The moment Netflix fans have been dreading and anticipating in equal measure finally arrived October 30, 2025. The Witcher Season 4 dropped globally featuring Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia, taking over from Henry Cavill who owned the role for three seasons. This wasn’t a secret recasting, Netflix announced it way back in October 2022, giving fans three years to mentally prepare for someone else wearing that silver wig and yellow contacts. But knowing it’s coming doesn’t make it easier to accept. Reviews are flooding in, and they’re as divided as you’d expect when replacing one of television’s most iconic fantasy characters. Some critics say Hemsworth is “so cautiously not awful that he’s basically invisible.” Others argue he brings softer, more human energy that fits this stage of Geralt’s journey. Fans are split between “he’s fine, actually” and “this feels like a completely different show.” With all eight episodes now streaming and Season 5 confirmed as the final chapter, the question isn’t whether Hemsworth can fill Cavill’s boots but whether this version of The Witcher survives the transition.
The Impossible Task of Following Henry Cavill
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Henry Cavill didn’t just play Geralt, he became him. The British actor, a massive fan of the books and games, brought physical intensity, dry humor, and brooding charisma that defined the character for millions. His “hmm” and “fuck” became memes. His fight choreography looked brutal and believable. When he announced his departure in October 2022, citing creative differences and his return to Superman (which hilariously got cancelled anyway), fans mourned. Some threatened to boycott the show entirely.
Liam Hemsworth faced what PC Gamer called “impossible shoes to fill.” The Australian actor, known for The Hunger Games franchise and being Chris Hemsworth’s younger brother, had to step into a role with three seasons of established characterization, a devoted fanbase, and comparisons to not just Cavill but also Doug Cockle’s iconic video game voice performance. In exclusive interviews with RadioTimes, Hemsworth admitted he was “reluctant” and “hesitant” initially, with numerous concerns about joining a series with such a dedicated following.
Credits: Reddit
“If I wasn’t a fan myself, if I didn’t have any attachment to it, I probably wouldn’t have taken on the role,” Hemsworth confessed. “My decision to join was fueled by my admiration for the series, and I believed I could honor this character well.” That genuine love for the source material matters. He’s not some actor who needed work and took a paycheck. He actually cares about The Witcher, which shines through in his approach to the role.
The show itself tries to ease viewers into the transition through a bizarre opening gambit: flashbacks recapping previous seasons with Hemsworth digitally inserted into old scenes as if he’d been there all along. It’s the equivalent of Netflix trying to swap a dead goldfish and hoping nobody notices. Spoiler: everyone noticed. But after that awkward beginning, something interesting happens. Hemsworth stops trying to be Cavill and becomes his own version of Geralt.
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What Critics Are Actually Saying
Reviews for Season 4 paint a fascinatingly mixed picture. Forbes calls it “The Good, The Bad And The Rats,” noting that despite numerous missteps, it’s the strongest season since the premiere. Why? Because Season 4 embraces a more playful spirit after two seasons tangled in confusing plots and forced conflicts. The show aligns more closely with source material and adopts lighter storytelling tone. That shift benefits everyone, not just the new Geralt.
IGN’s review, titled “Focused but Flawed,” acknowledges Cavill is definitely missed but praises Hemsworth for not attempting to copy his predecessor. “His Geralt feels softer and more human. It takes an episode or two to adjust to his lighter tone and different energy, but by mid-season, it starts to feel right (sort of).” That parenthetical “sort of” captures the ambivalence perfectly. Hemsworth doesn’t fail, but he doesn’t quite triumph either. He exists in the middle ground of “fine, I guess,” which might be the best anyone could hope for given the circumstances.
PC Gamer’s savage take declares Hemsworth “so cautiously not awful that he’s basically invisible,” as if Netflix told him to just “get the baton over the finish line without tripping and no fancy moves.” Ouch. But there’s truth there. Hemsworth plays it safe, doing an impression of Cavill doing an impression of Doug Cockle. His accent wavers. Some words come out hard to distinguish. He lacks Cavill’s physical presence and quiet humor. But he doesn’t embarrass himself, which was probably the minimum requirement.
The Verge argues “Liam Hemsworth isn’t the problem with The Witcher’s fourth season,” pointing to uneven writing and pacing issues that would exist regardless of who wore the wig. The Guardian brutally notes Hemsworth comes across “as charismatic as a bard in a wig,” while Variety surprisingly calls Season 4 an “upgrade.” Kotaku goes further, declaring reviews “pan” the season with headlines like “It’s corndog crap.”
This critical divide reveals something important: The Witcher Season 4’s reception has less to do with Hemsworth’s performance than the show’s overall creative direction and whether fans can accept any Geralt that isn’t Henry Cavill.
Don’t miss out on forming your own opinion before the discourse decides for you!
The Story That Actually Matters
Beyond the recasting drama, Season 4 tells a story. The Continent remains at war following Season 3’s chaos. Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri are separated, each running toward or from their own destinies. Geralt wanders wounded, searching desperately for Ciri. Yennefer attempts bringing mages together to restore the Brotherhood. And Ciri? She’s joined The Rats, a group of misfit thieves trying to survive in a world that won’t stop hunting her.
The Rats storyline represents significant source material from Andrzej Sapkowski’s Baptism of Fire. Fans of the books waited years to see this arc adapted, and reviews suggest it delivers mixed results. Some appreciate the lighter tone and found family dynamics. Others find it tonally jarring compared to previous seasons’ darkness. The season runs just 427 minutes across eight episodes, making it the shortest installment yet (Season 1 was 478 minutes, Season 2 was 458, Season 3 was 451). That compressed runtime means faster pacing but potentially less character development.
The standout addition everyone agrees on? Sharlto Copley as Leo Bonart, the cruel bounty hunter who kills Witchers for sport. Forbes raves that Copley is “delightful in every scene, clearly relishing his role” as a villain both despised and oddly endearing. His scenes provide Season 4’s highlight moments, offering the kind of memorable antagonist the show desperately needed. Laurence Fishburne joins as Regis, the mysterious higher vampire, though reviews suggest his character remains underutilized in this season’s eight episodes.
Anya Chalotra continues delivering as Yennefer, her character’s evolution from selfish sorceress to protective mother figure reaching new emotional depths. Freya Allan’s Ciri transitions from hunted teenager to hardened survivor among The Rats, showcasing growth that justifies her central importance to the overall narrative. Joey Batey’s Jaskier provides comic relief and emotional grounding, his scenes with other characters highlighting what made earlier seasons work.
The Uncomfortable Scene Everyone’s Talking About
One particular scene has generated significant controversy, with viewers calling it “very uncomfortable” according to LadBible’s reporting. Without spoiling specifics, the scene involves Ciri and The Rats in a situation that many felt crossed lines regarding consent and character agency. Reddit discussions exploded with debates about whether the scene was necessary, appropriately handled, or completely out of character. Some argue it reflects the books’ darker elements. Others insist it felt gratuitous and poorly executed.
This controversy matters because it demonstrates how Season 4’s attempts at edgier storytelling don’t always land successfully. The show has always walked the line between mature fantasy and exploitation, and this scene tipped too far for many viewers. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has defended creative choices before, but silence on this particular criticism speaks volumes. When even fans who support Hemsworth’s casting are uncomfortable, the show has a problem beyond the recasting.
What Fans Are Actually Feeling
Reddit and social media reveal fascinating fan psychology. Some viewers admit “I don’t see the issue with Liam Hemsworth” and argue the season keeps them entertained, which is all they’re looking for. Others call it “like a different show entirely” and struggle to engage despite wanting to support the new direction. The most common sentiment? “He grew on me.” Hemsworth apparently needs a few episodes to find his footing, but once he settles in, he becomes tolerable if not exciting.
The fan divide isn’t just about Hemsworth. It’s about whether The Witcher can survive without the actor who defined it for six years. Some fans view this as an opportunity for fresh interpretation. Others see it as betrayal of what made the show special. Neither side is wrong. Both perspectives reflect valid relationships with the series and legitimate feelings about major creative changes to beloved properties.
Season 5’s announcement as the final chapter adds complexity. Netflix is already writing the ending, filming both seasons back-to-back to ensure creative cohesion. That decision means Hemsworth gets exactly two seasons to prove himself before the series concludes. There’s no time for gradual acceptance or slow character development. He has to win over skeptics quickly or risk The Witcher ending on a whimper rather than a bang.
The Bigger Picture About Recasting
The Witcher‘s recasting controversy highlights broader entertainment industry challenges. When actors become synonymous with roles, replacing them feels impossible. Yet it happens constantly. Doctor Who regenerates every few years. James Bond changes faces. Batman has been played by multiple actors within single decades. But fantasy television creates different attachments. Viewers spend hours upon hours with these characters across multiple seasons. The parasocial relationships formed make separations feel personal.
Henry Cavill’s departure stemmed from creative differences, his disappointment with how show runners handled source material. Book purists sympathized, noting the Netflix adaptation made significant changes from Sapkowski’s novels. Cavill, a massive book and game fan, reportedly pushed for closer adaptation. When producers went different directions, he walked. That context makes some fans view Hemsworth as complicit in the show’s “decline,” which isn’t fair but explains the hostility.
The reality? Hemsworth inherited a no-win situation. If he copies Cavill, he’s criticized for lacking originality. If he creates his own interpretation, he’s accused of betraying the character. The only path forward involved patience, humility, and letting the performance speak for itself across multiple episodes. Early reviews suggest he’s done exactly that, for better or worse.
Your Verdict Matters
So what’s the final word on Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt? He’s fine. Not spectacular, not terrible, just fine. In a perfect world, Henry Cavill would’ve stayed through the finale. But this isn’t a perfect world, and Hemsworth deserves credit for stepping into hostile territory and not completely collapsing under pressure. Season 4 has bigger problems than its leading man: uneven writing, uncomfortable scenes, pacing issues, and tonal inconsistencies that existed before the recasting.
Will you give Hemsworth a chance or are you team Cavill forever? Can The Witcher survive without its original monster hunter or does Season 5 need to stick the landing perfectly? Drop your honest reactions in the comments, whether you’ve binged all eight episodes or you’re still deciding if you can handle the change.
Share this with anyone still debating whether to press play on Season 4. Follow for updates when Season 5 filming news drops and we find out if Netflix can wrap this fantasy saga satisfactorily. Because at the end of the day, The Witcher faces one final quest: proving that even without Henry Cavill, there’s still magic left in the Continent worth experiencing. Toss a coin to your new Witcher, or don’t. Either way, the journey’s almost over.
