The debut of The Witcher Season 4 on Netflix has recorded a dramatic drop in viewership, with early numbers showing a decline of more than 50% compared to previous seasons. This steep fall coincides with the debut of Liam Hemsworth as the new Geralt of Rivia, replacing the departing Henry Cavill.
Sharp Decline in Early Viewership
Netflix’s data reveals a significant audience downturn for the new season. Season 4 managed to secure 7.4 million views in its first four days of release. This performance not only placed the show second in Netflix’s Top 10 chart—marking the first time it failed to debut at number one—but also represents a severe drop from previous seasons.
Second season viewership was 18.5 million in its first three days, while the third season had 15.2 million in its first four days. The fourth season’s numbers show a decrease of approximately 51% to 60% from these earlier benchmarks. Industry data from Samba TV corroborates this trend, indicating a 35% drop in the number of households that watched the premiere compared to Season 3.
A New Face for Geralt of Rivia
The fourth season introduces a major change for the series, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the lead role of Geralt from Henry Cavill. Cavill, who had played the character for three seasons, announced his departure in October 2022.
Reports at the time suggested that creative differences were a key factor in his decision. Cavill was known to be a passionate fan of the original book series by Andrzej Sapkowski and had publicly advocated for the show to stay faithful to the source material. It was reported that he grew frustrated with the show’s creative direction as it moved away from the books.
The show’s narrative attempted to address the recasting directly. In the new season, Geralt adopts a new identity and appearance, with the story using the concept of “different versions of a legend” to explain the character’s changed look.
Fan Reaction and Lingering Loyalty
The audience response to the change has been mixed, with many fans on social media expressing continued loyalty to Henry Cavill’s version of the character. Despite some viewers accepting Hemsworth’s performance, a significant portion of the fandom remains focused on Cavill’s legacy.
Online discussions are filled with fans reminiscing about the previous seasons and questioning what the show would be like if Cavill had remained. This lingering attachment highlights the challenge a series faces when recasting such an iconic role.
Showrunner’s Response to Backlash and Criticism
In response to the declining viewership and fan criticism, showrunner Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich has defended the show’s creative choices. She emphasized that the Netflix series is its own adaptation and that fans always have the option to return to the original books or video games.
“You have book fans, you have video game fans, and then you have fans that knew nothing about this world until the show existed,” Schmidt-Hissrich said. “We have to remember what we are doing, which is a television show. No one is taking the books away. No one is taking the video games away. I think everyone can have their version of The Witcher and this is this version.”
She also pointed out the practical constraints of adapting the book series, noting, “We have eight hours every season to tell these stories, and we’re never going to be able to tell everything from the books. There have to be changes that you make for adaptation.”
This stance has been at the center of the controversy surrounding the show. Long before the recasting, the series had been criticized by some book and game fans for deviating from the source material and its world-building. The showrunner’s latest comments suggest the creative team is standing by its vision for the series, even as viewership declines.
The Road Ahead for The Witcher
Despite the challenging start for Season 4, Netflix is moving forward with the story. The show has been renewed for a fifth and final season, which will conclude the adaptation. Schmidt-Hissrich has noted that by the time Season 5 is complete, the project will have spanned nine years of her life.
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