Team Black is better than that, or is it?

One of the best and worst things about House of the Dragon, which also mimics the beauty and horror of its predecessor, Game of Thrones, is that you never know who will die next. The show does not go easy on its characters, so even the most prominent fan favorites can have their storylines come to an abrupt end.

This is even more true for characters who don’t matter as much to casual viewers, like Laenor Velaryon. While fans were sympathetic to him, his ending remains one of the most confusing things about the series. What happened to Rhaenyra’s first husband, and why did she not kill him? Here’s Laenor Velaryon’s finale, explained.

Did Laenor Velaryon Die in House of the Dragon?

Despite Rhaenyra’s initial opposition to the union, her marriage to Laenor Velaryon, the son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen, was not a miserable one. In fact, the two were good friends and could have remained so were it not for the impending war between two branches of the Targaryen family.

The lack of real love and passion between them, due to Laenor’s sexuality, prevented them from having children of their own, and all of Rhaenyra’s children were bastards fathered by Harwin Strong. To protect not only her children but also her claim to the throne, the princess needed a stronger alliance, and she found it in her uncle Daemon Targaryen.

The two needed to marry to strengthen their claim, and Laenor was an obstacle in Rhaenyra’s path. She engineered his death, and in reality, let him and his lover escape into the unknown. Up to this point in season 2, no trace of Laenor has been seen, with only his lone dragon Seasmoke as a reminder of his existence.

Why Didn’t Rhaenyra Kill Laenor?

While the show suggests that letting Laenor go and build his life away from the war was Rhaenyra’s gesture of generosity and kindness, many still find it strange. His willingness to leave behind not only his family and the throne, but also his dragon, with whom he shared a great bond, was a move that did not fit well into the House of Dragons universe.

While some viewers believe that the show’s writers refused to kill Laenor in order to clear Rhaenyra’s name and make Team Black more sympathetic through storytelling, others believe that it was House of the Dragon’s way of avoiding the hurtful ‘bury your gays’ trope. Which is still a weak excuse, given the brutal murder of Laenor’s first lover, Joffrey, during his and Rhaenyra’s wedding.

Either way, if you’re interested in Seasmoke’s next adventure, be sure to tune in to the House of the Dragon season 2 finale on Sunday, August 4 on HBO.