It’s bold. It’s brutal. And it’s blowing up faster than anyone expected.

Netflix has officially dropped its newest original series, Untamed, and within 48 hours, it’s already being hailed by fans and critics alike as “the better Yellowstone” — a title few shows have dared to chase and even fewer have deserved. But somehow, Untamed might just earn it.

This isn’t your typical cowboy drama. It’s a violent, brooding, and morally twisted saga set in the unforgiving wilds of the American West — and it’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about releases of the year.

🌵 What Is ‘Untamed’ About?

At first glance, Untamed might look like another rural crime drama with a rugged backdrop. But it doesn’t take long for the show to turn expectations inside out.

The series follows the Maddox family — multigenerational ranchers who have ruled Wyoming’s Bitterroot Valley with steel, silence, and secrets for decades. When an outsider oil company offers to buy up surrounding lands, a brutal land war erupts — not just with corporate invaders, but within the family itself.

And let’s be clear: this isn’t a slow burn. Episode 1 opens with a funeral and ends with a body in a river.

The show dives deep into power, corruption, generational trauma, and the raw price of loyalty. If Yellowstone was about preserving legacy, Untamed is about fighting for it with bloody hands and burned bridges.

🌟 Who’s in the Cast?

Netflix brought the heat with this casting lineup, blending prestige and grit:

Josh Holloway (Lost, Yellowstone) stars as Clint Maddox, the family patriarch with a criminal past and a code of silence.

Kaitlyn Dever (Dopesick, Unbelievable) plays Jessie Maddox, the sharp-tongued daughter torn between escaping and inheriting her family’s darkness.

Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian) steals every scene as Reverend Cole, a preacher with blood on his hands and a rifle in his truck.

Demián Bichir and Julia Garner also appear in recurring roles that critics say “change the trajectory of the season completely.”

This cast doesn’t just deliver — they detonate.

🔥 Why Critics Are Calling It “Better Than Yellowstone”

The comparisons to Yellowstone were inevitable — but what’s surprising is how many reviewers are siding with Untamed.

“Untamed is Yellowstone with the gloves off,” wrote one Rolling Stone critic. “It’s meaner, leaner, and dares to go where most network westerns won’t.”

The writing is sharp. The cinematography is cinematic, with drone shots sweeping across canyons, creeks, and d3ad horses. And the pacing? Unrelenting.

One Vulture headline summed it up perfectly:
“Untamed is not here to waste your time — or pull its punches.”

💬 Fan Reactions: “This Is the Western We Deserve”

Social media is already flooded with reactions. #UntamedNetflix trended on X (formerly Twitter) within hours of release, with fans praising everything from the soundtrack to the script’s razor-sharp dialogue.

One viewer tweeted:

“Imagine if Ozark and Yellowstone had a lovechild and then raised it in hell. That’s Untamed.”

Another said:

“This show gave me trust issues in episode 2 — and I loved it.”

🧨 Themes That Hit Harder Than Expected

Beyond the grit and gunfights, Untamed leans into real social commentary — land rights, Indigenous history, addiction, masculinity, and rural poverty. The show doesn’t moralize, but it forces viewers to sit with discomfort.

The Maddox family doesn’t have heroes — only survivors. And that makes the tension feel eerily real.

📅 How Many Episodes? And Will There Be More?

Season 1 consists of 8 episodes, each around 55 minutes. And yes — Netflix reportedly greenlit Season 2 before Season 1 even premiered, signaling huge confidence in the show’s future.

Viewership numbers haven’t been released yet, but Untamed is already topping charts in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

🎯 Final Verdict

If you’re craving a drama with real stakes, complex villains, jaw-dropping twists, and enough family dysfunction to make your Thanksgiving look peaceful — Untamed is your next obsession.

It’s not a reboot. Not a remake. Not another copycat.