Netflix’s flagship fantasy franchise faces its toughest season yet as fans and critics react strongly to sweeping changes.
Season 4 of The Witcher has become the most divisive chapter in the series’ history, marking a dramatic turning point for the long-running Netflix adaptation.
The new season, which introduced Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia following Henry Cavill’s exit, arrived on the platform last week—and its reception has been far from encouraging.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, Season 4 currently holds a 61% critics’ rating paired with a dramatically low 20% audience score, making it the lowest-reviewed season of the franchise by a wide margin.
While the series has always experienced a gap between critic and fan reactions, this season’s numbers show a steep drop in audience approval, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with both the recasting and the show’s continued deviations from Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels.
Compounding the ratings slump, The Witcher also recorded a major decline in viewership. New data released by Samba TV revealed that the Season 4 premiere was viewed in just 577,000 U.S. households during launch weekend—down 35% from the 885,000 households that tuned in for Season 3’s debut episode.
The sharp decline highlights fading audience interest at a crucial moment for the series.
#TheWitcher is back – and with #LiamHemsworth at the helm.
— Samba TV (@samba_tv) November 3, 2025
The first ep of season four was watched by 35% less households than season three (577k vs. 885k). Currently ranked as the series’ lowest-rated season yet on Rotten Tomatoes, that's not stopping some fans who are still… pic.twitter.com/Hwalh57jKF
Fan sentiment has been increasingly strained over the past two seasons, with many longtime followers expressing frustration over changes to the source material, characterization shifts, and plot restructuring.
The recasting of Geralt has only intensified debates within the fandom, further driving the divide between those still invested in the adaptation and those disappointed by its direction.
Despite the turmoil, Netflix is already committed to completing the story. Season 5—the final installment of the series—has wrapped production after being filmed back-to-back with Season 4.
While the streamer has not announced an official release date, the concluding season is widely expected to premiere in 2026, bringing Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer’s arcs to a definitive end.
With ratings falling, viewership shrinking, and vocal fan backlash mounting, The Witcher faces an uphill battle as it prepares to close out its fantasy epic.
Whether the finale can repair the show’s fractured relationship with its audience remains to be seen.
