Netflix’s flagship fantasy series The Witcher is facing its toughest chapter yet, with Season 4 suffering a major ratings and viewership decline following Henry Cavill’s departure and Liam Hemsworth’s debut as Geralt of Rivia.
The new season premiered last week to lukewarm critical reception and overwhelmingly negative fan response. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Season 4 currently holds a 61% critics’ rating alongside an abysmal 20% audience score—by far the lowest in the show’s history. The steep drop underscores widespread dissatisfaction over the recast and continued deviations from Andrzej Sapkowski’s source material.
Audience engagement has also plummeted. Fresh data from Samba TV shows that The Witcher Season 4 premiere reached just 577,000 U.S. households during its opening weekend—down 35% from the 885,000 who tuned in for Season 3’s debut.
Fan sentiment has grown increasingly divided in recent years. Many longtime viewers have criticized narrative changes, inconsistent characterization, and creative liberties taken by the writers. The introduction of Hemsworth as Geralt has only amplified debates within the fandom, further polarizing audiences.
Despite the backlash, Netflix plans to see the saga through to completion. Season 5 confirmed as the final installment has already finished filming after being shot back-to-back with Season 4. While no release date has been announced, the concluding chapter is expected to premiere in 2026, bringing Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer’s stories to an end.
With plummeting ratings, declining viewership, and mounting fan criticism, The Witcher now faces an uphill battle to regain its once-formidable standing. Whether its finale can restore faith in the franchise remains uncertain.