Change Everything!

Netflix’s Untamed could have a long future on the platform. Led by executive producer and leading man Eric Bana (Kyle Turner), the show features Sam Neill (Paul Souter), Lily Santiago (Naya Vasquez), and Rosemarie DeWitt (Jill Bodwin). They all star as leading characters in a show that focuses on a murder mystery set in the heart of Yosemite National Park.

While most murder mysteries feature standard police officers, Untamed stars the ISB, the investigative arm of the National Parks. As a consequence, its stars are liable to be moved to any location within the National Park system, ranging from Maine to Alaska to the very tip of Florida.

The six-episode show was intended as a miniseries, but there is still a chance for a season 2 renewal, and that range is why. In an interview with TV Insider, Bana discussed the possibility of further explorations of the National Parks. While he “hasn’t given too much thought” to the topic, he does have some ideas for the future:

I haven’t given too much thought on this, to be honest. It was so encompassing, but obviously we knew that the nature of his job is that these ISB agents do get moved around from park to park, which is why the ending is the way that it is because that is a very feasible thing and it was part of the story structure. So yeah, I guess it’s always possible, but it wasn’t something that we structurally played with whilst putting these episodes together.

What This Means For Untamed’s Future

There Is True Potential For A Renewal

There are certainly other national parks for the show to explore, and each could offer a unique environment. The boiling waters of Yellowstone, the rocky Grand Canyon, and the frozen Gates of the Arctic all offer unique settings with extremely different methods of murder to explore. The locations alone would likely draw interest from viewers.

The murders could be tailor-designed for each setting with bodies melted in the boiling waters or hidden in the snow. Seeing agents trying to uncover the secrets of such disparate locations would be extremely compelling. If that is to be fully realized, it still needs to earn that renewal, however.

While there is potential, some critics would prefer to see the show shelved. The show has earned relatively middling reviews, with ScreenRant‘s Untamed review describing the series as “bland, predictable, and uninspired.” Still, there is undoubtedly a possibility that it could see a renewal, if audiences are more favorable.

Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case. While positive, audiences have been more negative than even the critics have been. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the show has a 78% Tomatometer score and a 71% score on the audience-led Popcornmeter. Neither are exceptional, so the show will need to depend on increased viewership to survive.

Our Take On Untamed’s Future

It’s Up To Netflix Now

While speculation about a renewal is exciting, there is no way to know what Netflix will decide until the numbers begin to trickle in. The show premiered on July 17, and Netflix has not yet released the viewership data from July 14 on. If it has become an instant hit, Netflix could easily give the order to begin production.

An Untamed renewal could give viewers a chance to see other National Parks, and that alone makes it worth it.

Untamed is reportedly in Netflix’s top 10 list, but the decision is unlikely to come until Netflix sees how it performs over time. Even if the first weekend is a success, long-term ratings will also be essential in the decision. An Untamed renewal could give viewers a chance to see other National Parks, and that alone makes it worth it.