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, nevertheless 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 are 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 ebook that “Home of the Dragon” relies on, “Fireplace & Blood,” is introduced 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 adjustments “Home of the Dragon” has made to its supply materials, some followers had been left questioning after the most recent 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 just accept his position as a brand new dragonrider.
The issue is that Seasmoke was already bonded with Laenor Velaryon, who is alleged to have died in “Fireplace & Blood” however beforehand appeared to get a cheerful ending on “Home of the Dragon.” Final season, we noticed Laenor pretend his dying and go away Westeros in secret, crossing the Slim Sea along with his lover, Ser Qarl Correy. Nevertheless, it is believed that dragons can solely bond with one individual at a time, and so long as that rider is alive, the dragon can’t bond with anybody else. This will surely 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’s truthful motive to imagine he is useless. 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 might be interpreted because the dragon performing up in grief over the dying of Laenor.
In any case, we all know that dragons can have very sturdy and visceral reactions to the dying 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 dying 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 quite unnecessarily merciless for “Home of the Dragon” to only kill Laenor off-screen after going out of its approach to give him a cheerful ending in season 1.
So, does that make this a plot gap? Not essentially. The concept a dragon can solely have one rider comes from the maester narrators, who would not have any dragons themselves. It isn’t truly identified whether or not any dragon has had two riders earlier than, particularly when one has been absent for so long as Laenor. It might very nicely be that Laenor continues 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 informed Selection, it might be that Laenor and Addam are simply related: “They’re truly simply actually good, good, pretty human beings.”
How this will change all the pieces 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 experience dragons and that is what offers them a divine proper to rule.
If we assume Laenor continues to be alive, then “Home of the Dragon” simply added one more large gap within the dragon lore that adjustments all the pieces for the Targaryens. To date, Rhaenyra apparently hasn’t considered this, however past simply having any Targaryen bastard have the suitable to try to grow to be a dragonrider, it’s seemingly solely doable for dragons to exit and select whomever they need, even when their earlier rider is alive. Prolong 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 might be how “Home of the Dragon” fixes its Nettles downside. Nettles is a comparatively minor but essential facet character in “Fireplace & Blood” — a younger, common-born no one who claims the wild dragon Sheepstealer and turns into the primary ever non-Targaryen dragonrider. It is an enormous improvement that calls into query the complete 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 like “Rise of Skywalker” ignored that character, Nettles is being erased from historical past by “Home of the Dragon.” Hopefully, this Laenor state of affairs means Nettles’ position just isn’t being utterly jettisoned.
The “Home of the Dragon” season 2 finale premieres August 4, 2024, on HBO and Max.