Warning: This article contains spoilers for episodes 1-7 of House of the Dragon
The next episode of House Of The Dragon will feature another time jump, aging the children of Alicent and Rhaenyra. At this point, the impending war between the Greens and the Blacks is nearing closer.
One major change to the storyline in the latest episode is the marriage of Daemon and Rhaenyra, setting up a war between their families and Alicent's children. However, this marriage wouldn't have been possible without the fake death of Laenor Velaryon. Though he hasn't been a major character, Leanor's storyline has captured audiences, inspiring these memes.
The Marriage Agreement
Laenor Velaryon became a serious player in this series following Viserys and Corlys' agreement to marry him and Rhaenyra. While book fans know Laenor and Rhaenyra weren't close in the source material, the show portrayed them as respectful childhood friends.
This meme references the scene when they talk about their impending nuptials. Though Laenor was nervous about his marriage because of his sexual orientation, he and Rhaenyra came to an agreement that their marriage would be solely political, and from there a true friendship between the two characters is born.
His Father's Misunderstanding
One mistake Corlys has made as a parent this season is not understanding his son's sexuality. When Rhaenyrs expresses their concern for his marriage to Rhaenyra, Coryls' seems to be trying to convince himself Laenor's sexuality is just a phase.
This meme points out the relationship between Laenor and his parents. While it's clear that they both love their children, Corly's is blinded by his desire for power that he doesn't listen to Rhaenys' concerns for their son's marriage.
His Mourning
One of the darkest scenes in House Of The Dragon is when Criston Cole beats Joffrey Lonmouth to death. This was particularly devastating for Laenor since he and Joffrey were in a relationship.
This meme points out how heartbreaking Rhaenyra and Laenor's wedding scene was following this violent scene. Though he was about to marry Rhaenyra, it was understood that he and Joffrey had plans to continue their relationship. This event was a turning point in Laenor's storyline, and he's seen in later years still struggling with this loss.
His Children
After the time jump, one of the most significant aspects of Laenor's storyline is his relationship with his wife. It's learned in season six that Rhaenyra and Laenor have three sons.
However, there are many people within the court (most importantly Alicent) that believe these children are not Laenor's biological children, but bastards fathered by Harwin Strong. This meme represents the suspicion that Laenor isn't his son's true father and also points out that Laenor was aware that his children didn't look like him because he knew they aren't biologically his.
His Parenting Style
While Laenor not being the father of his three sons puts them in danger, he is obviously aware and accepting of the situation his family is in. In the couple of episodes prior to his departure, Laenor is seen still acting as a loving father to his three sons.
This meme points out the relationship Laenor has with Rhaenyra and Harwin Strong. Though it's clear he loves his children, he also expresses his understanding of the unique situation they're in and Harwin's need to be a part of his children's lives.
Naming Joffrey
Source: Reddit
Rhaenyra and Laenor have three sons together: Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey. While Jacaerys was given a traditional Velaryon name, Joffrey's name was personal to Laenor.
As this meme references, Laenor named his third son after his dead lover, Joffrey Lonmouth. Since he likely did not have the option to name one of the older two after his lover, he may have thought it would cause less gossip if his third child was named after Joffrey. This was a clear sign that Laenor still mourned the death of his first love.
His Relationship With Rhaenyra
Laenor might have proven that he was accepting of the fact that his three sons weren't biologically his. However, he also expresses his discomfort with putting Rhaenyra in a situation in which she couldn't have children with her husband.
This situation is not the fault of Laenor but a result of his sexuality. This meme references the scene in which Rhaenyra expresses this to Laenor, emphasizing that she thinks he's a good and noble person. This meme also proves that Laenor and Rhaenyra had a loving marriage, even if it wasn't romantic.
Daemon And Rhaenyra's Plotting
Daemon and Laenor are not represented as having a close or even friendly relationship. However, one thing often misunderstood about Daemon Targaryen is that he cares about his family. When Daemon and Rhaenyra plot to get rid of Laenor, it's a bit of a shock because this could hurt his daughters (who are Leanor's nieces).
This meme references the decision made to get rid of Laenor so that Daemon and Rhaenyra can be married. At this point, viewers were left in the dark until the conclusion, waiting to see what the two were planning for Laenor.
His Freedom
Most viewers were relieved to see the big reveal at the end of episode seven when Laenor is seen escaping Driftmark with his lover, Qarl. This was a twist considering the show made it seem as if Rhaenyra and Daemon were plotting his death.
This meme points out that Laenor's storyline ended on a good note. As it's likely many other characters aren't going to have such a happy ending, it was endearing to see Laenor escape with his life and be able to start a new experience with someone he truly loves.
His Future Role
The show could have easily decided to take Laenor out of the picture by truly having him murdered. Instead, this happy ending left the rest of his story a bit of a mystery for fans.
Besides Laenor and Qarl, Rhaenyra and Daemon are the only two characters known to be aware that he is still alive. As this meme points out, everyone else believes that Laenor is dead, allowing the other two to marry without issue. While it's unlikely Laenor will appear again, his fake death offers the promise of an exciting side adventure.