows to stream this week

Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. We've sifted through the latest offerings from TV and streaming platforms to find the best shows you should be watching this week. Eric Bana as Kyle Turner and Lily Santiago as Naya Vasquez in Untamed. Picture: Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix © 2025 UNTAMED NETFLIX Aussie Eric Bana's steely performance as a damaged, driven special agent is the main reason to seek out this six-part murder mystery set in California's spectacular Yosemite National Park. The ever-reliable Aussie plays Kyle Turner, who has been driven to drink by the memory of his dead son and is jolted into action when a young woman plunges to her death from the park's famous El Capitan rock face. But did she jump or did more sinister motives dating back decades drive her to do it? Turner's quest for answers, assisted by former LA cop turned rookie ranger Naya Vazquez (Lily Santiago) and his long-time friend and colleague Paul (Sam Neill) will take him deep into the wilds as he uncovers a dangerous secret within the tourist hot spot, as well as forcing him to confront his own troubled past and relationship with ex-wife Jill (an excellent Rosemarie DeWitt). While the sometimes grisly action unfolds a pace that might be too sedate for some, regular twists and surprises and the thrilling vistas from one of the world's most picturesque parks ensure it's never less that eminently watchable. The crew of luxury yacht Katina on Below Deck Down Under. Picture: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo BELOW DECK DOWN UNDER WEDNESDAY, 8.30PM, CHANNEL 7 Another season, another spectacular location, another collection of ridiculously good-looking crew and another group of very rich and entitled customers with first world problems – it's plain sailing as usual for one of the biggest guilty pleasure viewing experiences around. This week kicks off with day two of a cruise in the Seychelles and chief steward Lara in tears after day one 'shit show' on the luxury yacht Katina. With a beach excursion planned and a Cowboys and Cowgirls BBQ dinner on the menu, Captain Jason needs the team to lift their game to make sure the guests leave happy. Meanwhile things are heating up in the kitchen between head chef Tzarina and reluctant sous chef Anthony, which threatens to spill over into shore-leave dramas. Tom Ellis and Eddie Karanja in Washington Black. Picture: Disney/Lilja Jonsdottir WASHINGTON BLACK WEDNESDAY, DISNEY+ Adapted from Esi Edugayan's 2018 bestseller, this freewheeling and sometimes fantastical eight-part drama tells the story of how 11-year-old George Washington Black flees the nightmare of slavery on a 19th century Barbados sugar plantation to find a life of adventure. Flipping back and forth in time, with the adult Wash still on the run from bounty hunters while trying to forge a new life and find love in Canada, it kicks into gear with the title character's escape from racism and retribution on a flying machine thanks to a kindly English inventor. As they adventure together with pirates on the Caribbean and sled dogs in the Artic, the brilliant young Wash chases his dream of becoming a revered scientist in a society that's determined to keep him in his place. Robbie Williams is reinvented as a chimp in the biopic, Better Man. BETTER MAN SATURDAY, PRIME VIDEO Australian director Michael Gracey took a huge swing in his Melbourne-shot biopic of Robbie Williams by reimagining the UK pop superstar as a chimpanzee. While the bold move failed spectacularly in the cinemas, it deserves a second life on streaming as one of the best and most inventive movies of its type in recent years. Williams himself was heavily involved (most of the motion capture was done by UK actor Jonno Davies) and he is his usual self-deprecating and unflinchingly honest self, even when recounting his appalling actions at his lowest drug fuelled ebbs. With stunning set pieces – the dance on London's Regent St set to Rock DJ is a knockout – and a scarcely believable true story, it's well worth your time. Emma Watkins (second from left) in Teenage Boss: Next Level. TEENAGE BOSS: NEXT LEVEL SATURDAY, 7.30PM, ABC Former Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins has headed to the Apple Isle for the second season of the delightful reality TV show that turns over the household budget to teenagers to see if they can balance their own saving goals with the needs of the family. First up is Caitlyn, who is laser-focused on raising the funds to fulfil her potentially expensive dream of joining a school ski trip to the mainland as well as juggling her school, work and volunteer commitments. Wise beyond her years, Caitlyn's spending choices are smart and practical – but her biggest obstacle might be mother Seher, who takes the Turkish custom of feeding and entertaining friends and family seriously, and whose plans for the coming Ramadan threaten to blow the budget. There's a new, fairer approach on season 21 of The Block. THE BLOCK SUNDAY, 7PM, CHANNEL 9 In its 21st season – and closing in on its 1000th episode – the beloved renovation reality show heads to the rural Victorian tourist destination of Daylesford with a rejigged approach designed to level the playing field. For the first time, each of the five houses is exactly the same size and with exactly the same floor plan, meaning hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft and judges Shaynna Blaze, Marty Fox and Darren Palmer will be comparing 'apples with apples' and making each design decision all the more important. There will be tears, tiffs and tantrums among the missteps and masterstrokes, with the fart-joke loving, risqué best mates from South Australia, Robby and Mat, already emerging as the jokers in the pack. Logie nominated Sally Phillips, Ben Miller and Michael Theo in Season 2 of ABC comedy drama Austin. AUSTIN SUNDAY, 7.30PM, ABC The first season of this gentle comedy-drama was one of the surprise packages of last year, earning well-deserved Logie nominations for its autistic lead actor Michael Theo in the title role, as well as Ben Miller as his possible long-lost father Julian and Sally Phillips as potential stepmother Ingrid. The second season picks up on the season one cliffhanger, with Austin and Julian about to get the results of a DNA that should settle the matter and shape the future of their personal and professional relationships. Meanwhile, Ingrid is still sleeping in the shed and taking notes of her marital positives and negatives – and whether she'd be better of moving to a women's commune. Freddie Highmore and Keeley Hawes in The Assassin. THE ASSASSIN STAN Former Spooks star Keeley Hawes is fantastic in the title role of this action-packed, unashamedly bloody, six-part crime thriller from the creators of the Australian-shot The Tourist. Audiences first meet her character Julie as a one-woman killing machine leaving a huge body count and copping a hellacious beating on a mission in Eastern Europe. Three decades later, she's living a booze-soaked and grumpy retirement on a Greek Island when she's visited by her estranged son (Freddie Highmore), now engaged to be married and with questions about his past she's reluctant to answer. But when someone claiming to be her former handler approaches her with her job she can't refuse, she's dragged back into her old violent ways as her professional and personal worlds collide. Keeley Hawes in the ABC historical drama Miss Austen. MISS AUSTEN SUNDAY, 9PM, ABC This gorgeous, four-part period drama, adapted from Gill Hornby's novel of the same name, purports to answer the question that has long haunted lovers of literature – why did Cassandra Austen burn her famous sister Jane's letters? In a very different role from her turn in The Assassin, the versatile Keeley Hawes plays the older Cassandra, who is trying to rescue the correspondence from her odious sister-in-law Mary to prevent their use in a biography of her husband (and Cassandra's brother), James, while also trying to help free family friend Isabella (Game Of Thrones' Rose Leslie) from the limitations and expectations of unmarried women of the era. As she re-reads the leaders, viewers are taken back to Cassandra's own heartbreak and challenges as a younger woman, as well as those of her talented sister, Jane. It's all bonnets and bows, matchmaking and merriment, tall hats and turns around the room – and right up there with the best Austen adaptations. Chef Guillaume Brahimi hosts Plat Du Tour on SBS PLAT DU TOUR MONDAY, 8PM, SBS FOOD Now in their sixth season, French chef Guillaume Brahimi's bite-sized Plat du Tour episodes make a tasty side dish to the Tour de France each year and this half-hour special highlights the best of country's northern region. Starting in Lille and moving through culinary centres including Boulogne-sur-Mer and Rouen, the enthusiastic and affable Brahimi shows how to rustle up the region's signature dishes such as Moules-Frite, Le Carpeaux de Valenciennes and a delicious looking French version of the Aussie pie called Tourte Meyennaise by using the best Australian produce. Along the way he also throws in historical titbits about the food and the regions and chats to celebrated Australian chefs. Actor Ryan Reynolds with Ray Liotta in Smokin' Aces. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT … SMOKIN' ACES Streaming, Tubi EVERYBODY wants to get their hands on Buddy 'Aces' Israel (Jeremy Piven). Having negotiated an immunity deal with the FBI that would see him serve up evidence against various Las Vegas underworld figures, Israel is put under the protection of special agents Messner and Carruthers (Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta) as assorted thugs and contract killers (played by the who's who of Hollywood) come looking to capture the magician turned mobster. Featuring Jason Bateman as a dodgy lawyer, Chris Pine as a neo-Nazi, Alicia Keys as an assassin and Ben Affleck as a laid-back bail bondsman, this film is a rollercoaster of rapid-fire dialogue and action sequences. Originally published as 'Thrilling': Eric Bana dazzles in new must-watch Netflix series

Netflix's new mystery thriller series is one of the best binge-watches of 2025 so far — and you can stream it now
Netflix's new mystery thriller series is one of the best binge-watches of 2025 so far — and you can stream it now

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Netflix's new mystery thriller series is one of the best binge-watches of 2025 so far — and you can stream it now

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. I didn't expect 'Untamed' to grip me the way it did. Netflix's new wilderness-set mystery thriller looked, at first glance, like your standard slow-burn six-episode series: brooding lead, scenic drone shots and just enough murder to justify the 'thriller' label. And sure, it has all of that. But it also has something I didn't see coming, which is actual momentum. The series puts Eric Bana in the leading role as Kyle Turner, a National Parks agent called to Yosemite after a woman is found dead. At first, it seems like a tragic climbing accident. But Turner, who's got just the right amount of baggage and that thousand-yard stare required by all streaming detectives, isn't so sure. What follows is basically a classic murder mystery, just with fewer city streets and more moss-covered rocks. Along the way, he's paired with a rookie ranger, runs into old colleagues and keeps finding himself in situations where you're not sure whether the biggest threat is a person or a bear. And yet, I was into it. 'Untamed' fully embraces its identity as a solid, serious show with a hint of self-importance and it does so confidently. So if the idea of a murder investigation set in a national park sounds even remotely interesting to you, chances are you'll want to stick around for the whole thing. Here's why 'Untamed' deserves a spot on your Netflix watchlist now that it's streaming, even if it's just for the scenery. What is 'Untamed' about? 'Untamed' follows Special Agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a seasoned investigator with the National Park Service's elite Investigative Services Branch. When the body of a young woman is discovered at the base of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, the initial assumption is a climbing accident. But Turner suspects something more sinister. Teaming up with rookie ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), Turner begins to unravel a trail of inconsistencies that point toward foul play. As the pair dig deeper, their investigation leads them into the park's vast, treacherous backcountry where clues are scarce and dangers are plenty. Turner is soon forced to reconnect with Paul Souter (Sam Neill), an old friend and Yosemite's long-serving chief ranger, as well as confront tensions with his ex-wife Jill Bodwin (Rosemarie DeWitt), a counselor working inside the park. With time running out and more bodies surfacing, Turner finds himself at the center of a far-reaching mystery. 'Untamed' is a suspense-filled descent into the dark heart of the wild 'Untamed' starts how most mystery thrillers do — with the crime itself. Two climbers scaling a mountain are nearly sent to their deaths when a woman mysteriously falls from a ledge, dying in the process and getting tangled in their climbing ropes. It's pretty brutal from the start, but it sets the tone for the rest of the series. From there, we're introduced to the brooding Kyle Turner, played brilliantly by Eric Bana, who knows how to play the gruff archetype without becoming another Joel from 'The Last of Us' or Rick from 'The Walking Dead.' Instead, he's trying to do his job without outside interference, all while suppressing his personal baggage, which inevitably resurfaces in each episode. Thankfully, the show doesn't drag out the investigation. In the first episode, Kyle is already scouring the area for clues, and we follow him as he discovers bloodstains on leaves and a bullet hole in a tree. Even though it leans on some genre tropes, it's still compelling enough to keep you watching. Another trope I wasn't initially keen on was the classic 'hardened investigator paired with a rookie' setup. You know, when the rookie questions everything, is too sensitive and challenges the main character's authority by being impulsive. Fortunately, as the episodes go on, 'Untamed' steps out of this cliché and makes Vasquez, the rookie, a genuinely likeable character with a meaningful backstory. She has a dark past, and once that becomes tied into the main storyline, it feels natural. As for the other side characters, they mostly earn their screen time. Bana's Kyle Turner is really the only one you can fully focus on or connect with, especially as his past is fleshed out through conversations with his ex-wife and fellow community members. Sam Neill's Paul Souter, while not featured as much as I would've liked, has an interesting dynamic with Turner as old allies. That said, the mystery is so compelling that I found myself less invested in the characters and more eager to dive deeper into the plot, wishing for more twists and revelations instead of character moments. Alongside the mystery, 'Untamed' delivers some seriously impressive visuals that show just how vast and overwhelming Yosemite National Park really is, and it's kind of terrifying. For context, Yosemite sees a high number of search and rescue (SAR) operations, with over 730 incidents reported between 2018 and 2020. That alone makes 'Untamed' feel a lot more believable when it comes to its central mystery. And that's before you even factor in the bears… Overall, though, 'Untamed' is the kind of bingeable series you might easily finish in one night. The characters aren't especially deep (aside from Turner, who gets some solid development), so you'll probably find yourself most invested in the investigation itself. Just a heads up: Once you press play on episode 1, don't be surprised if you power through the whole thing. You need to stream 'Untamed' on Netflix If you're after a mystery that doesn't rely on gimmicks or overblown twists, 'Untamed' is the rare Netflix thriller that keeps things feeling real and that's exactly what makes it work. It's not exactly original material, but it still leans into what the genre does best: a solid investigation, tension, and a lead performance that holds it all together. The setting alone is worth tuning in for, but it's the slow-creeping suspense and clever unraveling of clues that will keep you pressing next episode. At just six episodes, there's no filler which is more than can be said for a lot of recent limited series. 'Untamed' is now streaming on Netflix, and I definitely recommend checking it out. For more recommendations, see what else is new on Netflix in July 2025. More from Tom's Guide Netflix just got Prime Video's most overlooked crime drama 7 new Netflix shows and movies I'd stream this week Netflix's new mystery thriller series has already broken into the top 10

Netflix's Untamed cast in full from Jurassic Park icon to The Boys actress
Netflix's Untamed cast in full from Jurassic Park icon to The Boys actress

Daily Mirror

time4 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mirror

Netflix's Untamed cast in full from Jurassic Park icon to The Boys actress

Here's where you probably recognise the cast from Netflix's newest crime drama is already proving to be a big hit for the streamer. ‌ Untamed, is the latest original limited series produced by the company and is already a hit among viewers. At the time of writing, it has surged to the second most watched series among UK users just a day after it landed. ‌ The show is billed as a character driven mystery thriller and follows Kyle Turner, a special agent for the National Parks Service who works to enforce human law in nature's vast wilderness. The investigation of a brutal death sends him on a collision course with the dark secrets within the park, and in his own past. ‌ Viewers are making their way through the six-part mystery with speed and have already pointed out a number of reasons why they recommend it to others. One of those reasons is the impressive performances by the entire cast. The stars that feature include some recognisable faces and famous names. So here's where you have seen the cast of Untamed before from a Jurassic Park icon to a star of The Boys. ‌ Who is in the cast of Untamed? Eric Bana Who does he play? Kyle Turner Who is he? A special agent for the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) who works to enforce human law in nature's vast territories. Where have you seen them before? Starred as Australian's most infamous criminal in Chopper, which was a breakout role. Since then has featured in Black Hawk Down, Troy and played the Incredible Hulk in a pre-MCU version of the superhero. Also starred in adaptation of The Dry and his previous television role was Dirty John. ‌ Sam Neill Who do they play? Paul Souter Who are they? Has been in the role of chief park ranger in Yosemite for half his life. One of Turner's closest friends. Where have you seen them before? Sam Neill is the icon from the original Jurassic Park movies. He played the role of Dr Alan Grant in the first and third of the films. He reprised the role in Jurassic World Dominion. Neil has also starred in the film Hunt for the Wilderpeople and had a cameo appearance in two of the Thor movies. ‌ Rosemarie DeWitt Who do they play? Jill Bodwin ‌ Who are they? Turner's ex-wife. A former teacher and park counselor. She has remarried since divorcing Turner and has a new family. Despite her new husband's concerns, she still shares some kind of connection with her ex-husband. Where have you seen them before? DeWitt featured as Ryan Gosling's character's sister in LaLa Land, as well as appearing in the remake of Poltergeist. She also plays the mother of the lead character in Smile 2, and the mum of Hughie in Prime Video series The Boys. Lily Santiago Who do they play? Naya Vasquez ‌ Who are they? A former cop from Los Angeles who has recently relocated and joined Yosemite's ranger squad. She arrives in the hope of finding a new life for her and her 4-year-old son. She is very much the rookie on the scene and is having to adapt to a wilder surrounding than the big city she is used to. Where have you seen them before? Untamed is Santiago's first lead role on screen. After beginning her career onstage she has starred in all seasons of sci-fi series La Brea and the film Vineyard. ‌ Wilson Bethel Who do they play? Shane Magurire Who are they? A former army ranger who is now the park's wildlife management officer. Very much a loner who camps in the wilderness himself while working, away from the rules at the office. Where have you seen them before? Bethel played the comic book villain Bullseye in the Daredevil television series. ‌ William Smillie Who do they play? Bruce Milch Who are they? One of the park rangers at Yosemite, who seems to begrudge the fact he is not involved in the major investigations. Doesn't seem to get along with Turner at all. ‌ Where have you seen them before? Smillie actually played one of the Joker's accomplice bank robbers in the opening scene of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. His character was called Happy. He has also starred in Chicago Fire as Hadley, as well as episodes of Dark Matter and Empire. Raoul Max Trujillo Who do they play? Jay Stewart ‌ Who are they? An indigenous friend of Turner who provides insights into local symbols and heritage. He was a close friend of Lucy's mother when she was a young child. He also seems to work within a maintenance team for the park. Where have you seen them before? Trujillo was the original choreographer and co-director for the American Indian Dance Theatre. In terms of filmography, he has appeared in Riddick, Sicario and its sequel as well as DC's Blue Beetle. He also played Che "Taza" Romero in the series Mayans MC. Josh Randall Who do they play? Scott Bodwin ‌ Who are they? Jill's current husband and a dentist. Where have you seen them before? Played Captain Sean Beckett in series Station 19, while he also had brief appearances in Ozark and Scrubs. Ezra Franky Who do they play? Lucy ‌ Who are they? The alleged murder victim known initially as Jane Doe that the show's central mystery is all about. She has a complex backstory involving abuse and disappearance, which somehow led her back to living in the park. Where have you seen them before? Ezra Franky is also a singer with an active presence on social media. She also makes short films, with Untamed being her first major acting role. Joe Holt Who do they play? Lawrence Hamilton ‌ Who are they? The park's superintendent who is purely focused on public image amid the crisis and investigations. Where have you seen them before? Most recently appeared in The Accountant 2 and series Paradise. Also played Leopold Bennett in The Walking Dead spin-off World Beyond. ‌ Nicola Correia-Damude Who do they play? Esther Avalos Who are they? A lawyer pressuring Turner and others over an old case involving the unusual disappearance of a man. Where have you seen them before? Another The Boys alum where she played Elena. She has also featured in series Resident Alien and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. ‌ Taylor Hickson Who do they play? Summer Who are they? A squatter and friend of Lucy Where have you seen them before? Played Meghan Orlovsky in Deadpool, the girl who was being stalked and hired Wade Wilson to help her early in the film. ‌ JD Pardo (also known as Jorge Daniel Pardo) Who do they play? Michael Who are they? Naya Vasquez's estranged husband, father of their child and also a former cop. ‌ Where have you seen them before? Pardo played the lead of Ezekiel "EZ" Reyes in Mayans MC. He has also had roles in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, the remake of Road House and recently appeared in series High Potential. Ezra Wilson Who do they play? Caleb Who are they? The son of Kyle Turner and his ex-wife Jill. Where have you seen them before? Wilson played the role of Theo in hit show Virgin River. He is expected to reprise this character in a prequel spin-off.

Untamed review – Eric Bana's national park thriller is as beautiful as it is totally predictable
Untamed review – Eric Bana's national park thriller is as beautiful as it is totally predictable

The Guardian

time5 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • The Guardian

Untamed review – Eric Bana's national park thriller is as beautiful as it is totally predictable

Untamed is a blunt force thriller, set in Yosemite national park in California, starring Eric Bana as a macho special agent who prefers silence to talking and horses to motorised vehicles. It is perfectly serviceable though oddly retro – not just because it scoffs at petrol engines, but because it feels as if it could have been made in the 1990s. Even a crucial smartphone plotline doesn't come into it until very close to the end, and although park rangers have become a political hot potato in the US, national politics emphatically do not exist here. That makes Untamed an undemanding watch, but don't expect much depth. It's as easy on the eye as it is straightforward. Bana is Kyle Turner, technically not a park ranger, even though he's dressed like one, but an ISB Special Agent, which gives him extra-special cop powers. Devotees of detective dramas will be shocked to learn that Turner is brusque, rude and has a taste for bourbon that doesn't have any impact on his professional capacity whatsoever. He is haunted by a family tragedy. His personal relationships are poor. He is, of course, excellent at what he does. This makes a fairytale of both detective work and the great outdoors, which I can't say I mind too much. Turner is so at one with Yosemite that he can find strands of hair or individual beads in the vast swathes of wilderness, all 300,000 hectares of it of it. I can barely find my keys in the hallway, never mind a crucial clue partly buried in a vast national park, but that is why I don't ride to work on a horse. It begins with a pair of climbers on El Capitan summit, whose steady ascent is interrupted by the falling body of a young woman, who gets tangled up in their ropes. Was she chased by an animal, or is it more sinister than that? Naturally Turner goes above and beyond, scoffing at warnings of lightning to examine the dangling body. He takes note of the foliage in her hand and where it grows and notes the lack of animal tracks on the summit. He pays attention to the details, like Bear Grylls with a badge. He says things like, 'This is not LA. Things happen different out here,' and, 'You can't spell wilderness without wild.' That gives a decent idea of what you're in for. It is unapologetically meat and two veg, sincere and far-fetched. Initially, it looks to be a case-of-the-week setup, not dissimilar to Elsbeth or Poker Face, but reverse-engineered to have the humour sucked out of it. The body of the young woman turns out be a gateway into a wider conspiracy, a criminal underbelly lurking beneath the tourist-playground parts of the national park. There is a sense that it has ambitions to be True Detective-like, or at least, early True Detective, and there is a touch of rural noir to it too. Turner is haunted by his past, and trapped in the wilderness by his own demons. His young sidekick, Vasquez (a very good Lily Santiago), formerly an inner-city LA cop running from her own issues, thinks he has just moved into his cabin, because it is full of boxes. He has been there for years. The supporting cast is strong. Sam Neill is Turner's boss, friend and ally Captain Souter, trying to defend Turner from the PR-led bureaucracy of the park's superintendent, whose main goal is to keep tourist numbers up, which means keeping any sense of peril out of the headlines. Rosemarie DeWitt is Turner's ex-wife, who still receives phone calls from him in the middle of the night. Though Untamed is largely confined to trails and cabins, it occasionally busts the budget on a helicopter or an explosion. Still, as serviceable as it is, it leaves the impression of having once had the bones of a more elegant thriller, softened to become a more standard, more palatable prospect. It's twisty, but it doesn't take much to guess what those twists are, and where they will lead. Turner is the flawed hero upon whom everyone else must depend. The female characters are mostly troublesome, and there to be saved; if you find long, lingering shots of women's bodies on mortuary slabs gratuitous, this is not the show for you. This is US television in 2025, then: manly, gruff and outdoorsy. It opens with a sweeping shot of forests and mountains, before the American flag moves into the centre of the frame. There are bear attacks, gunfights and near-biblical levels of vengeance. It's not the smartest of thrillers, but those mountains sure are lovely to look at. Untamed is on Netflix now

Real life version of Netflix's Untamed is ‘must see TV for true crime fans'
Real life version of Netflix's Untamed is ‘must see TV for true crime fans'

Daily Mirror

time5 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mirror

Real life version of Netflix's Untamed is ‘must see TV for true crime fans'

Fans of the genre will be instantly hooked The real life version of Netflix's new crime drama is said to be 'must see TV for true crime fans'. ‌ Untamed has only just been released on the major streaming platform and is already gaining positive reception from fans and critics alike. It has been dubbed as the best show of 2025 so far by some reviewers, while others have said it is perfect for fans of Yellowstone and American Primeval. ‌ A six-part limited series, the show stars Eric Bana as Kyle Turner, a special agent for the National Parks Service who works to enforce human law in nature's vast wilderness. He launches an investigation into the mysterious death of a young woman which sends him on a collision course with the dark secrets within the park, and in his own past. ‌ What might surprise viewers is that Bana's character's job is a real occupation in the United States. There really are dedicated officers, who investigate serious crimes that occur in one of the country's National Parks. They are also referred to as the ISB. According to the National Parks Service website: "The special agents of the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) are a specialised and highly trained team of criminal investigators. Together with program and victim support specialists as well as an intelligence analyst, the team works year-round and around the clock to investigate complex, sensitive, and long-term cases for crimes throughout the national park system. ISB personnel are stationed among America's more than 420 national parks and report directly to NPS headquarters in Washington, D.C." ‌ Untamed isn't the first series that have focused on these investigations. Wild Crime, is a docuseries currently available to stream on Disney+ that "chronicles this uniquely qualified team that leads the investigations as they seek to bring law and order to some of America's most rugged and remote landscapes." All four seasons are currently streaming and each tackles a different case. Season one opens with Harold Henthor's 911 call to report that his wife Toni has been gravely injured after falling off of a cliff on a remote trail. However, the investigation unearths that there may be to this accident and soon examines Henthor's first wife and more. In its second season, a hand is found in Yosemite. A serial killer confesses but he's lied about committing hundreds of murders--is this one real, or a false confession? ‌ In the third instalment, the series retells the case of Meredith Emerson, who went for a hike on a trail in Pisgah National Park and never returned. Was she injured, abducted, or the victim of a serial killer who stalked National Parks? Then a woman goes missing from a National Forest in Florida, a couple vanish in a National Forest in North Carolina, and a young woman disappears from a National Forest in Georgia. Are the cases connected? Wild Crime's fourth season picks up after an Alaska barista goes missing along with some cash. Surveillance video shows her walking away with a man. A text sent from her phone says she needs time to think but her dad is suspicious. Was she abducted? Police aren't sure, until a note arrives. ‌ While not earning enough reviews for a score on Rotten Tomatoes, the series has overall received positive feedback from viewers. One posted online: "Fresh, seamless show about how these khaki and chukka boot wearing superheroes gather evidence, reconstruct crime scenes, and seek justice for the victims, against the majestic backdrop of our nation's most impressive natural landscapes and skylines. THIS is must-see tv for true crime fans." One review sums up the unique appeal to Wild Crime, and its one that it seems to share with Netflix's Untamed. That it focuses on a little known investigative team. They said: "If you're looking for a true crime doc that'll keep you engaged with plenty of new twists, Wild Crime will do the trick. You're getting every aspect of this case, with an added look into life as a Rocky Mountains ranger." While continuing: "That's the bonus appeal of Wild Crime. Even though the true crime story is pretty tame and a little stale, watching the park experts delve into the accident makes it worthwhile. There are 84 million acres of national parks that need to be patrolled, and how many members of the ISB are there in total? A meek 34. It's incredible to imagine these folks tackling that much land mass, and on top of that, their job isn't exactly easy. They've got to climb uphill, take perilous journeys into the wilderness, and risk their lives to protect us from harm's way."

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