Netflix has renewed “Untamed” for Season 2, Variety has learned exclusively.
Originally announced as a limited series, the drama set within Yosemite National Park premiered to strong ratings and critical acclaim when it launched on July 17, leading to its speedy renewal.
The series is officially described as a “character-driven mystery thriller that follows National Parks Service special agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) who works to enforce human law in nature’s vast wilderness.” The cast for Season 1 also included Sam Neill, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lily Santiago, Wilson Bethel, Raoul Max Trujillo, William Smillie, Joe Holt, and Josh Randall.
“I am absolutely thrilled that we get the chance to bring another season of ‘Untamed’ to life,” Bana said in a statement. “The response to season 1 has been a testament to the incredible effort by our crew to deliver something truly unique. I can’t wait to take Kyle on his next journey. Massive thanks to Netflix, John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television and our fans.”
“Untamed” debuted at number one on the Netflix global Top 10 English language shows chart for the week of July 14-20. With just a few days of availability, the show racked up an impressive 24.6 million views, with a view defined as total hours viewed divided by total runtime. That was more than double its closest competition for the week, which was “Amy Bradley Is Missing” with 12.2 million views.
Critics likewise took to the series, with the first season holding an 80% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In her review for Variety, Aramide Tinubu wrote, “Using the beauty and splendor of the park as its backdrop, the six-episode series infuses numerous elements into the narrative, ranging from previous investigations to Indigenous practices and complex human relationships, making “Untamed” a wholly distinctive show.”
“Untamed” hails from showrunners Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith. Both serve as executive producers along with Bana, John Wells and Erin Jontow of John Wells Productions, Todd Black and Tony Shaw for Escape Artists Entertainment, Steve Lee Jones for Bee Holder Productions, and Cliff Roberts for Syndicate Entertainment. Warner Bros. Television is the studio.
Untamed: Season 2 Premieres October 3 – And The First Line of Lucy’s Memoir Changes Everything 📖🔥🕯️
On October 3, 2025, Netflix’s Untamed returns with its highly anticipated second season, and the buzz is electric. The gritty murder mystery, set against the untamed beauty of America’s national parks, captivated audiences in Season 1 with its noir-infused storytelling, raw emotional depth, and shocking twists. Created by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, the series follows Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a haunted National Park Service agent navigating grief and crime. Now, Season 2 introduces a game-changing element: the discovery of Lucy Cook’s memoir, with its opening line sending shockwaves through the narrative. This 1000-word exploration dives into why this memoir’s first line is a seismic shift, setting the stage for a thrilling new chapter.
Recapping Season 1’s Emotional and Narrative Stakes
To understand the memoir’s impact, let’s revisit Season 1’s foundation. Untamed Season 1, which premiered on July 17, 2025, became Netflix’s #1 show in 92 countries, blending a murder mystery with the rugged majesty of Yosemite National Park. Kyle Turner, an ISB agent grappling with alcoholism and visions of his deceased son, Caleb, investigates the death of a woman who falls from El Capitan. Revealed as Lucy Cook, she’s later identified as the estranged daughter of Chief Park Ranger Paul Souter (Sam Neill). Her murder uncovers a drug smuggling ring and personal betrayals, including Souter’s accidental shooting of Lucy and Turner’s ex-wife, Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt), orchestrating the murder of Caleb’s killer.
The finale saw Turner confronting these truths, leaving Yosemite, and passing his horse and Caleb’s toys to his partner, Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago). The season’s emotional core—Turner’s grief and fractured relationships—set a high bar for Season 2. With 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 10 Emmy nominations, Untamed established itself as a masterclass in storytelling, balancing visceral action with psychological depth.
Season 2’s New Terrain and Narrative Shift
Season 2, premiering October 3, 2025, moves Turner to a new national park, a deliberate choice by the Smiths to challenge him in an unfamiliar landscape. While Yosemite’s cliffs defined Season 1, the new setting—speculated to be the Everglades’ murky swamps or Yellowstone’s volcanic expanse—promises a distinct atmosphere. “We wanted a park that feels alive, almost antagonistic,” Elle Smith told Tudum, hinting at a setting that mirrors Turner’s inner turmoil. This shift ensures the mystery feels organic to the environment, avoiding a rehash of Season 1’s climbing-centric plot.
The season introduces a new case, likely tied to the park’s unique ecology or local communities. Turner, still reeling from Season 1’s betrayals, faces fresh challenges to his authority and emotional stability. Eric Bana, in a Variety interview, described Turner’s arc as “a man forced to rebuild trust, starting with himself.” Returning cast members, including Lily Santiago as Naya and possibly Rosemarie DeWitt as Jill, will deepen the ensemble, while new characters tied to the park’s mystery add complexity.
Lucy’s Memoir: The Opening Line That Shatters Expectations
The centerpiece of Season 2’s premiere is Lucy Cook’s memoir, a posthumous revelation that redefines the narrative. A leaked clip, widely discussed on X since late July 2025, shows Turner discovering a weathered notebook in the new park’s ranger station. As he opens it, the camera lingers on the first line, written in Lucy’s hand. While the exact wording remains under wraps, posts on X, like one from @starlittrail on July 30, describe it as “a gut-punch that changes how you see Season 1.” Another user, @wilderxshadow, called it “the kind of line that makes you rewatch the whole show.”
The memoir’s opening line reportedly reveals a secret about Lucy’s life that ties her death to Turner’s past in an unexpected way. Speculation on X suggests it could expose a hidden connection between Lucy and Caleb’s death, or even implicate a known character in a larger conspiracy. The line’s power lies in its ability to reframe Lucy’s role—not just as a victim, but as a keeper of secrets that ripple into Season 2’s mystery. As Mark Smith told Cosmopolitan, “Lucy’s story isn’t over. Her voice drives the heart of Season 2.”
The memoir itself is a narrative device that feels both personal and mythic. Written in Lucy’s voice, it blends raw emotion with cryptic clues, offering insights into her troubled past with Souter and her time in Yosemite. The opening line, described as poetic yet devastating, sets the tone for a season that will explore memory, truth, and the cost of buried secrets. Fans on X, like @ravenpark87, have praised its emotional weight, noting, “It’s like Lucy’s speaking from beyond, and it’s haunting.”
Why the Memoir’s First Line Matters
This opening line is a narrative masterstroke for several reasons. First, it reintroduces Lucy as an active presence, ensuring her death isn’t a mere plot device but a catalyst for Season 2’s stakes. By giving her a voice through the memoir, the Smiths honor her complexity while deepening the mystery. The line’s ambiguity—teasing a truth without fully revealing it—hooks viewers, mirroring the slow-burn suspense of Season 1’s El Capitan reveal.
Second, it destabilizes Turner’s fragile progress. Having left Yosemite to escape his past, Turner is now confronted with Lucy’s words, which may force him to question everything he thought he’d resolved. This aligns with the showrunners’ goal to make Turner “uncomfortable,” as Elle Smith noted. The memoir’s discovery in the new park suggests Lucy’s influence extends beyond Yosemite, hinting at a broader network of secrets—perhaps tied to the ISB or the park system itself.
Finally, the line’s impact resonates with fans because it’s both personal and universal. Lucy’s memoir, starting with a single, shattering sentence, taps into Untamed’s core themes: grief, redemption, and the search for truth in a wild, unforgiving world. Social media reactions, like @moonlitclue’s post—“That line made me cry and scream at the same time”—underscore its emotional and narrative weight.
What’s Next for Season 2?
The memoir’s introduction sets Season 2 on a bold path. The premiere, airing October 3, will likely see Turner grappling with the memoir’s revelations while investigating a new crime tied to the park’s landscape. The setting’s unique features—whether Yellowstone’s geysers or the Everglades’ alligator-infested waters—will shape the case, with potential themes of environmental crime or indigenous land disputes. Naya Vasquez, now a more seasoned ranger, may play a larger role, possibly uncovering parts of the memoir alongside Turner.
The memoir itself will likely unfold across episodes, with each chapter revealing new clues. Posts on X speculate that it could implicate a returning character, like Souter or Jill, or introduce a new antagonist with ties to Lucy’s past. The show’s visual style, praised for its cinematic use of Yosemite’s vistas, will adapt to the new park, creating a fresh yet haunting aesthetic. As Eric Bana told Tudum, “Season 2 feels like a new beast, but it’s still Untamed at its core—raw, real, and relentless.”
Conclusion
Untamed Season 2, premiering October 3, 2025, is poised to surpass its predecessor with the introduction of Lucy Cook’s memoir and its earth-shattering first line. This single sentence redefines the series’ stakes, pulling Turner—and viewers—into a mystery that blends personal tragedy with a broader conspiracy. With a new park, a fresh case, and the return of Eric Bana’s powerhouse performance, Untamed continues to prove why it’s Netflix’s must-watch drama. As Lucy’s voice echoes from the pages of her memoir, one thing is clear: the wilderness holds more secrets, and the truth is just beginning to surface.
Sources:
Netflix Tudum, “Untamed Season 2: Cast, Release Date, Photos, Plot of Eric Bana Show”
Variety, “Untamed’s Eric Bana on the Finale’s Great Twist, Possible Season 2”
Cosmopolitan, “Untamed Season 2: All the Details on What’s Coming Next”
Posts on X, July–August 2025
