Even before The Witcher Season 4 dropped, audiences were well aware that Liam Hemsworth would be stepping into the massive shoes left behind by fan favorite Henry Cavill, who brought Geralt of Rivia to life for the show’s first three seasons. It was a bold step by Netflix, but it’s a move that certainly raised questions about Hemsworth’s ability to wear the mantle of the fabled Witcher. Some viewers believe he brought a fresh energy to the role, while others think that The Witcher‘s secret sauce went right out the window.
The truth, however, is neither black nor white, it’s wedged in grey areas that make the whole phenomenon even more interesting. While the fan base is clearly divided, and the viewership numbers have certainly dropped, the fact remains that Hemsworth’s Geralt did not just fight monsters; he also fought nostalgia and a storyline that basically kept him on the sidelines for most of the season. In many ways, that’s a battle only a few actors would ever be able to win.
How Different Is Liam Hemsworth From Henry Cavill?
As expected, there are some striking differences between Hemsworth’s Geralt and Cavill’s. The first, most obvious one is that Cavill brought a serious, almost stoic vibe to the role. With every grunt, snark and the occasional eyebrow arch, he spoke volumes. Then there’s Hemsworth’s Geralt, who’s just as fierce, but somewhat friendlier. Viewers notice this clear difference in the bridge scene in Season 1, Episode 8, “Baptism of Fire,” where he jumps in to protect Rivian soldiers from their Nilfgaardian counterparts and a stray monster. As usual, he fights valiantly, but he also takes the time to check in on Milva (Meng’er Zhang) afterwards. At first, it didn’t seem like much, but it told viewers that this version of Geralt is still a warrior, just one who’s more empathetic and aware of the people around him.
Another example pops up during the campfire scene in episode 5, “The Joy of Cooking”, where he listens to Jaskier’s (Joey Batey) jokes and Milva’s painful story about her past. His light-hearted smiles and relaxed reaction lean more to his humanity. This sole detail led critics to conclude that he delivered an easy lightness that Cavill rarely showed. All in all, the consensus is that Hemsworth did just fine as Geralt. Perhaps the main issue is that he felt invisible, something that his predecessor could “never.” His attempt to take on Cavill’s low, gravely voice came off as if he were tracing someone else’s sketch. The struggle to mirror his forerunner wasn’t as evident in scenes with Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) because he did quite well to recapture some of the incredible chemistry fans enjoyed during Cavill’s run. But even then, viewers could still sense their caution.
To be fair, most of the differences were intentional, according to the show’s creative team, led by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. She more or less suggested that Geralt was supposed to feel different this time, more scared, less guarded, and more human, after all he’s been through. If that’s the case, then Hemsworth’s slightly more emotional and approachable version makes sense. It’s safe to say that it’s the logical next step in the evolution of a complex character.
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Is Liam Hemsworth to Blame or ‘The Witcher’ Season 4’s Writing?
It’s easy to blame everything wrong with Season four on Hemsworth, but anyone who looks closer will understand that the writing had a role to play. For most of the season, Geralt, the supposed lead, is pushed to the background. Instead of making things happen, like he used to in previous seasons, he spends most of Season four reacting on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Yennefer, Ciri (Freya Allan), Regis (Laurence Fishburne), and Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley) all seem to play out the more exciting arcs.
Then there’s Netflix’s clever, but weird trick to explain the recast. In the season premiere, “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger”, a storyteller, a century in the future, tells the story of Geralt, while hinting that his appearance may have changed over time. It’s a smart idea, but it makes Hemsworth’s Geralt feel less real and more like just a story. So, the problem isn’t necessarily Hemsworth’s casting, it’s that the showrunners didn’t really know what to do with him as the lead. And until they start giving him the same kind of character-driven moments Cavill had in earlier seasons, it’ll be difficult for him to prove to fans, especially those still torn by the casting decision, that they should accept him as the new Geralt.
Will Fans Ever Accept the New Geralt of Rivia?
Let’s be honest, Netflix could have had all the Hemsworth brothers out there pulling out all the stops, and fans would still struggle with it. Why? The majority of The Witcher fans built a strong emotional connection with Cavill’s Geralt. The numbers tell the story: around 7.4 million viewers tuned in to see The Witcher Season 4 when it dropped, which is a significant drop from Season 3’s 15.2 million. That’s less than half the audience, and to make things worse, it even got edged out by romantic comedies like Nobody Wants This.
Again, it’s worth noting that it’s not all because of Cavill’s exit. The long wait between Seasons 3 and 4 also didn’t help, and that was topped by the fact that the show’s overall quality had dipped. Critics weren’t kind either, and audience scores hit record lows since the show began. That alone is proof of how disappointed people were with the season.
Netflix has already filmed the fifth and last season, but it goes without saying that the lack of excitement so far has killed any further Witcher spin-off ideas. However, for fans to fully accept the new Geralt, Hemsworth needs to find the right balance between the raw physical energy he showed during his brief face-off with Cahir (Eamon Farren) at the end of episode 4, “A Sermon of Survival”, and the emotional depth we saw at the aforementioned campfire scene. He’s already shown he can do both. Now he just needs more moments like that, and for the writers to give him the material to truly own it. If not, he risks being remembered as “the other guy who tried to play Geralt”.
Slide into Netflix and stream The Witcher Season 4. Then decide for yourself whether Hemsworth did enough to prove he could be just as good as Cavill in the role of Geralt of Rivia.
