The opening scene of the Prime Video series "Wilderness" features the show's protagonist, Liv (Jenna Coleman), driving her car over a Black Widow spider. This imagery foreshadows the intense narrative ahead, where Liv embodies the idea of becoming what even monsters fear. While Black Widow spiders are known for their lethality, a woman pushed to her limits could prove to be even more formidable.
Nine months earlier, we flashback to Liv and Will (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) moving into their loft apartment in New York, prompted by Will's job transfer from London. At this juncture, they bask in an almost dreamlike existence, one that occasionally leaves Liv in disbelief. Their attendance at a lavish work function in a high-end hotel finds them clinging to each other like newlyweds. In conversation with Will's boss Bonnie (Talia Balsam), Liv explains she won't be working due to Will's visa situation, and instead, she plans to delve into writing a novel and indulging in more baking. In response, Bonnie cautions her against becoming too tied to the kitchen, painting a vivid picture of domestic isolation. Liv, however, appears unfazed.
The pair soon decide to take a vacation, which fulfills Liv's longstanding desire, and Will is using it as a means to seek redemption after Liv learns of his infidelity with a co-worker. However, Liv has a distinct objective in mind and starts contemplating scenarios in which their journey could turn fatal for Will... all while appearing to be accidental. Her scheme for retribution becomes more intricate when they unexpectedly encounter Will's former affair partner, Cara (Ashley Benson), and her unsuspecting boyfriend, Garth (Eric Balfour), during a hike in Yosemite National Park.
The show's tone shifts between a brooding portrayal of a fractured marriage steeped in betrayal and deception, and ventures into sensationalistic territory, punctuated by sporadic bursts of abrupt violence and murder. Although Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" fits the show, it imparts a sensation better suited for a teen drama on Freeform or The CW, and feels a touch incongruous for characters in their thirties.
"Wilderness" exudes a polished, stylish aesthetic and aspires to echo the vibe of "Gone Girl." However, it may lean slightly more towards conventionality or perhaps veers towards predictability, riding the current of stories attempting to replicate the success of that film.
Despite its shortcomings, there's much to appreciate in this engaging drama centered around themes of infidelity, vengeance, and a tumultuous road trip.
