5 things we want from Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher

2. Respect for the Blade

It’s hard to talk about Geralt’s fight scenes without glorifying violence. The man holds his sword like an Olympic ping-pong player for goodness’ sake. The reverse grip Cavill uses is something you might expect him to use for a dagger or a shoto blade, not a European longsword.

While there may be some debate about the historical accuracy or dueling effectiveness of the grip, it captures an essential truth about witchers: their swords are extensions of their bodies. I’ve no doubt Hemsworth will learn how to wield a blade and skillfully execute Geralt’s fight choreography, but will he find a way to elevate his dueling to the true level of a witcher? Will he wield his swords with the casual, lethal fluidity that Cavill does?

3. Encyclopedic Knowledge

Witchers aren’t just stronger than you. They aren’t just faster than you. They can’t just constrict their eyes as they look into midday sunlight better than you.

They also know more than you.

One of the best examples of Geralt putting a witcher’s knowledge and keen mind to use is in Season 1, Episode 3: “Betrayer Moon.” The episode climaxes with Geralt’s overnight battle with a striga, a werewolf-like monster that looks like it would be insulted by being compared to a werewolf. The battle, however, isn’t the best part of the episode.

The best parts of “Betrayer Moon” are the scenes in which Geralt interrogates King Foltest and Lord Ostrit about the nature of the monster. A witcher is always alert, always aware. Hemsworth might wear the same contacts Cavill wore, but will he give us a Geralt who is always searching, probing, and discerning?