The Witcher Season 4 Review: The Witcher Season 4 had a mountain to climb before it even started. Henry Cavill is out, Liam Hemsworth is in, and fans (myself included) were already sharpening their swords before the first episode dropped. I binged the entire season to see if it still had the spark that made Season 1 so damn good, and here’s the honest truth.
My Rating: 3.0/5
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | The Witcher Season 4 |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Genre | Fantasy, Drama, Action |
| Created by | Lauren Schmidt Hissrich |
| Based on | The Witcher book series by Andrzej Sapkowski |
| Main Cast | Liam Hemsworth (Geralt of Rivia), Anya Chalotra (Yennefer), Freya Allan (Ciri), Laurence Fishburne, Joey Batey |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Where to Watch | Netflix |
My Honest Take: Watching This Felt… Different
I’ve been with The Witcher since day one. I still remember that first episode in 2019, Cavill’s Geralt emerging from the swamp, covered in monster guts, muttering “Hmm.” That was the moment I got hooked.
Fast forward to Season 4, Henry Cavill is gone, Liam Hemsworth is in, and I won’t lie: I started this season with crossed arms and low expectations.
I wanted to give it a fair chance, but at the same time, I felt a weird emptiness from the opening episode. Cavill was the soul of this show. His love for the lore, his subtle acting, even his physicality, everything fit perfectly. So yeah, watching someone else hold that sword felt off at first.
But I gave Liam Hemsworth a chance, and to my surprise, he wasn’t bad.
The Big Recast: Liam Hemsworth vs Henry Cavill
Let’s talk about the obvious.
Henry Cavill didn’t just play Geralt, he was Geralt. You could tell he knew every line from the books and genuinely cared about keeping the tone authentic. So when all those behind-the-scenes stories surfaced about writers mocking the source material and Cavill being frustrated, I wasn’t shocked he walked away.
Enter Liam Hemsworth.
He’s not Cavill, and he doesn’t pretend to be. His version of Geralt is slightly more agile, more emotionally readable, and less stoic. He looks leaner, he fights differently, and his growl feels… lighter.
At first, that’s jarring. But I’ll give him this: by episode 3, he started to grow on me. You can see he’s really trying to respect what Cavill built while adding his own touch. The problem is, the writing doesn’t give him much help.
The Story: Too Many Paths, Not Enough Purpose
Season 4 picks up right after the chaotic events of Season 3. The Continent is in turmoil, kingdoms are at war, and Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri are all separated.
In theory, that sounds great: three powerful characters on separate journeys, eventually crossing paths again. But the execution? It’s messy.
Geralt’s story is like a mini “Fellowship of the Ring,” with him traveling alongside a ragtag group. Yennefer’s off looking for powerful allies, and Ciri’s heading down a darker, more violent road.
It could’ve worked. But the storytelling never finds its emotional rhythm. The dialogue feels flatter. The pacing drags. You’re constantly jumping between plotlines, and not one of them hits with the emotional weight that Season 1 had.
There are cool moments, some fight scenes are genuinely thrilling, and the monster design still slaps, but everything else feels like a faint echo of what used to be.
The Good Stuff in The Witcher Season 4
Let’s be fair. Season 4 isn’t a total disaster. There are things worth appreciating:
- Liam Hemsworth’s Effort: He clearly respects the character. By mid-season, I could actually see flashes of a believable Geralt.
- Action & Choreography: The sword fights are still top-notch. That first battle sequence in episode one? Brutal and well-shot.
- Visuals & World-Building: The Continent still looks stunning. The armor, the monsters, the spell effects, pure eye candy.
- Ciri’s Arc: Freya Allan gives her best performance yet. Her descent into moral grayness is easily the most interesting part of the season.
- New Faces: Laurence Fishburne brings gravitas, even if he’s underused.
The Bad Stuff in The Witcher Season 4
- Writing Issues: The scripts feel half-baked. The emotional weight that made Season 1 shine is gone.
- Disconnected Storylines: Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri are apart for too long; the show loses its heart when they’re not together.
- Lack of Tension: The stakes don’t feel real anymore. Big moments just… happen.
- Faithfulness to the Books: If you’ve read the source material, you’ll be frustrated. The adaptation feels looser than ever.
- Forced Shock Value: Some character deaths and twists feel unnecessary, almost desperate for attention.
Also Read: IT: Welcome to Derry Review — HBO’s New Horror Series Is Creepy but Pointless?
Overall Balance
If you’re a casual fantasy fan who just wants cool monsters and fight scenes, you’ll probably have fun.
If you’ve been emotionally invested since Season 1, you’ll feel the weight of what’s missing.
There’s a pulse here, but it’s faint.
From Worst to Best: The Witcher Seasons Ranked
| Rank | Season | Verdict | My Quick Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Season 3 | Worst | Bloated, directionless, almost unwatchable. |
| 3 | Season 4 | Meh | Better than 3, but missing heart and focus. |
| 2 | Season 2 | Decent | Some solid world-building, shaky tone. |
| 1 | Season 1 | Best | Dark, smart, full of mystery — pure Witcher energy. |
Final Thoughts on The Witcher Season 4
I’ll be honest, watching Season 4 felt like watching a band try to perform without its lead singer. The rhythm’s still there, the chords still sound familiar, but that soul-shaking magic? Gone.
That said, Liam Hemsworth doesn’t deserve the hate. He stepped into a nearly impossible situation and gave it his best. He’s not the problem; the writing is.
Will I watch Season 5? Yeah, probably. I’ve come too far not to. But unless the storytelling gets sharper, this series might end with more disappointment than destiny.
My Final Score
3.0/5 – Visually beautiful, occasionally fun, but emotionally hollow. Liam tries hard, but the show around him feels lost.
