Movies News Talk
After his alleged death in Season 1, Laenor Velaryon—a major character in HBO's "House of the Dragon"—remains under unknown fate. Laenor's survival becomes much more relevant with Season 2's debut of a new Seasmoke rider. The dragon's choice of a new rider creates interesting questions regarding Laenor's actual fate, maybe suggesting his death or generating a narrative hole in the show.
Since his rider vanished to Essos in Season 1, Laenor's devoted dragon Seasmoke has been agitated. Particularly apparent in Season 2, this restlessness points to a possible relationship to Laenor's death. Although there is no hard evidence, the dragon's emotional actions could be taken as a reaction to losing its relationship with Laenor.
George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood" shows the dragons' capacity to sense their rider's emotions and even death, so illuminating the complex link between them and their riders. Scenes showing Rhaenyra and Syrax's shared suffering and discomfort during labor have highlighted this relationship in "House Of The Dragon."
Addam Of Hull's selection by Seasmoke as his new rider adds even more evidence of Laenor's death's likelihood. The dragon's choice to look for a new bond suggests that he has no opportunity to re-establish contact with his original rider. Should Laenor die, Seasmoke's restlessness makes sense as he searches for a fresh connection and direction.
The Targaryen perspective that a dragon can only link with one rider at a time throws a wrench in the mix. Should this rule hold true, Seasmoke's choice of Addam might be seen as a plot hole since Laenor's survival renders the dragon's decision unworkable.
Still, the show's past offers no proof that a dragon has ever bonded with another rider while its original link is still strong. This absence of precedent allows Seasmoke's actions to be seen as a break from accepted Targaryen knowledge of dragon bonding rather than a plot hole.
Further complicating this issue is the dragon's capacity to welcome several riders for temporary flights while the original rider is present. Maybe Seasmoke's choice results from realizing Laenor is alive but won't be returning and he is looking for a new rider to realize his full potential.
The writers of the show seemed to have deliberately decided to leave Laenor's destiny vague. There is mystery around his absence from Westeros and the lack of evidence regarding his survival. The decision of the show to leave this question unresolved helps the storyline in several respects.
First of all, it saves Rhaenyra's claim to the Iron Throne needless complication. Laenor's comeback runs the danger of erasing her credibility and maybe invalidating her marriage to Daemon, so rendering their sons illegitimate. Second, Laenor's destiny reminds us of the erratic character of life and the doubtful future hovering over the individuals.
Laenor's destiny stays a fascinating riddle overall in "House Of The Dragon." The show's subdued clues and unresolved questions keep viewers interested and inspire conjecture and more study of its intricate dynamics.