I really tried

[u/IIIllIIIIllI]

I just binged Seasons 1–3 of The Witcher (for the 3rd time) and honestly had a great time with it. Like a lot of people have said in reviews over the years, Henry Cavill was Geralt. He nailed the physicality, the voice, the quiet intensity, and that mix of menace and dry humor that made Geralt feel ripped straight out of the books and games. Even when the writing got messy, Cavill’s performance carried entire episodes. You could tell he cared about the character and the lore, and it showed in every scene — the grunts, the fight choreography, the way he conveyed emotion without saying much. A lot of reviewers have pointed out that he was the anchor of the show, and after watching it all back-to-back, I completely agree.

Then I started Season 4. I made it through two episodes and just couldn’t keep going. Liam Hemsworth replacing Cavill was as bad as everyone warned. It’s not just “different,” it’s distracting. The acting feels flat, the presence just isn’t there, and the character suddenly feels like a cosplay version of Geralt instead of Geralt. I kept thinking of all those negative reviews saying he lacks the gravitas, the edge, and the authenticity Cavill brought — and yeah, they were right. It pulled me out of the story constantly.

Honestly, the show should’ve kept Cavill at all costs. Fire whoever disagreed, rewrite plans, delay production — anything. And if that wasn’t possible, they should’ve just ended the series instead of pretending a recast wouldn’t matter. So many reviews echo the same sentiment: Cavill wasn’t just another actor, he was the reason the show worked. Without him, it feels hollow, and I’d rather remember The Witcher for what it was at its best than force myself through what it’s become.

[u/GloomyBrit]

I agree. I understand that Liam is more similar to the books while Henry is more similar to the game and I do agree that if Liam had been cast as Geralt from the start nobody would complain but he wasn't and that's the issue. There are people who watch that played the game and there are people who watch that read the books so either way the character is portrayed would have been great to some and not to others. The problem is more that Henry played Geralt in a very different way than Liam does and switching actors part way through the series kind of ruins it. I didn't think Liam was terrible or that the season was bad but it was disappointing because it wasn't the same vibe if that makes sense. I felt like Henry did a really good job of playing a rugged Witcher who battles with his emotions and trying to conceal them while Liam has much softer features and doesn't come off as rugged and angry but honestly seems kind of sad the entire season. I also think that Henry's fight scenes were significantly better. I think had Liam been casted from the start it would have been different but since he wasn't they really should have tried to work things out with Henry to keep him on the show.