'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMH/8QAHhAAAQQDAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACAxEEBRNBQkP/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEx/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDI83a7JmZjyt4iBo6CK/YXRuvCtJsN0ZHEZYok/RyIimY//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Witcher has always balanced two different expectations. On one side, the weight of Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels lies in their carefully constructed mysteries. On the other hand, there is a need to build a television story that reaches a wider audience. Season 4, set to arrive on October 30, 2025, continues in this space between fidelity and adaptation.
The series has reached a decisive moment. The reveal that in the books is left for the closing chapters will now appear much earlier on screen. Instead of a dramatic twist at the end, it becomes part of the journey. This shift says a lot about the production’s approach, which is not afraid to reshape the source material to fit the format.
The major reveal in The Witcher Season 4
In the novels, the identity of Duny as Emperor Emhyr is kept secret until Geralt finally meets him. Without visual references, the mystery is preserved until the very end. The Netflix series took another path. At the close of Season 2, viewers had already learned the truth, while Geralt remained unaware.
According to Redanian Intelligence, this difference will be resolved in the fifth episode of Season 4. The chapter focuses on the so-called fish soup sequence, where members of the Hansa share fragments of their past. Among these stories is Cahir’s memory of caring for a creature resembling a hedgehog hidden in a cave during his childhood. The figure was Duny. When Cahir recalls this, Geralt finally connects the elements and understands the link.
The decision brings the reveal forward and changes the suspense that the books reserved for the conclusion. The exact effect will only be seen once the episodes air, but the confrontation between Geralt and Emhyr in Season 5 will inevitably begin from another position, already without the secrecy of identity.
Key differences between books and series
This structural change is not the first. The Witcher has reorganized the chronology of events since the beginning. Yennefer’s arc was expanded with a detailed origin and her physical transformation, something only hinted at in the novels. Ciri also gained a central role much earlier than in the written saga, becoming crucial from the first episodes.
Geralt himself was portrayed in another tone. On the page, he is reflective and articulate and speaks openly with companions and even with his horse, Roach. On screen, he appeared more silent, defined by gestures and brief lines. The difference sparked discussion but created a recognizable presence in a television format.
Some characters were reduced or omitted, and entire subplots were simplified. With seasons limited to eight episodes, the adaptation often condensed complex material to maintain pacing, a choice that altered nuances valued by many readers.
Audience and critical reception
These choices soon became part of the conversation around the show. The first season reached more than 70 million accounts in its first month, turning it into one of Netflix’s biggest launches. At the same time, many reviews pointed out problems with pacing and a timeline that felt fragmented, something that made it harder for new viewers to keep track of the story.
Season 2 landed in a better place. The series left behind the broken chronology, and the plot was easier to follow. Ratings improved, and on Rotten Tomatoes, the season passed the ninety percent mark. Even so, the changes from the books did not go away as a topic. Fans who knew the novels kept pointing to what had been altered or simplified.
The departure of Henry Cavill after Season 3 added another layer of tension. Liam Hemsworth’s debut as Geralt is considered one of the central tests for the future of the series. Early reactions were divided, yet the upcoming change has kept the show in discussion and is highly anticipated.
Expectations for the new season
Season 4 of The Witcher will be released on October 30, 2025. After that, the story goes straight into Season 5, already confirmed as the last chapter. The reveal about Emhyr does not wait until the very end. It comes in the middle of the journey. That choice changes the way the story moves. Instead of saving everything for a single twist at the finish, viewers will watch Geralt reacting while events are still happening.
The universe outside the series keeps moving, too. In 2025, Andrzej Sapkowski published Crossroads of Ravens. It first appeared in Poland and is expected to reach international readers in September. At the same time, CD Projekt Red is developing a new game, for now called The Witcher 4. Books, games, and episodes all come together, keeping this world alive in more than one place.
Trending
Conclusion
Season 4 of The Witcher faces the task of showing one of the saga’s biggest secrets earlier than the books ever did. The series no longer follows the same rhythm set by the novels. It moves the pieces around so the story works for television. How people will respond is not clear yet. What can be said is that the choice highlights the identity of the show, a version that reshapes the source instead of copying it, while still keeping the essence of Sapkowski’s world.
Reply
