Created by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, “Untamed” (TV Mini Series 2025) diligently checks off the noir-ish modern detective mystery tropes. Barring an electrifying opening scene, it does not stand apart as a police procedural.
What the Netflix mini-series does excel at, and thus significantly elevates its status, is exalting its unique setting—a murder mystery at Yosemite National Park. Boosted by a solid cast, which is led by an earnestly committed Eric Bana, the show astutely takes the chance to shine in Yosemite National Park’s reflected glory.
With its mountains, greenery, and fauna, the National Park’s towering presence becomes a pivotal character in the story, not just a backdrop. And it works wonders for the mini-series. So much so, we would not mind a second instalment.
Untamed (TV Mini Series 2025) ‘Netflix’ Recap:
“Untamed” starts with a thrilling scene where a couple of rock climbers discover a girl’s body in a jarringly audacious way. It happens while they are climbing a mountain in the Yosemite National Park. The girl’s body drops from the summit that the climbers are attempting to reach. It almost takes the climbers to the bottom. The climbers survive, and the Park Rangers are called in for an initial investigation.
The case is assigned to Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), an Investigative Services Branch agent from the National Park Service. Chief Park Ranger of Yosemite, Paul Souter (Sam Neill), has full confidence in Kyle, while many do not. Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), one of the rookies, is assigned as Kyle’s deputy.
A bit of background on Kyle. The inaugural episode ingeniously establishes that Kyle lost his young son a few years ago. That has been the trigger for his separation from his wife, Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt). Although Jill has her own family now, it is needless to say that Jill is still connected to Kyle by their shared trauma. Six months after that incident, Kyle was assigned a case. A missing report was filed for a man named Sean Sanderson. Kyle, seemingly, botched that case. Now, a lawyer appointed by the Sanderson family pokes around for more information.
With help from Naya, the girl’s body is identified. It is Lucy Cook, a young girl who went missing from the area a long time ago. She was just a child then. Kyle’s investigation did not yield results. Everyone assumed Lucy’s father, a drunk fiend, killed her. After her mother’s death, Lucy lived with her dad and step-brother.
So, the mystery is two-fold. What happened to young Lucy then? And what happened to her now? Kyle and Naya’s investigation takes them to the village of squatters, people who have been living inside the park illegally. From one of the squatter girls, Naya learns that Lucy camped inside the park for a few months. She got involved in a drug trafficking business and had a secret boyfriend.
From the squatters, Kyle learns that Shane Maguire (Wilson Bethel playing a notorious marksman once again, after his turn as ‘Bullseye’ in ‘Daredevil’) has been asking about Lucy as well. Shane works for the Park’s protection, but in a separate department. He seems to be corruptible and notorious. Kyle and Naya’s investigation reveals a drug trafficking racket, where Lucy worked as a mule, inside the park. The gang is caught and every one of them is rounded up. However, Kyle is not sure if they are the ones responsible for Lucy’s death.
Untamed (TV Mini Series 2025) ‘Netflix’ Ending Explained:
What Happened to Sean Sanderson?
Eventually, Kyle finds Lucy’s phone. With some help from the coroner, he manages to unlock Lucy’s facial recognition check on the phone. The phone reveals Lucy’s secret boyfriend was none other than Shane. Meanwhile, when Jill attempts suicide, Kyle’s anger turns towards Shane. From the beginning, the way Sean Sanderson’s case was mentioned alongside the death of Kyle and Jill’s son, Caleb, it was guessable that the two events are linked.
It is through Jill’s confession to her current husband that we find the truth. Sean Sanderson was a pedophile and child molester. Caleb fell prey to his attacks. Shane, who had cameras installed in a variety of places inside the park to track animal movements, caught Sean abducting Caleb. It became clear Sean killed Kyle and Jill’s little boy. Kyle wanted to arrest Sean. However, Jill, without telling Kyle, paid Shane to take Sean out. Shane, who does not mind working as an assassin, obliged. Kyle intentionally botched the investigation to protect Jill.
Who Killed Lucy Cook?
Kyle detested Shane’s mercenary ways, especially because Jill fell prey to them. So, when he finds a link to arrest Shane (Lucy’s phone had Shane’s videos), he goes straight for it. Seeing his operation on the verge of failure, Shane decides to kill Kyle. He has always been a great marksman. He shoots Kyle first. Kyle would have succumbed to his injuries if not for the timely intervention by Naya. She puts a few bullets inside Shane, killing him on the spot, and saving Kyle in the process.
As Kyle wakes up in the hospital, Chief Paul and Naya greet him. Paul informs that with Shane’s death, Lucy’s death is finally wrapped up. However, Kyle still gets a nagging doubt. He follows one of the tips received earlier. A boy told them that Lucy grew up in Nevada. Kyle finds that the boy was right. He learns that Lucy was left in a foster care home in Nevada. The real daughter of those foster parents reveals that Lucy always told them her father was a policeman.
Previously, Kyle’s investigation revealed Lucy’s real father was someone else. After this information, realization hits Kyle like a stroke of lightning. It becomes clear that Paul, Kyle’s friend and the Park’s chief, was Lucy’s real father. Kyle confronts Paul, and the older man confesses everything. It was he who took Lucy away after her mother’s death. He wanted to give her a better home, while putting some distance between her and his ‘real family.’
Eventually, adult Lucy comes back to Yosemite. However, like before, Paul was not ready to accept her. He gave her money and everything. But Lucy kept on staying. Paul, trying to scare her, shot her in the leg. Lucy thought Paul was hellbent on killing her. She escaped to the summit and then embraced death by jumping from there. So, Lucy killed herself, but it was triggered by Paul.
What Happens to Kyle? Could There Be a Second Season?
A heartbroken Kyle urges Paul to confess to the police. He feels Paul owes that to Lucy. However, a panicked Paul, not seeing any escape, kills himself. The only way for Paul to survive was by killing Kyle. And despite what Paul had done before, he did love Kyle like a brother. He was never going to pull the trigger against Kyle. So, he puts it on himself.
Kyle, who always thought of leaving the park after Caleb’s death, finally decides to do so. His oldest friend’s death was the final straw. He leaves Caleb’s toys to Naya to give to her son. He says goodbye to Jill. Then, he leaves Yosemite National Park. Could there be a second season? Sure. However, at this moment, it feels like the perfect closure. Of course, if Netflix agrees, Kyle and Naya can return to the wilderness for another mystery.
