Based on the popular book series by Andrzej Sapkowski and adapted for television by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, “The Witcher” has returned to Netflix for its fourth and penultimate season. This time, Liam Hemsworth is stepping into Henry Cavill’s shoes to portray the silver-haired monster-slaying witcher, Geralt of Rivia — Cavill left the series in 2022 after Season 3, an announcement that was made simultaneous to Hemsworth taking over the role.. In a much sharper and less convoluted season than the previous one, “The Witcher” Season 4 is action-packed and full of dazzling characters both old and new. It acts as a reset, ironing out the confusing conflicts and plot points that have long plagued the series.
“The Witcher” Season 4 opens with an old man reading the story of The Butcher of Blaviken. A century in the future of the show’s chronology, the man tells a group of eager young children about the legend of Geralt of Rivia. This opening sequence recaps the events of the first three seasons and grounds the audience in the epic’s current timeline. Separated from his lover, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and his adoptive daughter, Ciri (Freya Allan), Geralt has been severely injured by the evil mage Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu). Still struggling to walk on his battered knee, he, along with his best friend, Jaskier the bard (Joey Batey) and the legendary archer Milva (Meng’er Zhang), are embarking on their quest to find Ciri before Vilgefortz or Emhyr (Bart Edwards), the emperor of Nilfgaard, gets a hold of her. During this adventure, Geralt eventually becomes allies with a crew that “Witcher” book lovers will recognize as the Hanza. On the opposite side of the war-torn Continent, Yennefer has begun recruiting her fellow mages, including Philippa (Cassie Claire), Francesca (Mecia Simson), and Fringilla (Mimî M. Khayisa), to Aretuza in an effort to begin crafting plans to try and take down the increasingly powerful Vilgefortz.
For her part, Ciri, now in her twenties, is exhausted by her legacy. Her powerful Elder blood and Nilfgaard lineage have made her a coveted commodity for some of the most powerful people on the Continent. As a result, she has shed her identity and powers. She has found refuge among a ragtag band of thieves — the Rats — under the new identity, Falka. As young people tend to do, viewers see Ciri trying to define herself outside her parents’ shadows. Still, she struggles to understand and adhere to the Rats’ precarious moral code. Without Geralt and Yennefer’s direct guidance, Ciri tries to define her future for herself. Yet, what she comes to understand is that no matter how far she tries to run from her past, destiny has a way of catching up to her.
Most fans of the show have likely been bracing themselves to see how Hemsworth takes on a character Cavill has long mastered. Although the voice isn’t quite the same, as the episodes move forward and given the season’s straightforward structure, which zeros in on Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri separately, the transition is mostly seamless. Moreover, as the stoic monster hunter has become increasingly attuned to his own emotions, the distinct difference between the two actors makes even more sense, given Geralt’s slightly more emotive nature in the story’s current timeframe.
In addition, the gorgeously shot action sequences, full of magic, sword-wielding, beheadings and, of course, an array of monsters, are complemented by several new characters who also make their distinct mark on this robust, fully rendered universe. Over the eight-episode season, fans are introduced to Regis (Laurence Fishburne), a mysterious herbalist who aids Geralt and his gang during a desperate time of need. Additionally, there is Zoltan (Danny Woodburn), the fan-favorite dwarf with some rather thrilling skills, and several others to round out the already expansive cast.
Overall, even as a brand-new lead takes the charge, “The Witcher” Season 4 has mostly reclaimed its magic. Though Episode 5, “The Joy of Cooking,” acts as a filler chapter rather than an actual narrative, the rest of the season is well-paced, tonally on point and offers ample screen time to the leading trio, interweaving the immense fable in a way that is accessible and interesting instead of overstuffed and exhausting. Though Season 4 is not the final chapter of “The Witcher,” it’s an essential building block for what is to be a fifth and final swing at this extravagantly told medieval tale. “The Witcher” is coming to a close, but in many ways, this feels like the beginning.
“The Witcher” Season 4 is now available to stream on Netflix.
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