Netflix viewers have hit out at the fourth season of The Witcher which sees Liam Hemsworth take the role as Geralt of Rivia.
Controversially replacing Henry Cavill, Hemsworth was faced with a near impossible task of taking over what was arguably the most popular part of the show, Cavill’s casting as Geralt.
This has, unsurprisingly, led to widespread backlash to the Netflix series from fans on social media, however many have honed in one particular scene, calling it ‘very uncomfortable’.
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The show follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter, and his young, adopted daughter Ciri. Based on a series of books made even more popular due to beloved video game adaptations, the first three seasons were plagued with criticism despite being highly viewed.
Season four, with Liam Hemsworth now at the helm, sits at 62 percent on Rotten Tomatoes with a fan score of just 21 percent.
Aramide Tinubu, writing for Variety, was one of the critics to actually heap praise on the show, saying in their review: “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.”
Sarah Dempster of The Guardian however was far more in line with the negative fan reaction, giving the new season a two-star review.
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She said: “While his predecessor [Henry Cavill] invested Geralt I with a gruff likability, Geralt II is less ‘valorous man-mountain grappling with responsibilities beyond our ken’ and more ‘bollard in a wig’.”
On Reddit one comment about the series on a reaction thread said: “Halfway through episode 1 and something is off. Not just Liam.
“The tone of the show, characters, dialogue…I feel like it’s an entirely different show.”
While many agreed with this summary, others were focusing in one particular scene from the TV show in their criticism.
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Throughout season four Ciri, played by Freya Allan, becomes close with a street group called The Rats.
One of these members, Kayleigh, attempts to rape her in a shocking scene.
This is stopped by the arrival of Mistle, someone who becomes Ciri’s love interest throughout the season.
Though Ciri is obviously shaken from the experience her and Mistle kiss nearly immediately after, something which is presented in a far more negative way in the books.
One popular comment on the Reddit thread about season four pointed out this bizarre framing, with another replying saying: “Oh my god, when I say I was thinking please please don't go that direction and they did...sigh. When would a woman be in the mood after that? So bizarre!”
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Another commented saying: “I just made a post about this I agree!! Cringed me out so bad I had to turn to Reddit to vent. WTF.”
Allan has addressed this backlash in an interview with TV Line, saying: “I knew there was a lot of discussion about this relationship between Mistle and Ciri.
“It's kind of a controversial one online and there's a lot of conversation around it. I actually felt like it was really important to maintain some of that.
“I wanted it to be complicated and I didn't want it to be perfect. I didn't want it to be a fluffy little romance."
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The Witcher season four is available to stream on Netflix now.
Topics: The Witcher, Netflix, Henry Cavill, TV and Film, TV, Reddit
Michael Slavin