The creator of Netflix’s hit 2025 gritty Western series is back with another TV show, which critics are saying is even better thanAmerican Primeval. Mark L. Smith, best known for writing the screenplay for the 2015 Oscar-winning filmThe Revenant, co-createdNetflix’s new #1 show,Untamed.
Eric Bana leads thecast ofUntamedas Kyle Turner, a federal agent atYosemite National Parkwho is haunted by a past tragedy. When the body of a teenage girl is found dead at the top of El Capitan,Kyle gives everything he’s got into solving the mystery of her strange death.
How Untamed’s Reviews Compare To American Primeval’s
Untamed’s Critical Reception Has A Slight Edge Over American Primeval
Untamedopened to mostly positive reviews after premiering on Netflix on July 25, 2025, resulting in aCertified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score of 76%at the time of writing.American Primeval, by comparison, earned an RT score of 72%but did not earn the coveted “Certified Fresh” designation.
72%
87%
76%
That said,American Primevalwas a bigger hit among at-home viewers than critics, resulting in an RT audience score of 87%. Currently,Untamedhas earned the exact same audience score of 87%. It should be noted, however, thatboth ofUntamed’sRT scores are subject to changeas more critic and audience reviews continue to roll in.
Mike Hale of theNew York Timeswrites in his “Fresh” review, “It’s conventional stuff, but Bana and Santiago play off each other reasonably well, and the mystery is a little more rigorously worked out than the Netflix norm.”
I wrote in my review forScreen Rant, “Untamed falls short compared to Smith’s more entertaining projects and proves the quality of his stories may be dependent on a director with vision.“The series is definitely a slow burn, which some viewers may loveand others may find dull and uncompelling.
Untamed & American Primeval Offer Something Very Different For Viewers
Both Are Virtually Opposite Tonally & Technically
WhileUntamedhas its intense moments and action sequences, the series unfolds at a much slower pace thanAmerican Primevaldoes.The cinematography inUntamedis also virtually the opposite ofAmerican Primeval, which employed a fluid, swiveling camera.Untamedmostly consists of still frames with limited pans and rigid tilts.
Untamedoften leans into melodrama and tragedy, backdropped by the beauty of California’s Yosemite National Park (although the series was filmed in Canada).American Primevalis not melodramatic in the slightest, telling a visceral tale of survival with a brutal degree of violence.
Although both series are created by the same writer,American PrimevalandUntamedsurprisingly don’t have very much in common.
