This text comprises spoilers for “Home of the Dragon.”
The primary season of “Home of the Dragon” teased the bond between dragon and rider as one thing particular that may additionally threaten Westeros with the medieval equal of nuclear warfare, however it’s season 2 that is actually made this a central component of the present. The present season has really offered the concept that dragons are scary god-level weapons which might be additionally large curious cats who wish to mess around.
The principles and lore of dragon and human bonding have all the time been form of obscure within the “Sport of Thrones” universe. The guide that “Home of the Dragon” is predicated on, “Hearth & Blood,” is offered as having been written by maesters who do not have the complete story, leaving loads of room for its adaptation to discover and experiment with its lore and narrative. Nonetheless, for all the great modifications “Home of the Dragon” has made to its supply materials, some followers had been left questioning after the newest episode whether or not the present has created an enormous plot gap in its story. All of it comes all the way down to Seasmoke the dragon chasing after after which forcing Addam of Hull to simply accept his function as a brand new dragonrider.
The issue is that Seasmoke was already bonded with Laenor Velaryon, who is claimed to have died in “Hearth & Blood” however beforehand appeared to get a contented ending on “Home of the Dragon.” Final season, we noticed Laenor faux his loss of life and depart Westeros in secret, crossing the Slim Sea along with his lover, Ser Qarl Correy. Nonetheless, it is believed that dragons can solely bond with one particular person at a time, and so long as that rider is alive, the dragon can’t bond with anybody else. This would definitely appear to point that Laenor died off-screen.
What occurred to Laenor Velaryon?
We have neither seen nor even heard of Laenor since he snuck away in “Home of the Dragon” season 1, seven years earlier than the occasions of season 2, however there may be truthful cause to imagine he is lifeless. All through season 2, Seasmoke has acted extra stressed than he ever was in season 1, and even Rhaenyra famous early within the season that Seasmoke appeared upset whereas flying round. This may very well be interpreted because the dragon appearing up in grief over the loss of life of Laenor.
In any case, we all know that dragons can have very robust and visceral reactions to the loss of life of their riders, and even simply their ache and feelings. We noticed this when Vhagar, the outdated blind hag, seemed to be unhappy as she burnt Laena Velaryon to loss of life at her rider’s request. We additionally noticed this when Syrax screamed out in ache on the similar time that Rhaenyra was in labor final season. After all, it feels somewhat unnecessarily merciless for “Home of the Dragon” to simply kill Laenor off-screen after going out of its method to give him a contented ending in season 1.
So, does that make this a plot gap? Not essentially. The concept that a dragon can solely have one rider comes from the maester narrators, who shouldn’t have any dragons themselves. It is not really identified whether or not any dragon has had two riders earlier than, particularly when one has been absent for so long as Laenor. It may very nicely be that Laenor remains to be alive, however Seasmoke was so unhappy and lonely with out his human that he determined he wished to undertake a brand new rider. As actor Clinton Liberty advised Selection, it may very well be that Laenor and Addam are simply related: “They’re really simply actually good, good, pretty human beings.”
How this will change every part about dragons
If “Home of the Dragon” season 2 has taught us something, it is that nobody is aware of something about dragons — not the Targaryens who’ve paraded them round because the image of their energy, nor the historians or cultists that are inclined to the dragons at Dragonstone. Seasmoke selecting a Targaryen bastard as his new rider pokes holes within the Targaryen claims that solely Targaryen dragonlords, pure of blood, can trip dragons and that is what provides them a divine proper to rule.
If we assume Laenor remains to be alive, then “Home of the Dragon” simply added one more large gap within the dragon lore that modifications every part for the Targaryens. Up to now, Rhaenyra apparently hasn’t considered this, however past simply having any Targaryen bastard have the suitable to try to develop into a dragonrider, it’s seemingly totally attainable for dragons to exit and select whomever they need, even when their earlier rider is alive. Lengthen this concept a bit extra, and who’s to say {that a} dragon can’t decide somebody with out an oz of Targaryen blood?
This may very well be how “Home of the Dragon” fixes its Nettles downside. Nettles is a comparatively minor but crucial aspect character in “Hearth & Blood” — a younger, common-born no person who claims the wild dragon Sheepstealer and turns into the primary ever non-Targaryen dragonrider. It is an enormous growth that calls into query your entire deal of Targaryen rule, democratizing the mighty dragons that Targaryens have used to subjugate Westeros for hundreds of years. Nettles is form of like Broom Boy in “The Final Jedi,” and very similar to “Rise of Skywalker” ignored that character, Nettles is being erased from historical past by “Home of the Dragon.” Hopefully, this Laenor scenario means Nettles’ function is just not being utterly jettisoned.
The “Home of the Dragon” season 2 finale premieres August 4, 2024, on HBO and Max.
