The highly anticipated fourth season of The Witcher, inspired by Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels and popular video game, kicks off with a familiar scene: a formidable kikimora monster. This time, a silver-haired, broad-shouldered figure quickly dispatches the arachnid beast. As the camera reveals him, his first words set the tone: “not the worst.”
The Witcher Season 4 Details
- Episodes: 8 (51-60 minutes each)
- Creator: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
- Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Eamon Farren, Joey Batey, Laurence Fishburne
- Storyline: Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri embark on their individual journeys toward an uncertain destiny.
This opening serves as our first official introduction to Liam Hemsworth in the role of Geralt of Rivia. With much discussion surrounding Henry Cavill’s exit from the series due to creative differences, it’s clear the show is keen to move past the recasting debate.
Season 3 concluded with Geralt, his adopted daughter Princess Ciri (Freya Allan), and his love interest Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) going their separate ways. Ciri, having been rescued by a lively group of thieves known as the Rats, quickly finds a connection with Mistle (Juliette Alexandra). Meanwhile, the ruthless bounty hunter Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley), with a shared past with the Rats, is relentlessly pursuing Ciri.
Yennefer, meanwhile, establishes a base in Montecalvo, uniting the surviving sorceresses to form a formidable resistance against the formidable sorcerer Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu). Geralt, accompanied by his unlikely fellowship—a band of ‘two dwarves, a gnome, a poet, a half-dryad, and a vampire’—journeys towards Nilfgaard with the urgent mission of rescuing Ciri from the scheming Emperor Emhyr (Bart Edwards).
The season weaves together these disparate storylines, sprinkling in elements of monster hunts, musical interludes, humor, intense battles, and blossoming romance. A unique narrative device sees these events recounted a century later by an elder storyteller, Stribog (Clive Russell), to the young and eager Nimue (Sha Dessi).
Despite Geralt’s deep-seated animosity towards Cahir (Eamon Farren), the Nilfgaardian commander responsible for Cintra’s invasion and Ciri’s pursuit, circumstances force them to cooperate. Cahir unexpectedly aids Geralt’s group in their escape and even fights valiantly beside them.
A standout addition is the enigmatic barber-surgeon, Regis (Laurence Fishburne), whose wisdom in healing is matched only by his memorable quips, such as, “I never understood why survival always manifests itself in boiled greens and a reluctance to dig latrines.”
Jaskier (Joey Batey), the ever-present bard, provides comic relief and musical narration on the perilous journey to Nilfgaard, while Milva (Meng’er Zhang), the skilled half-dryad archer, harbors a hidden secret. The season boasts well-choreographed battles across diverse landscapes—land, water, and windswept castles. Even the monstrous creatures, like the riddle-posing rusulka, add a quirky charm.
However, the pacing feels a bit inconsistent, with lengthy dialogues occasionally punctuated by intense action sequences. Yet, moments like Geralt’s fond recollections of braiding Ciri’s hair and the amusing backstory behind his Witcher name (which almost included ‘Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde’) offer delightful and humorous touches.
One particular episode, titled ‘The Joy of Cooking’, is dedicated to Geralt’s companions sharing poignant tales from their pasts. Jaskier recounts a rivalry with another bard, the dwarf Zoltan (Danny Woodburn) reveals his exile for allegedly selling weapons to humans, and Milva opens up about her difficult upbringing.
Overall, the eight episodes of Season 4, culminating in ‘Baptism of Fire’ (which shares its name with Sapkowski’s fifth novel, on which this season is loosely based), present a blend of curses, magic, political intrigue, and creatures. Yet, despite these elements, the season struggles to offer truly memorable moments. With production for Season 5 already complete, Liam Hemsworth will have another opportunity to fully inhabit the iconic monster hunter, hopefully delivering a performance that truly stands out.
You can stream The Witcher Season 4 on Netflix.