The old adage goes that opposites attract. Male to female, positive to negative... but gay to straight?

Absolutely, in the case of Jack McFarland and Karen Walker. The sexual subtext between the characters is a delicious treat for many of Will & Grace's viewers. Jack McFarland, gay and thrilled about it, shows no hesitation when it comes to his best friend, sexy socialite Karen Walker. Neither has any qualms about putting a hand where it shouldn't be, or stealing a kiss, or making a risque joke and throwing a wink at the other.

And when it comes to this innate chemistry, sexuality is moot. Both Jack and Karen find each other and themselves extremely attractive, and their shared wacky personalities make them a perfect match. This combination of narcissism, understanding on a fundamental level, admiration, and sexual attraction is what forms their relationship. They provide something for each other, whether it be financial freedom for Jack, or that extra shot of sexual innuendo Karen needs to make her day bright. Jack sees Karen as the woman he'd like to be if he were female, and Karen can always count on Jack to put a smile on her face.

In the case of fanfiction wherein these two characters end up in a relationship, the core of the relationship is not the sexual part but the spiritual and mental parts. In an ideal relationship both partners fill the most essential needs of the other, and Jack and Karen certainly do that. And most of all, neither of them expects "all or nothing" of the other, i.e. they commit to each other or they never touch each other again. The best part of their relationship is that there is absolutely no commitment. Karen can jump into Jack's arms for a chat about his latest boyfriend, lean over and kiss him, and they can go on with their day.

Admittedly, the chemistry between Jack and Karen is due to the fact that Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally absolutely worship each other in real life. But whether in real life or onscreen, the pair just works. The atmosphere becomes sexually charged when they're together. There's plenty of physical attraction, plenty of mental and spiritual coherence between them, and a desire to live life to the fullest which makes them hold hands and jump right into every day.

The chemistry has changed on the outer level with the writing of the show. In the beginning Jack and Karen were an implied couple, connecting on an unspoken level that made their relationship even sexier: nothing had to be said. They only needed a look or a brush of the hand to know what each was thinking. A kiss was a kiss, saying what they wanted to say, and expecting nothing more. Now as the show has aged, the relationship regrettably has taken a backseat to their antics which grow more cartoonish every day, but the fundamentals remain the same: one is not complete without the other.

A good illustration of this mutual admiration society is in season four, when Jack and Karen do their ATM routine. Not only is this little shared joke absolutely hysterical, the way Jack follows Karen as she walks back to the desk says volumes: he adores her. Another example is the famous kiss of season one: the way Jack sets up the scenario, and the way Karen reacts ("Jack, I just reapplied!") implies that Jack and Karen have done the whole scenario/make-out thing before. And of course who could forget Karen's famous fainting fit at the end of the scene?

The mutual attraction between Jack and Karen proves one thing: being soul mates doesn't mean being romantically involved. Jack and Karen "get" each other in a way that makes them click, and that's what matters between them. A romantic relationship will always be impossible, but if a few stolen kisses and inappropriate touchings work for them, then us Jack and Karen fans are ready for more.

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