Although I do ship Geraskier as both a romantic and sexual pairing...
You guys do realise that, should Jaskier turn out to be a polyamorous panromantic heterosexual dude, he would still absolutely be considered queer, right?
Romantic and even physical attraction towards another person can often happen in the utter absence of any sexual impulses towards said person.
Asexuals and demisexuals, such as myself, will often find themselves experiencing *some* form of primary *physical* attraction towards other people.
In my case, I would describe the physical attraction as a deep sense of artistic / aesthetic appreciation towards them.
I will find said person to be gorgeous to look at, and be instinctively driven to admire their beauty and their physical form as often as I have the opportunity to look at them...
But, just like most people don't necessarily want to rub their genitals against, or masturbate at the sight of a gorgeous painting hanging on their bedroom wall, I don't feel inspired - at all - to have any form of sexual contact or intercourse with that sexy-looking, gorgeous person.
Actually, it can even be like the kind of physical attraction you would feel towards a plush toy!
Like sure! That chest look soft and cushy! I would absolutely love the opportunity to snuggle up against you, and fall asleep running my fingers through those silky-looking hair on your head... Hmm... So soft...
But, just like snuggling with your teddy bear rarely leads to something steamy and sexual (if it does, I won't be judging you), I have zero interest in doing anything more than snuggling up to that comfy and soft-looking body!
We talk about "physical" attraction as if it should always mean "sexual" attraction.
As if yearning for someone's warmth, tenderness, and physical proximity (or downright enjoying the texture of one's hair) should be deeply rooted in sexual arousal.
Humans are deeply social animals that tend to instinctively seek contact with their peers.
There are plenty of benefits in platonic touch that society not only appears to have forgotten about, but fails to openly value, especially among same gender friends or asexual romantic partners.
What saddens me, is how the lack of same gender romances between characters with obvious chemistry, affection, and levels of physical attraction for each of other, has lead to the "queer baiting" trend, and is perverting what could otherwise actually be the gorgeous, and very respectful depiction of platonic physical attraction between two men that care about, and do love each other (at least as friends, but it would be refreshing for it to be more than that).
Jaskier, thus far, has solely been referring to having been sexually active with women.
So, in terms of sexual orientation, he could be somewhere closer to the heterosexual end of the spectrum if that is indeed their intent.
Once again, the fact that he does not mention any male lovers would not exclude him from being bisexual, as it is less likely that one would be upset over him having slept with their son or nephew (though husband, perhaps... Assuming that same gender partners are allowed to marry in that universe).
But they've also very much explained in interviews that this version is no womanizer. He's got this huge capacity for love, and has a tendency to fall in love with whoever is in front of him (unless they behave threateningly. Ex: Yennefer in Season 1).
He's like a puppy dog that becomes obsessed with whoever is standing in front of him, rather than trying to use women (or anyone else) for his own pleasure.
So, my take on it, would be to describe him as being both polyromantic and panromantic.
To be someone that genuinely falls for other people, and will tend to have very little natural boundaries with them.
Platonic physical intimacy wise, Jaskier will simply go as far as those he loves are open to go with him, and let them set the pace and the limits of the relationship.
Should they be women, and express a sexual interest towards him, then he'll be comfortable reciprocating the sexual interest as long as he feels some measure of love towards them as well.
But those sexual connections are not necessarily tied to his desire to form long-term and deeper romantic connections with them. They can accompany those romantic and physical desires, but are not essential for any genuine and enduring romantic connection to develop.
With men and/or other genders, perhaps he feels more comfortable with platonic touches, and will not be sexually turned on by the beauty and artistry of their physique; but he can still fall in love with them very deeply, and find himself physically drawn to their presence and their looks.
Geralt's bottom is absolutely lovely! And Jaskier would gladly compose a ballad honoring the divine curves of his butt cheeks!
But it's like admiring Michelangelo's David - he's in awe and breathless at the sight, and can't believe nature could create something so perfectly balanced - muscular and powerful, yet with such delicate and soft skin - but not sexually turned on by it.
Looking at it is a feast for the eyes.
Kind of like my own demisexual arse is absolutely enamored with Henry Cavill’s lovely bottom, too! But without finding anything about that man to be a sexual turn on.
He's physically attractive to me, but not sexually attractive.
And I can easily imagine Jaskier being an avid admirer of the human body, regardless of gender, without his interest in what he sees being sexual in nature per say.
And him falling in love in such a way that platonic attachments become even more visceral and consuming emotionally than sexual attachments.
It doesn't matter that Geralt isn't his "lover" in the classical sense. He yearns for that complicity, that trust, that affection, that companionship and them going on adventures together even more strongly than he would any person he'd be sexually attracted to.
And if the series could be brave enough to address that...
If they could make Jaskier openly queer, yet sexually interested only in women, by having him experience that type of romantic attraction and platonic physical attraction towards people regardless of gender and number (i.e. making him both panromantic and polyromantic); it would be a very welcome departure from the usual queer-baiting, and a respectful interpretation of the source material without removing the fact that Jaskier often finds himself getting into trouble for sleeping with many different women from the narrative.
It would value the type of physical attraction that is experienced by the members of the LGBTQ+ community that are on the asexual spectrum, and remind people that human relationships, and even genuine physical intimacy, is not all about sex.
There is nothing "obviously gay" (as in homo*sexual*) about Geralt and Jaskier's respective behaviors and interactions on the show.
I behave as Jaskier does with friends, without remotely wishing for any type of sexual connection or interaction between us, or even romantic interactions.
But in a world where gay ships are only hinted at in most shows to draw in queer audiences; or, when made canon, will often lead to the tragedy (death of a character, rejection, etc.), it's difficult to appreciate platonic physical attraction in such context, especially when so much is left to the audience's interpretation rather than clearly addressed.
It's just that I also understand how hard it must be for asexuals - that do identify with certain aspects of Jaskier and Geralt's dynamic and relationship on the show - to hear that him expressing any admiration and interest towards the loveliness of his bottom, or the size of his biceps, is blatant proof that he's looking to jump Geralt's bones first chance he gets, and that he's sexually turned on by him!
As a demisexual, I don't want to masturbate over, or even touch everything that my eyes hunger for.
I would spend hours watching some of my bellydance partners perform a routine while admiring the beauty and sensuality of their dance and the artistry of their physical bodies, yet have zero interest in any of them sexually.
I have very strong artistic sensitivities in regards to the human body that go no further than that.
So, I'm just reminding all of us to be mindful and careful with that.
Yes, pushing for more same gender sexual relationships representation is one thing...
But queer representation also includes pushing for more asexual forms of physical attraction between friends, and even romantic interests, being openly addressed as such.
I guess my wish is that they avoid the ambiguous, barely addressed, "queer-coded attraction" route between Jaskier and Geralt, and instead subvert expectations by making Jaskier openly queer.
That they do name Jaskier's ability to fall in love with whoever is in front of him - and with so many different people - as polyamory.
That since he experienced a breakup with Geralt - that seems even stronger than the loss of some of his prior sexual partnerships - that they dare call him a panromantic heterosexual, rather than a heteroromantic heterosexual ("straight").
Had they not queer-coded him so much, the ambiguity wouldn't matter that much, either. But they did.
And so, there is an opportunity to explore the notion of love without sexual attraction, and/or without the need to be committed to a single exclusive romantic relationship with that particular ship.
Geraskier works as a queer ship, even if Geralt's sexual partner remains exclusively Yennefer.
You don't need to have them be sexually involved together to make Jaskier share a genuine romantic connection with Geralt, Yennefer, the Countess of I-can't-remember-her-name, and other people he emotionally and romantically connects with.
Queerness is about relationship models and orientations that are falling outside the model of: 1 man + 1 woman = love + sex + exclusive romance / physical / sexual intimacy.
Jaskier may be intended to solely be sexually attracted towards women...
But his potential for romantic and physical attraction towards others - in the way they've chosen to portray the character on the show - is pretty much limitless, and does not seem to be dependant on gender, either.
With Ciri being a bisexual lead, should they wish to subvert the "queer baiting" trope, I think they really should go for it with Jaskier.
Subvert expectations of him becoming yet another "queer coded straight (as in being romantically/physically, and sexually attracted by)" by daring to make him canonically queer, in ways that fall outside even the gay, lesbian, or bisexual representation.
Dare address the fact that human attraction is a complex phenomenon, where sex is but one of the components that may or may not be present in one's desire to be emotionally and physically intimate with a significant other.
Let him be happily in love in non-sexual romantic polyamorous relationships, where Geralt, Yennefer, and other people allow him to become an intimate part of their lives.
Have Geralt's struggles with the word "friend" come from the instinctive acknowledgement that the connection felt more intimate - and intimidating in a sense - to him with Jaskier than just "friends".
Push those boundaries, be daring in your interpretation of the source material, and Sense8 the heck out of the dynamic between Geralt, Yennefer, and Jaskier in such a way that they all end up finding the kind of love and relationships they were looking for...
That would truly be amazing...
