The Witcher S4 Premieres with Hemsworth as Geralt, Low Ratings

Netflix's The Witcher returned with its fourth season on October 30, featuring Liam Hemsworth stepping into the role of Geralt of Rivia for the first time, following Henry Cavill's departure after the third season. The fantasy series, adapted from Andrzej Sapkowski's novels, has drawn mixed reactions from viewers and critics, with praise for enhanced action sequences and select performances overshadowed by declining viewership and polarized opinions on the storyline.

The season premiered to significantly lower numbers than previous installments. Official data shows it garnered 7.4 million views in its first four days, a sharp drop from the 19 million views for season two over the same period. Total viewing hours reached 53.2 million, roughly half of season two's 142.43 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, the episodes hold a 56 percent score from critics and just 19 percent from audiences, marking the series' lowest ratings to date. While some attributed the dip to Hemsworth's casting change, others pointed to a perceived rushed narrative and reduced emotional engagement.

Behind the scenes, the production faced challenges after Cavill announced his exit in 2022, citing a desire to...