Debapriya Bhattacharya
Created by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, ‘Untamed’ follows National Park Service Investigative Services Branch special agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) as he investigates the death of a young woman at the Yosemite National Park. Dubbed Jane Doe, the deceased seemingly fell off a cliff, leaving behind clues such as a beaded bracelet, bloody footprints, and carvings in an abandoned shack. Kyle digs deep into the death along with his rookie partner, Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago). As signs begin to point to an apparent murder, the investigation becomes increasingly dangerous for the duo. Set in the wilderness of California, the Netflix miniseries has an air of eerie tranquility that sets the tone of the mystery thriller. If you’ve enjoyed the episodes, here is a list of shows similar to ‘Untamed’ that you can consider for the next binge.
10. Twin Peaks (1990-2017)
‘Twin Peaks’ by Mark Frost and David Lynch revolves around FBI special agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) investigating the death of high school senior Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in the titular town. Finding a tiny typed letter inserted under the deceased’s fingernail, he concludes that it is the work of a serial killer who has long evaded justice. As the investigation proceeds, Cooper gets more involved with the townspeople and invites greater danger upon himself. Slowly, his own colorful past comes to light as old friends come over to settle scores. The surreal nature of the narrative and the setting of the fictional, isolated town of Twin Peaks evoke comparison with ‘Untamed.’
9. Mayor of Kingstown (2021-)
Set in a fictional company town in Michigan, ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon centers around the McLusky family, who have kept peace in the region for decades. Starting as the right-hand man for his older brother, Michael McLusky (Jeremy Renner) takes over as the Mayor following the latter’s death. While the family plays the essential role of negotiator between law enforcement and lawbreakers, Michael has never wished to be a part of it. However, with incarceration being the only thriving business in town, the importance of his job as a power broker does not leave him much choice. The eerie setting in which the events unfold makes the comparison to ‘Untamed’ unavoidable.
8. Deadwind (2018-2021)
‘Deadwind,’ originally titled ‘Karppi,’ is created by Rike Jokela, Jari Olavi Rantala, and Kirsi Porkka. The story revolves around Sofia Karppi (Pihla Viitala), a homicide detective in the Helsinki Police Department and mother of two, who returns to work following the accidental death of her husband. She is partnered with rookie detective Sakari Nurmi (Lauri Tilkanen), a transfer from the financial crime unit. The first case that the duo tackles is the murder of social affairs consultant Anna Bergdahl (Pamela Tola). The Nordic noir has Sofia dealing with a tragedy in the family while solving a gruesome crime, much like Kyle Turner in ‘Untamed.’
7. Big Sky (2020-2023)
Based on ‘The Highway’ book series by C. J. Box, ‘Big Sky’ tells the story of Cassie Dewell (Kylie Bunbury) and Cody Hoyt (Ryan Phillippe), private detectives and romantic partners running an agency. While searching for two sisters who have been abducted by a truck driver on a remote highway in Montana, they team up with Cody’s estranged wife and former cop, Jenny Hoyt, who becomes a freelancer with them. Learning about more abductions that have similarly taken place, the trio concludes that they have a serial killer on their hands and races against time to stop him before he strikes again. Similar to ‘Untamed,’ the series showcases looming dangers in serene surroundings.
6. Outer Range (2022-2024)
From the mind of Brian Watkins, ‘Outer Range’ stars Josh Brolin as Royal Abbott, a ranch owner in Wyoming who is fighting for his land and family. Following the arrival of a female drifter, Autumn (Imogen Poots), who camps out on his land, Royal discovers a mysterious black void in the pasture. His daughter-in-law, Rebecca (Kristen Connolly, Monette Moio), disappears, and to add to the trouble, the rival family of Tillersons attempts to take over his land. The science-fiction neo-western mystery has the characters grappling with the unknown, much like ‘Untamed.’
5. Trapped (2015-)
Created by Baltasar Kormákur, ‘Trapped’ chronicles the efforts of the police department in a remote town in Iceland to solve the murder of a former townsman whose mutilated corpse is recovered by fishermen. The horrific discovery is made after a ferry with 300 passengers arrives in a nearby fjord and gets stuck because of a blizzard. With no one able to leave the sparsely populated area, everyone becomes a potential suspect for Chief of Police Andri Ólafsson (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson). As the cops attempt to unearth the killer, chaos ensues in the peaceful region. Like ‘Untamed,’ the gruesome crime in ‘Trapped’ takes place in a scenic backdrop strewn wth hidden danger.
4. Sharp Objects (2018)
Adapted from Gillian Flynn’s debut novel, ‘Sharp Objects’ by Marti Noxon stars Amy Adams as alcoholic crime reporter Camille Preaker. Returning to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, Camille looks into the disappearance of two young girls, one of whom is discovered dead and the other is presumed to be killed. She reunites with her estranged family, which includes her overbearing mother and small-town socialite Adora (Patricia Clarkson), stepfather Alan Crellin (Henry Czerny), and half sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen). The interactions bring up suppressed trauma from Camille’s childhood, and she starts to connect more with the recent victims. Like Kyle Turner in ‘Untamed,’ Camille is forced to confront her personal demons while uncovering the truth behind the murders in her hometown.
3. Green Frontier (2019)
Originally titled ‘Frontera Verde,’ ‘Green Frontier’ by Diego Ramírez Schrempp, Mauricio Leiva-Cock, and Jenny Ceballos centers around Helena Poveda (Juana del Río), a young Bogotá-based detective. To investigate a series of odd murders, Helena travels to the Brazil-Colombia border deep inside the Amazon rainforest. There, she comes across a tribe with an extraordinary secret that they are desperate to protect. Helena’s determination to uncover the secret hidden within the vast wilderness mirrors that of Kyle Turner in ‘Untamed.’
2. Top of the Lake (2013-2017)
‘Top of the Lake’ by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee revolves around the disappearance of a pregnant teenager, Tui (Jacqueline Joe), from a remote mountain town in New Zealand. Last seen standing chest deep in the middle of a freezing lake, her disappearance leaves the town rattled and in need of the services of Sydney-based detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss). The investigation makes Robin clash with Matt Mitcham, the father of the disappeared girl and head of the drug-dealing Mitcham family. Her experiences mirror those of Kyle Turner in ‘Untamed,’ as she goes on a journey of self-discovery while doggedly chasing the truth.
1. Dark Winds (2022-)
Adapted from Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee novel series, the events of ‘Dark Winds’ take place in 1971 on a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) of the Tribal Police suddenly gets his hands full with a series of seemingly unrelated violent crimes within his jurisdiction. Aided by his deputy and undercover FBI agent Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) and police sergeant Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten), Joe attempts to unravel the truth, only to dig up the buried past.
The series created by Graham Roland has many similarities with ‘Untamed.’ Both shows follow veteran law enforcement officials in a sparsely inhabited region who are trying to make sense of the gruesome crimes that have taken place with the resources available to them. The vast expanse of natural beauty is intimately linked with the story and adds to the eeriness of the setting.
Read More: Is Untamed Based on a True Story?
