The Witcher Season 4 Struggles on Netflix Amid Low Ratings, Season 5 Planned

The Witcher series on Netflix is currently facing significant challenges in its fourth season, marked by a steep decline in both critical and audience reception following the departure of Henry Cavill, with Liam Hemsworth stepping in as Geralt. Season 4 garnered a 56% critic rating and an 18% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction, particularly with the recasting and long gap between seasons, which has led to lower viewership and a poor debut at number three on Netflix's charts. Despite these setbacks, Netflix has committed to producing a fifth and final season, filmed back-to-back with the fourth, promising to conclude the saga with a darker, emotionally intense narrative as teased by showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. The storyline continues to follow the separated journeys of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri, adapting key books from Andrzej Sapkowski's series and ending season 4 with significant cliffhangers, particularly concerning Ciri's captivity and Yennefer's quest against the villain Vilgefortz. The fifth season, anticipated in late 2026, aims to provide redemption and closure, potentially restoring hope for fans after the current season's critical struggles. This commitment to finishing the saga underscores Netflix's dedication to the franchise despite the current decline in popularity.