The Witcher has returned to Netflix with Season 4 and no-one seems happy with it. Liam Hemsworth has taken over from fan-favourite Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, but fans say he made little to no impression in his series debut.
Hemsworth, best known for his role in The Hunger Games, was announced as Cavill’s replacement back in October 2022 in a decision that was met with tremendous controversy. It even led to threats of boycotts from viewers. After previously admitting that it was a ‘daunting’ task to take over as Geralt, it has now been made even more insurmountable as negative reviews continue to roll-in.
The new episodes, which started streaming on October 30, pick up with a recovering Geralt prowling through a war-torn countryside for surrogate daughter Ciri, while mage Yennefer continues to rally more supporters for her campaign to take down a rogue member of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
In premise, the season should be a good time for fantasy fans; after all, it adapts Andrzej Sapkowsk’s Baptism of Fire and part of The Tower of the Swallow. Unfortunately, however, it hasn’t delivered.
Season 4 has debuted with a disappointing 60% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a staggering 21% user score.
IGN said: “The Witcher: Season 4 has more successes than missteps, but as a season, it feels incomplete and just part of a larger tapestry for the show’s endgame,” while the Guardian described the switch to Hemsworth as going from “gruff likeability” to “more bollard in a wig”.”
Radio Times added: “As Cavill’s absence looms large over a story weighed down by uneven writing and tone, it’s clear that Netflix’s flagship fantasy series has lost its magic.
“Unless Season 5 pulls off a monster miracle, this might be one quest even Geralt can’t complete.”
More critique follows, as The Wrap compares Hemsworth to “an anchor” that holds the entire experience hostage, and one which The Witcher can not “wriggle free” from.
Fans are just as disappointed as critics, it seems, with one saying: “The portrayal of Geralt by Liam Hemsworth is not even close to the character and ruined it for any remaining seasons for me.”
Another added: “Why did they do this to my favourite TV show? Simply awful from the very first minute — re-doing key scenes with Liam Hemsworth was a terrible move and won’t make us forget the depth Cavill brought to the character.”
What next? Well Season 5 is in the works, afterwards it’s understood Netflix are prepared to bring the curtain down, with showrunner Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich telling Dexerto: “I think there are so many more stories to be told in The Witcher universe, truly. But I also think you have to step back and accept gracefully, what is the end of this story that we’ve been telling.”
As one door closes, however, another opens, with CD Projekt Red working on The Witcher 4 video game with a focus on Ciri instead of Geralt — hopefully that will be received more favourably.