Netflix’s The Witcher returned for its fourth season on October 30, but the highly anticipated comeback is being met with harsh criticism from both professional reviewers and long-time fans. The series, which marks the debut of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia, is currently struggling to maintain relevance as it faces its lowest critical reception to date.
Liam Hemsworth’s Debut Underwhelms
The shadow of Henry Cavill’s departure looms large over the new season. Despite Netflix’s attempt to integrate Hemsworth into the show’s legacy—even going so far as to retcon him into past scenes during the recap—the transition has been far from seamless. Most early feedback suggests that while Hemsworth isn’t necessarily the primary source of the show’s failure, he fails to elevate the material. At best, viewers describe his performance as passable, but it certainly hasn’t silenced the controversy surrounding the recasting.
A Plot Mired in Confusion
The narrative arc of season 4 finds a recovering Geralt traversing a war-torn landscape in search of his surrogate daughter, Ciri, who is currently embedded with a band of outlaws. Simultaneously, Yennefer is attempting to rally allies to take down the rogue sorcerer Vilgefortz. Unfortunately, the execution of these plotlines has been labeled as a “bloated mess.” Critics argue that the show struggles with an uneven tone, oscillating awkwardly between somber, high-stakes political drama and campy, low-budget adventure tropes that feel disconnected from the source material’s potential.
Critical Backlash and Fan Disdain
The downward trajectory that began during the disjointed third season has culminated in a 58 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with audience scores plummeting even further into the teens. Industry voices have been particularly scathing: Andrew Webster of The Verge noted that the show’s issues go far beyond the lead actor, citing a lack of focus. Meanwhile, Nick Hilton of The Independent went as far as to describe the series as “pure bilge,” suggesting that even the show’s creature designs and action sequences cannot save it from its narrative shortcomings.
The sentiment among fans is equally biting. Many have taken to review platforms to express frustration with the direction of the series, describing elements of the show as “nonsense” and pointing to bizarre creative choices—such as witches on brooms and questionable character motivations—as evidence that the adaptation has lost its way.
The Future of the Franchise
While some outlets like IGN have offered a more measured take, calling the season “incomplete” but acknowledging some successes, the overall consensus remains grim. Despite the poor reception, Netflix is still moving forward with plans for a fifth season. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich has hinted that season 5 may mark the end of this specific iteration of the saga, noting the importance of knowing when to conclude the story gracefully after a nine-year commitment.
As the live-action series nears its potential conclusion, eyes are shifting toward CD Projekt Red’s upcoming The Witcher 4 video game. With the game set to shift its focus from Geralt to Ciri, players are hoping that this transition will be far more successful than the one currently playing out on Netflix.
