The Witcheris full ofinteresting characters and well-written relationships. However, some fans might be surprised to learn what characters and relationships other fans find interesting. For example, Geralt of Rivia’s (Henry Cavill)and Jaskier’s (Joey Batey) friendshipis a special relationship in the fan base. Some fans wish that relationship would turn romantic.Geralt and Jaskier are absolutely a shipfor some fans.While other fans might wonder whythere are actually reasons that Geralt and Jaskier’s friendship is so beloved. The writers ofThe Witchercould actually learn from the fan’s reactions to ‘Geraskier’ forGeralt’s actual romance with Yenneferof Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) andany future LGBTQ+ characters. To understand why this friendship is so beloved, it is crucial to know how it happened.
Geralt, after all, seemsto need no one. The last thing he is looking for is a close friend like Jaskier. Geralt doesn’t seem the kind of person to want an extremely optimistic person in his life. Nor does he seem like someone to have endless patience with someone bothering him. Yet, no matter what Jaskier does or how annoying he can sometimes be,Geralt eventually comes around. It remains to be seen what their friendship will look like in season 2. Especially after the events of episode 6 of season 1, where Geralt yells at Jaskier and blames him for most of his problems, their friendship might be a thing of the past. Yet that would be a shame.
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In Netflix’s version ofThe Witcher,Jaskier meets Geralt in a tavern in Posada. Jaskier is singing and asks Geralt for his opinion. Geralt tells Jaskier that the creatures he is singing about don’t exist. It is then that Jaskier realizes who Geralt isand that he is a Witcher. Jaskier being who he is announces that fact to the entire tavern. Someone hears him and offers to pay Geralt to kill the “devil” that is stealing their grain. Geralt agrees, and Jaskier follows along. It is then that he offers to improve Geralt’s reputation by writing songs about him. While they’re searching, Geralt and Jaskier are attacked by a Sylvan called Torque.
Geralt offers to let Torque go, but of course, things don’t turn out too well. Elves, including their leader Filavandrel, then take him and Jaskier. Filavandrel initially wants to kill Geralt and Jaskier but eventually lets them go. Geralt and Jaskier leave, and as they’re going, Jaskier starts singing the catchy song that will become “Toss A Coin To Your Witcher.” Geralt and Jaskier’s next adventure together takes place at the royal banquet in Cintra.
Jaskierasks Geralt to gobecause he needs a bodyguard to fend off the noblemen he had crossed in the past by dating their lovers or mothers. Yet it’s the scene before the banquet that many Geralt and Jaskier fans remember. Jaskier is giving Geralt a bath. The two friends are talking and Jaskier asks him what he wants besides monster hunting.Geralt, of course, says he doesn’t want anything. Jaskier’s response to that is that maybe someone out there will want him. Geralt says that he needs no one and that the last thing he wants is someone needing him. “And yet here we are,” Jaskier says. Such a simple response, yet it says a lot about their relationship.
Geraltand Jaskier’s next adventureinvolves the Djinn. Jaskier happens to come across Geralt while he’s looking for a djinn. Things don’t turn out well for Jaskier. He ends up coughing up blood. After finding out that Jaskier’s wounds are magical, Geralt tracks down a mage to heal his friend. This iswhen Geralt meets Yennefer. He agrees to answer any questions she might have if she heals Jaskier. So Yennefer decides to heal him. She and Geralt bond and end up falling for each other quite quickly. Their next adventure goes even worse for Jaskier, as the dragon hunt ends with Geralt yelling at the bard. However, before that whole scene happens, there’s another small moment where Jaskier asks Geralt to give up hunting the dragon.
He wants another chanceto prove himself a worthy travel companion and suggests that they head for the coast. The following day, Jaskier looks for Geralt. After Geralt loses Yennefer, he is frustrated and takes his anger out on Jaskier. He wishes that Jaskier would leave him alone.Jaskier is obviously hurt by this, and he then vows to get the story for his song from the others and then go. So what is it that makes Geralt and Jaskier such a beloved friendship/non-canon romance in the world ofThe Witcher? There are several factors that probably go into it. Firstly, Jaskier is a loyal friend to Geralt despite the Witcher’s constant moaning. Second, Geralt is not always treated well by others. Jaskier seems to be an exception to that rule.
Thirdly, Geralt seems to care aboutand value Jaskier’s friendship, despite his constant protests. Geralt and Jaskier’s relationship proves that Geralt cares about others. Fourthly, Geralt and Jaskier, were their relationship canonically romantic, would provide a variety ofrepresentation for the LGBTQ+ community. Jaskier himself seems to be rather too LGBTQ+ coded to be straight. If it wasn’t for his avowed love for women, many fans would probably see him as gay. Bisexual representation is also needed, however. And Jaskier could easily fit into that.
So could Geralt. All we know for sure isthat Geralt loves Yenneferand has had relationships with women. That does not necessarily mean he’s straight. He could be bisexual. And finally, Geralt and Jaskier’s friendship develops beautifully. They go from acquaintances to friends to best friends to who knows? And that’s interesting. Now, the writers probably don’t intend to write two bisexual characters or write anything romantic with Geralt and Jaskier, yet they could learn from this fan reaction. Bothfor future LGBTQ+ charactersand for Geralt and Yennefer. For future LGBTQ+ characters, they could learn how to subtly reference a character’s sexuality. For example, Jaskier’s dramatic nature and passion for life are two things some LGBTQ+ people can relate to. They could also learn what LGBTQ+ fans respond to and what they don’t.
A relationship that slowly develops through persistence and loyalty is better than one that comes out of nowhere for some LGBTQ+ fans.For Geralt and Yennefer, the writers could learn what their relationship could be like. Geralt and Yennefer are very typical. And that’s not exciting.Especially in a fantasy worldlike that ofThe Witcher. Their relationship also develops too quickly. They need some time apart before getting back together. And from Geralt and Jaskier, the writers ofThe Witchercould learn how they could grow back together. Slowly, beautifully, and interestingly. And it probably wouldn’t hurt if Yennefer developed some of Jaskier’s lust for life.
Of course, not every fan will agree. Some fans will think that those who ship Geralt and Jaskier are strange and that Geralt and Yennefer’s relationship is great as it is. Yet the relationship between Geralt and Jaskier does have its charms. Even if it is canonically just a friendship. Geralt needs friends too, and Jaskier is a pretty good one.
