The Witcher Season 3 has largely split the fandom, with some loving the storyline progression and others believing the show is getting worse. Since this was the last season Henry Cavill will star as Geralt of Rivia, many wavering viewers were disappointed with Season 3 because it will be the last installment they'll want to watch after Liam Hemsworth steps in as the titular character.
Though many aspects of The Witcher may suffer from this controversial recast, there is still much to appreciate in the show, such as other engaging characters. One of the most entertaining and likable characters is Jaskier. Before this season, his love life was little more than another humorous aspect of his character, with him getting into trouble for his womanizing. However, Season 3 shook things up by giving him a memorable romance with Prince Radovid.
Jaskier and Radovid Meet Cute
Jaskier and Radovid did not meet under usual circumstances when it comes to romantic relationships in TV shows. Radovid had tried to manipulate Jaskier, working on convincing him that Ciri was safe in Redania. Jaskier quickly realized that the prince and his allies were trying to persuade him to reveal Geralt and Ciri's location. Though this made Radovid untrustworthy, the two men had undeniable chemistry.
Jaskier and Radovid's romance was made official on the night Jaskier was looking after Ciri while Geralt and Yennefer went to the ball in Season 3, Episode 4, "The Invitation." They shared an intimate kiss scene and, though it was not shown, it's inferred they spent the night together. Their relationship was not part of the source material's canon, and this upset many fans of The Witcher Universe. However, not all viewers were annoyed by this inclusion, welcoming the diversity portrayed in the series, similar to Season 3 introducing another strong female character in addition to this non-canon LGBTQ romance.
Jaskier Chooses His Family
After Jaskier spent the night with Radovid, he found out that Ciri was gone from their secret hideaway. When he caught Radovid scoping out the place, he realized that he was still being manipulated. While it's obvious that Jaskier still cared for the prince, he chose his family over his new lover and went after them. During the Battle of Aretuza in Season 3, Episode 6, "Everyone Has A Plan 'Til They Get Punched...," there was no question that Jaskier was just as loyal to his found family as he was before.
Radovid, on the other hand, quickly realized he no longer wanted to work with Philippa and Dijkstra as a spy for Redania. After returning home, he told his brother he had to be there for someone (which the audience knew was Jaskier), and King Vizimir, despite being a clearly incapable ruler, seemed content to let his brother go. This set the audience up for a great romance in which Radovid would turn from his life as a prince to be with Jaskier. Unfortunately, the potentially wholesome plotline is unlikely after Radovid becomes King of Redania.
Radovid's Freedom Is Quashed
Though Geralt and Yennefer's relationship is the main romantic plot in The Witcher, more subplots based on relationships are a great way to diversify the world. It wasn't part of the source material, and the TV show has been controversial for not staying true to The Witcher books, but an LGBTQ couple is something some fans could get behind as the show creates its own canon. Viewers appreciate representation that makes them and others feel seen in their entertainment, and the non-canonical relationship can be overlooked if the two characters are not included just to be tokenized, which is unlikely with this romance given how the two characters are already well-rounded individuals.
In the finale of Season 3, Prince Radovid becomes King Radovid following the assassination of his brother. This is clearly a plot for Philippa to gain power in Redania. In addition, it could mean burying the romance between Jaskier and Radovid in a complicated conflict that keeps them apart. Radovid was clearly devastated to be crowned king, though his fate seems sealed. Viewers will have to wait until Season 4 to learn if this LGBTQ romance will be a bold jump away from canon or a poor effort to portray representation before hiding it beneath other storylines.
This major change to Jaskier's character in The Witcher Season 3 was poorly received by fans of the source material even before the romance was revealed. This clash between the canon of the TV show and the die-hard Witcher fans is unlikely to cease as the adaptation continues to make changes to the storyline. However, if viewers should be open to any changes from the source material, it should be those that make the world more diverse.
The LGBTQ representation in The Witcher books and video games is particularly lacking. Jaskier has been a beloved interpretation of the canon character, while Radovid's TV show counterpart has been altered to make him more likable. Though the differences between the show and the books have caused tensions and are even rumored to be the reason Henry Cavill exited the series, adaptions are known to alter original storylines to adhere to a screen audience versus a book audience. When it comes to criticism focused on complaints about how The Witcher is altering the source material, the representation of LGBTQ people shouldn't be the reason fans quit the show.