Season 4 of The Witcher, based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s beloved fantasy novels and popular games, kicks off with an immediate challenge: a nasty, chittering kikimora. A broad-shouldered, silver-haired figure quickly dispatches the arachnid swamp monster. As the camera finally settles on him, his first words—”not the worst”—offer a subtle, yet significant, introduction to the new face of Geralt of Rivia.
Series Details:
- Episodes: 8 (each 51-60 minutes)
- Creator: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
- Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Eamon Farren, Joey Batey, Laurence Fishburne
- Storyline: Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri navigate their separate paths toward an uncertain future.
This opening scene serves as a functional, if not spectacular, re-introduction to Geralt, now portrayed by Liam Hemsworth. After much discussion and speculation surrounding Henry Cavill’s departure, the series quickly moves past the recasting, inviting viewers to embrace this new chapter.
Following the dramatic conclusion of Season 3, our main protagonists find themselves scattered. Geralt, his adoptive daughter Ciri (Freya Allan), and the formidable sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) are all separated. Ciri, having been rescued, aligns herself with the spirited band of thieves known as the Rats, forming a notable connection with Mistle (Juliette Alexandra). Meanwhile, the ruthless bounty hunter Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley), with a past tied to the Rats, relentlessly pursues Ciri.
Yennefer establishes a base in Montecalvo, assembling surviving sorceresses to form a resistance against the formidable Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu). Concurrently, Geralt embarks on his own quest to rescue Ciri from the clutches of Emperor Emhyr (Bart Edwards) in Nilfgaard, who harbors sinister intentions for her. His diverse companions include two dwarves, a gnome, a poet, a half-dryad, and a vampire.
The season intricately weaves these individual plotlines together, featuring a vibrant mix of monster encounters, lively songs, sharp humor, intense battles, and burgeoning romance. Adding an interesting narrative layer, the events are framed as a story being recounted by an elderly man, Stribog (Clive Russell), to a young Nimue (Sha Dessi) a century later.
An unexpected alliance forms as Cahir (Eamon Farren), the Nilfgaardian army commander once Geralt’s adversary in Cintra, reluctantly aids Geralt’s group in their escape and even fights by their side, despite Geralt’s lingering animosity.
A standout new character is Regis (Laurence Fishburne), a mysterious barber-surgeon with remarkable healing abilities and a penchant for delivering some of the show’s most memorable lines. His dry wit shines through, particularly in observations like, “I never understood why survival always manifests itself in boiled greens and a reluctance to dig latrines.”
Jaskier (Joey Batey), the ever-charming traveling bard, provides musical interludes and witty remarks en route to Nilfgaard, while the half-dryad archer Milva (Meng’er Zhang) carries a significant secret. The action sequences are well-executed, featuring dynamic battles across diverse terrains—land, water, remote castles, and bridges. The creature designs, including the riddle-loving rusulka that guards waterways, are notably imaginative and add a playful touch to the grim fantasy.
While the pacing occasionally falters, alternating between extended dialogues and intense bursts of action, the character moments truly shine. Geralt’s tender recollections of braiding Ciri’s hair and the humorous reveal of his original, rather elaborate, choice for his Witcher name (Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde) provide delightful insights into his personality.
One particularly engaging episode, titled ‘The Joy of Cooking’, dedicates itself to Geralt’s companions sharing their diverse and often poignant backstories. Jaskier recounts a rivalry with another bard, the dwarf Zoltan (Danny Woodburn) shares memories of exile, and Milva opens up about her challenging upbringing.
Overall, the eight episodes flow adequately, delivering a predictable mix of curses, spells, political maneuvering, and monster-hunting. However, by the conclusion of the final episode, ‘Baptism of Fire’ (which shares its name with Andrzej Sapkowski’s fifth novel, on which this season is loosely based), the season struggles to leave a lasting impact. With production for Season 5 already complete, Liam Hemsworth will undoubtedly have another opportunity to fully inhabit the role, showcasing his prowess in monster slaying, characteristic grunts, and, of course, the infamous hot tub scenes.
The Witcher Season 4 is currently available for streaming on Netflix.