Following Henry Cavill's departure, The Witcher season 4 was fighting an uphill battle from the start — and the Netflix series has seen a major decline in viewership on the heels of its debut. The fourth season of the fantasy series premiered on the streamer on October 30. And while it's too soon to take a full measure of the latest outing, its debut numbers indicate a 50% drop in viewership from season 3.
Per Redanian Intelligence, Netflix is reporting that The Witcher season 4 drew 7.4 million views in its first four days on the streamer. This marks a new series low. While The Witcher's viewership has been steadily declining since season 1, 7.4 million is a significant drop from season 3's 15.2 million views in the same timeframe. For comparison, season 2 raked in 18.5 million views during its opening weekend. The drop from season 2 to season 3 is far less concerning when looking at the newest data.
It's possible The Witcher season 4 will turn things around in the weeks to come, as opening numbers don't always determine the success of a series. However, this early report doesn't bode well for a returning fantasy show once touted as a possible replacement for Game of Thrones. It suggests that Netflix subscribers aren't as invested in the show as they once were, and it could prove difficult to pull them back in before The Witcher's fifth and final season brings the story to a close.
The Witcher Season 4's viewership decline goes with its Geralt recast
The shift to Liam Hemsworth playing Geralt of Rivia is almost certain to take the blame for The Witcher season 4's viewership decline. And to be fair, the recast likely contributed to viewers' loss of interest at least a little bit. It's always difficult to sell such a massive change halfway through a series, and that's doubly true when the initial actor is so iconic in the role.
Still, Hemsworth does an impressive job of taking up the mantle, and The Witcher's viewership woes can't completely fall on the recast. Replacing the Netflix series' lead actor may have been the final nail in the coffin for many of its fans. However, season 2 and 3's divergence from Andrzej Sapkowski's source material — reportedly a reason that Cavill left — had become a point of contention long before.
The Witcher season 2 may have snagged a 95% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, but its general audience reviews (which put it at a 45%) tell a different story. Both critics and general viewers regarded season 3 less favorably, too. Combined with the recast, the growing issues with the story may have led fans to give up on The Witcher. If they do return to the show, it's likely to be after its opening weekend. The urgency just isn't there, and some viewers may be waiting to hear how season 4 is before investing in it themselves.
The Witcher season 4 is currently streaming on Netflix.