The Witcher Season 4 Sparks Mixed Reviews, Creator Defends Controversial Changes

The fourth season of Netflix's "The Witcher" has sparked significant controversy, primarily due to the casting change from Henry Cavill to Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia. Early reviews have largely criticized Hemsworth's portrayal as lacking the depth and charisma Cavill brought to the role, with fans and critics alike feeling the series has lost its original charm and coherence. A particularly contentious moment in the season is a line delivered by Hemsworth's Geralt, "Let's f**king move!", which many fans argue is out of character and inconsistent with the series' high fantasy tone. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich defended the creative decisions, emphasizing that this version of Geralt fits the context of the story and stressing the challenge of balancing different fan expectations across books, games, and newcomers. Hissrich also reassured that the show would not outpace the source novels and aims to faithfully adapt the remaining material in its final seasons. Despite the backlash, there remains hope among some viewers that the series will find its footing and successfully conclude its narrative arc.