Movies

Breaking Down the Many Twists and Reveals in the Ending of Netflix’s Untamed

BBG News

As a passionate movie buff, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities between “Untamed,” the latest series from screenwriter Mark L. Smith and his daughter Elle Smith, and what some might call Netflix’s answer to Paramount’s hit show “Yellowstone.” While it’s not entirely fair to make a direct comparison, it’s hard not to see the parallels when a studio rakes in an impressive $2 billion from their unexpected neo-Western success. It seems like a logical move for other studios to follow suit and invest in their own take on this captivating genre.

If “Untamed” represents one of the many battles in the content competition between cable networks and streaming services, it still shares a closer resemblance to “Top of the Lake,” Jane Campion’s 2013 New Zealand mystery drama. In essence, the plot structure of “Top of the Lake” seems to have accidentally laid the groundwork for the style of contemporary detective dramas set in various regions that we see on television today.

Untamed” shares its focus with one of America’s cherished concepts – its national parks, as portrayed in Yellowstone. However, it delves deeper into themes reminiscent of Top of the Lake, such as familial struggles, regret, self-doubt, helplessness, and sorrow. The series doesn’t pit old ways against new ones, like with the white settlers’ appropriation of Indigenous land; instead, it delves into the psyches of its main characters, Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), an agent from the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) of the National Park Service in Yosemite, and Naya Vasque (Lily Santiago), a novice NPS officer from L.A., tasked with assisting Turner in unraveling a potential murder mystery within the park.

The revelations from that thread expose not just their personal depths as parents, but also the inner struggles of the supporting characters, such as Paul Souter (Sam Neill), who serves as Turner’s friend, mentor, and boss at Yosemite National Park, and Jill (Rosemary DeWitt), his former spouse. Despite her attempts to distance herself, she finds herself drawn back by the force of Turner’s PTSD. Both characters carry their own emotional and moral burdens, some obvious and others more subtle, like the reflection of light off a rifle scope that catches the eye.

Jill takes the hit…

In the series “Untamed”, the resolution of Sean Sanderson’s storyline arrives one episode too late, failing to significantly impact the overall plot; it represents a missed chance by the creators, the Smiths, to provide Jill with more character development through Sanderson. Played by Mark Rankin in a minor role, Sanderson vanished in Yosemite Park approximately five years ago within the series’ timeline. However, his name is frequently mentioned in the current episodes. His family is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against the park, and their attorney, Esther Avalos (Nicola Correia-Damude), seeks information from both Turner and Jill regarding Sanderson’s disappearance, hinting at her investigation.

DeWitt is exceptionally talented at making her characters feel effortlessly natural and authentic on screen, regardless of the role or medium she chooses. This is true for Jill as well. However, Jill’s character development might be less prominent on paper compared to a typical DeWitt performance. Similar to Turner, Jill’s character is metaphorically tormented by the loss of their son Caleb (played by Ezra Wilson), who died before the events depicted in Untamed. This tragedy occurred approximately five years prior to the series.

Turner frequently talks to Caleb, suggesting a haunting presence that may be either a real apparition or a hallucination, but their interactions have a ghostly feel nonetheless. In response to his spiritual turmoil, Turner resorts to alcohol and becomes isolated, both socially and professionally. His tough exterior is a facade, which his peers recognize and some criticize. Milch (William Smillie) mocks him by saying, “Christ, here comes Gary Cooper,” when Turner rides into the scene where the murder of Lucy Cook (Ezra Franky), the main event in the storyline of Untamed, takes place. They first meet in “A Celestial Event” as she jumps off El Capitan and falls into the ropes of two climbers ascending the granite monolith; unfortunately, she doesn’t survive this fall.

In a change of pace, Jill reacts differently to Caleb’s death compared to the typical tough-guy approach. It is revealed that Sanderson, connected to the missing persons case, is actually Caleb’s murderer. The crime was captured on motion cameras set up by Shane Maguire, a park staff member known for his rebellious nature and role as Yosemite’s Wildlife Management Officer. Originally intended to monitor animal migration patterns, these cameras instead expose the truth that Milch spoke to Vasquez in the second episode, “Jane Doe,” about how people venturing into the wild feel unobserved, leading them to act on the negative impulses that arise in their minds.

Shane shares some details with Turner and Jill, suggesting they seek revenge against Sanderson. Turner declines, but Jill agrees. Throughout the series, it seems Turner’s emotional shift after Caleb’s death leads to their divorce. However, an unexpected twist is introduced: Jill’s decision to hire Shane causes their separation. If the writers of “Untamed” had included this plot point earlier, it would have added more depth. Instead, the revelation comes quickly at the end, reducing its impact on the audience. Despite this, DeWitt effectively conveys Jill’s emotional turmoil. Even though her actions might seem extreme, DeWitt’s delivery provokes thoughts: would you, as a parent, make similar choices?

…but Souter takes a fall

In addition to Jill’s revelation to her husband Scott (played by Josh Randall), there is another unexpected development in the case of Lucy Cook’s death that remains unresolved. After Turner successfully unlocks Lucy’s iPhone by using formaldehyde on her cheeks, tricking its facial recognition biometrics, he finds that Terces, who was believed to be an anonymous lover, is actually Shane. Videos showing him abusing Lucy and his pro-murder beliefs suggest that Shane might be the one responsible for pushing Lucy off El Capitan.

Appearances can be misleading, but they don’t blind us completely. It’s clear that we don’t feel any sympathy for Shane when Vasquez catches him off guard and shoots him, thereby saving Turner’s life. It’s no surprise that Turner eventually uncovers Shane’s role in the drug trafficking operation based in Yosemite, where he was moving drugs through old mining tunnels. Shane doesn’t take this revelation well, and nearly kills Turner during a prolonged chase across various landscapes. However, while Shane is undeniably a monster due to his mistreatment of Lucy as her abusive partner and participation in the drug ring, he is innocent when it comes to her death. The true culprit here is Paul Souter, who is not only Lucy’s biological father but also the one who knows this truth, making him responsible for any wrongdoings against Lucy.

From a broader viewpoint, the storyline of Untamed aligns thematically with the profound aspects of parenthood. It explores the extremes we may reach to safeguard our children and the emotional depths we might traverse when we tragically lose them. The character development of Vasquez is intertwined with Michael (JD Pardo), her former partner in both work and life, and their son, Gael (Omi Fitzpatrick-Gonzales), whom she relocated to Yosemite for his security; through flashbacks, we witness Lucy sharing moments with her mother, Maggie (Sarah Dawn Pledge), during happier times, learning about her Native American heritage as a Miwok; Paul assumes the care of his granddaughter, Sadie (Julianna Alarcon), while his other, unacknowledged daughter grapples with personal challenges of her own.

Regardless of how acceptable or delicate it might seem, the screenwriting choice to have Lucy’s death be Paul’s responsibility does not feel any less harsh for Turner. It’s just another blow when he’s still recuperating from his intense battle with Shane. As he pieces together some scattered clues, he finds himself in Nevada, meeting Faith Gibbs (Hilary Jardine), who was one of many children fostered by the Gibbs family. Faith recalls Lucy mentioning that her father, a policeman, would eventually arrest the Gibbs for mistreating their wards. These memories stir within Turner, and as soon as he gets back to Yosemite, he confronts Paul about this matter firsthand.

All Paul claims is that he intended no harm when he took her to the Gibbses, despite their history of abusing Lucy. However, this defense seems flimsy given the mistreatment Lucy faced at the Gibbses. Furthermore, when Lucy returns as an adult and extorts money from Paul, his response is a tragic accident that sends her plummeting off El Capitan. This unfortunate turn of events feels disappointing, like deflating a balloon.

…and Turner moves on.

As a result, the storyline’s ending becomes less impactful for the narrative, as it can only be resolved by Paul tragically shooting himself and falling into a swift-flowing river. Regrettably, this abrupt and unmerited ending undermines Turner’s emotional resolution, serving as a bleak signal flag at the end of Untamed. We follow Turner because we are invested in his personal development. However, Paul’s reckless actions obscure that growth just before the story concludes the journey of Turner’s self-destructive mourning. The sudden shift to Paul’s involvement is particularly disappointing given the strong groundwork for Turner’s eventual resolution provided by his friend, ex-colleague, and Miwok community leader, Jay (Raoul Max Trujillo), in a monologue in the fifth episode, “Terces,” about the profound connection he feels to his ancestors through his bond with Yosemite’s land.

In a poignant moment in “All Trails Lead Here,” Jay expresses that if he were to pass away, it would be here, but even if he chose another place, his ancestors would still accompany him because the spirits from this valley reside within each of us. Turner, with tears streaming down his face, shares a similar sentiment as he says goodbye to Caleb’s image. His heartfelt words are, “No matter where I am or where I go, you’ll always be with me.” As the credits roll, Turner departs from Yosemite, the place of his sorrow, leaving behind a sense of peace and comfort in the memories he cherishes of his beloved son.

The show Untamed incidentally underscores for viewers the immense size of our nation, at a time when the world appears to shrink due to our excessive reliance on personal devices and social media. The tragic events of Paul’s confession and suicide thus create a discordant note in the series’ main theme. Instead, reinforcing the connections we share with our dear ones, whether they’re near or far, offers a more suitable conclusion – one that resonates deeply for Jill, Vasquez, and particularly Turner.

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2025-07-20 14:06

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