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UnverifiedUpdated Nov 14, 2026 · 10 sources

Is Netflix's The Witcher Worth Watching? Fans Debate Season 4 and the Books

Through a stone window under a stormy sky, a shiny sword and a rusted sword cross beside a tipped hourglass.
Illustration made for this site, not from the show.

Recent community discussions on r/netflixwitcher show a split among viewers over the quality of Netflix's The Witcher. While Comic Book Resources reported that Season 5 was quietly delayed following poor reviews and some fans struggle with Season 4 following Henry Cavill's departure, other viewers still praise the show, its early sword fights, and its expanded character backstories.

Season 4 Reception and Reported Season 5 Delays

As audiences wait for the final chapter of Netflix's fantasy series, prospective viewers on r/netflixwitcher are still asking whether the television show is worth starting. That question comes at a rocky moment for the adaptation: in August 2026, Comic Book Resources reported in a headline that Netflix quietly delayed Season 5 following what the outlet described as abysmal reviews.

Within the fan community, much of the current frustration centers on Season 4. One Reddit user who enjoyed binge-watching the first three seasons wrote that they were struggling to sit through Season 4 after Henry Cavill left, saying it feels like a completely different show. Another viewer watching Season 4 criticized the soundtrack, arguing that the traditional orchestral score lacks the haunting, eerie character themes and vocals that set the mood in the first couple of seasons.

Why Newer Viewers Still Enjoy the Series

Not everyone in the community shares the negative outlook. One first-time viewer on r/netflixwitcher shared in September 2026 that they had already reached Season 4 and loved the series, noting it was difficult to find people to discuss it with because Reddit posts are mostly negative.

Other fans have highlighted specific elements that worked well in earlier episodes. A viewer who finished Season 1 praised the excitement after the first three episodes and said the sword fights were better than those in Game of Thrones, even if the side characters felt less impactful. Another fan looking back after Season 3 praised the adaptation's changes to Yennefer's background, appreciating the expanded backstory showing how she became who she is.

Exploring the Books and Video Games Instead

The mixed reaction to later seasons has also pushed viewers to ask how the show connects to the wider franchise, including the books and video games. On r/netflixwitcher, one user disappointed by Season 4 mentioned being tempted to stop watching altogether and read the books instead, while another fan who enjoyed the first two seasons asked whether the book series is worth reading despite seeing mixed reviews.

At the same time, the video games continue to bring fresh eyes to the television show. While some newcomers ask beforehand whether the Netflix series follows the games or tells a separate story, one player who spent about ten hours in The Witcher 3 started watching the Netflix adaptation alongside the game, drawn in by the lore and how the world treats Geralt and the life of a witcher.

Two sides of the debate

The Netflix Show Is Worth Watching

  • Some first-time viewers watching all the way into Season 4 say they still love the series despite the negative reviews on Reddit.
  • Season 1 builds excitement after its first three episodes and features sword fights that one viewer compared favorably to Game of Thrones.
  • The adaptation expands on character histories like Yennefer's backstory and offers witcher lore that appeals to fans discovering the franchise through The Witcher 3.

Later Seasons Fall Short of Earlier Years and the Books

  • After Henry Cavill's departure, Season 4 feels like an entirely different show to some viewers who enjoyed the first three seasons, tempting them to quit and read the books.
  • Fans argue that Season 4 replaced the haunting, vocal-driven character themes of the early seasons with a more traditional orchestral soundtrack.
  • Comic Book Resources reported that abysmal reviews led Netflix to quietly delay Season 5, and even in Season 1 some viewers found the side characters less impactful.

Your turn

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