WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6!

Summary

• Seasmoke choosing Addam suggests Laenor Velaryon may be dead, posing a potential plot hole in House of the Dragon.
• Dragons like Seasmoke show more complexity in bonding than previously thought in the Targaryen lore.
• House of the Dragon may not confirm Laenor's fate, leaving it open to audience interpretation.

A new dragon twist in claim that only Targaryen dragonlords can ride dragons, and it seems that Seasmoke is debunking another one in season 2.

After Laenor Velaryon faked his death and fled to Essos in House of the Dragon season 1, his dragon Seasmoke has been restlessly flying around Dragonstone and Driftmark. It’s been suggested that Seasmoke is lonely and missing his bond with Laenor, as his Velaryon rider disappeared from Westeros over a decade ago. At the end of House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, Seasmoke chooses Addam of Hull as his new rider, which either confirms a tragic reality about Laenor Velaryon, creates a plot hole, or reveals that a claim about the Targaryens’ dragons isn’t accurate.

Seasmoke Choosing Addam Could Mean Laenor Velaryon Is Dead

Seasmoke's Restlessness Could Be From Sensing His Rider's Death

Since Laenor chose to fake his death, there’s been no word about his fate, suggesting he never ed Rhaenyra after their plan came to fruition in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7. Unless the character returns or sends a message of some sort to Rhaenyra, the only real indication of Laenor’s fate is through his dragon, Seasmoke. The dragon has been far more restless in House of the Dragon season 2 than in season 1, which could be interpreted as Seasmoke responding to the death of Laenor Velaryon.

There’s no concrete way to confirm that Laenor is dead in House of the Dragon season 2, but his dragon’s sudden change in mood could be a significant indicator that his bond with Laenor has been broken through death. George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood novel reveals that dragons can have visceral reactions to their riders’ deaths and emotions, even if they’re far away from one another. Even House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale features scenes cutting between Rhaenyra and Syrax both screaming and being uncomfortable while the Targaryen character is in labor, highlighting the deep emotional and internal bond between dragon and rider.

Seasmoke clearly chooses Addam of Hull as his new rider, and it seems highly unlikely that the dragon would actively seek a new bond unless there was no possibility of reconnecting with his former rider.

If Laenor truly died in House of the Dragon season 2, it would make sense that Seasmoke began to restlessly search for a worthy new rider. House of the Dragon even claims that Seasmoke “misses his bond,” indicating that he’s eager for a new bond upon the termination of his old connection. Seasmoke clearly chooses Addam of Hull as his new rider, and it seems highly unlikely that the dragon would actively seek a new bond unless there was no possibility of reconnecting with his former rider.

If Laenor Velaryon Is Alive, Is Seasmoke Choosing Addam A Plot Hole?

Can Dragons Really Bond With More Than One Living Person?

As far as the Targaryens know, a dragon can only bond with one rider at a time. Therefore, it would seem impossible for Seasmoke to choose another rider unless Laenor is dead. If the claim that a dragon can’t bond with more than one rider at a time is true, then Seasmoke choosing Addam of Hull would arguably be a plot hole in House of the Dragon.

However, this isn’t necessarily the case. As far as Game of Thrones history has revealed by this time, there’s never been a dragon who bonded with someone else while the human they’re already bonded with is still alive. But, this is also because it’s never been known to have been attempted, so there’s really no conclusive record that a dragon won’t take more than one rider. There aren’t any documented cases of another Targaryen successfully stealing or bonding with another rider’s dragon, and it’s unknown if any Targaryen had ever abandoned their dragon for over a decade, like Laenor and Seasmoke.

Dragons will accept more than one rider at a time to fly on them when their bonded human is also there.

If Seasmoke finally came to with the idea that Laenor is alive but would never return, then he may have decided it was time to seek out a new bond. Seasmoke is young and likely senses the onset of war around him, so he may simply have chosen to replace Laenor with someone who would actually utilize their bond. Since Addam of Hull is Corlys Velaryon’s son, and thus Laenor’s half-brother, Seasmoke may have sensed their shared blood and declared Addam worthy of being his new rider instead.

House Of The Dragon Has Little To Gain From Laenor's Death

Laenor's Death Wouldn't Contribute Much To The Plot

Unless it was used as a way to allow Addam to bond with Seasmoke, House of the Dragon doesn’t have much reason to kill off Laenor Velaryon. It’s not even necessary to kill Laenor given the rules of bonding with multiple riders isn’t clearly defined, so there’s no conclusive evidence that Laenor’s survival creates a plot hole. Since Laenor’s parents already believe him to be dead, killing him off for real arguably isn’t beneficial with any emotional payoff or potential guilt on behalf of Rhaenyra for her plan with Daemon.

Additionally, his Fire & Blood story has already been told, and he rowed away with one of the few “happy” endings in House of the Dragon. While Alyn and Addam claimed to be Laenor Velaryon’s sons in Fire & Blood, that rumor has been completely done away with in House of the Dragon in favor of establishing them as Corlys’ bastards. As such, there’s little reason to bring him back or kill him off given how removed he is from current storylines.

House Of The Dragon May Never Actually Confirm If Laenor Is Alive Or Dead

Revealing Laenor's Fate Is Unnecessary After His Relevant Story's Conclusion

Some things are better left a mystery up to audience interpretation, and Laenor’s ultimate fate after fleeing Westeros falls into this category. There’s no need to bring Laenor Velaryon back in House of the Dragon, even if it's the only way to conclusively reveal whether he’s alive or dead. Having him return to Westeros to reveal he’s alive would be a massive risk for Rhaenyra, as it could upend her claim to the Iron Throne and risk making her sons with Daemon – Aegon and Viserys – illegitimate if she’s technically still married to Laenor.

Plus, it would be unnecessary to show Laenor alive or dying in Essos. The show’s time in Essos has been incredibly limited, and there isn’t another important character there other than Laenor or Qarl Correy who could realistically be utilized to confirm his fate. Qarl could potentially return to Westeros and inform Rhaenyra of Laenor’s fate, but he’s such a minor character that doing so would appear unjustified and unnecessary. Rhaena, Aegon, and Viserys’ plans to escape to Pentos could lead to House of the Dragon revealing Laenor’s fate, but either way, there’s little gained or lost.