Liam Hemsworth’s debut as Geralt marks a new chapter for The Witcher – one that begins under the shadow of the show’s worst reviews yet.
Early reactions paint a bleak picture for Netflix’s The Witcher, as viewers call this the show’s weakest chapter yet. What was once Netflix’s crown jewel of fantasy now seems to be losing its shine, weighed down by uneven writing and fading audience trust.
A Grim Start For The Witcher’s New Era
What began as one of Netflix’s most promising fantasy franchises has been on a steady decline since its early success. By the time The Witcher reached its third season, cracks in its storytelling and tone were already hard to ignore, and with Season 4, the show seems to have finally hit rock bottom.
Early reactions have been brutal. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics have given the new season barely 60 percent, while audience scores hover around a dismal 20 percent. Metacritic tells a similar story, with user ratings sinking below 2 out of 10. The numbers paint a grim picture of a once-popular series now struggling to hold onto its magic.
Season 4 also marks the arrival of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia, stepping in for Henry Cavill after his much-publicized exit. While the recasting is certainly a factor in the show’s mixed reception, it is far from the root of the problem. Most reviewers agree that the issues run deeper: uneven pacing, disjointed subplots, and inconsistent writing that fails to capture a clear creative vision.
The Witcher’s Problems Didn’t Start with Season 4... or Liam Hemsworth
The decline of The Witcher began early, when the series started to stray from its source material. Over time, the adaptation took broader creative liberties, moving further from the tone and spirit of Andrzej Sapkowski’s books . Fans who came for the world’s complexity and moral ambiguity began to feel alienated, while the story itself grew increasingly uneven and unfocused.
Henry Cavill’s exit only amplified the sense that something deeper had gone wrong. His departure, widely attributed to creative differences, seemed to confirm that the show had lost its identity. Cavill was not just the lead actor but one of the few still committed to keeping the story grounded in its roots.
Now, with Liam Hemsworth stepping into the role, the series is left carrying the weight of those earlier missteps. Season 4 is not failing because of a new Geralt but because years of creative drift have finally caught up with it.
Where Can The Witcher Go From Here?
In the end, The Witcher’s biggest enemy may not be its critics, but its own lack of direction. The show drifted from its source material, lost the clarity of its vision, and pushed away the one person who seemed to care most about keeping it true to its roots. What comes next will show whether Netflix can still find purpose in a story that once had so much promise.
What do you think? Did you watch The Witcher season 4? Let us know in the comments!
