Does Seasmoke’s Bond With Addam Confirm Laenor’s Death?

Introduction

As a dedicated fan who does her research, I've been pondering an intriguing aspect of the dragon-rider bonds in the series. According to the books, a dragon bonds with only one person at a time, and a new bond can only form upon the rider's death. This leads me to wonder: has the show killed Laenor off-screen, or is it departing from the book's lore regarding dragon bonds? Let's dive into this mystery.

Patreon and Support

Before we get into the main discussion, I want to thank all my Patreon supporters. Your support means the world to me and keeps the channel going. I've posted several Patreon-exclusive videos, including one about why companies should ignore bigoted fans for the sake of fresh, new content. You can check it out at patreon.com/AvatarAdrian. Now, onto the video!

The Seasmoke and Addam Scene

I'm still reeling from the scene where Seasmoke chases down Addam. In case you missed my review video (link in the description), let me refresh your memory. We see Seasmoke waking up, doing his morning routine, and grudgingly attending a meeting only to be introduced to a new potential rider, Steffon Darklyn. Seasmoke's reaction was priceless—rejecting Darklyn immediately because he didn't meet his "standards."

The dragon then flies off to find Addam, almost as if to say, "They are playing with me, Addam. Hop on, and let's get out of here!" This scene was fascinating and hilarious, capturing the dragon's personality perfectly.

The Lore Question

But this brings up some lore questions. In the books, dragons can bond with only one rider at a time. For example, when Vhagar bonded with Aemond, it made sense because Laena had died. So, does this mean Laenor is dead off-screen in the show?

If not, the show might be deviating from book canon concerning dragon bonds. This could explain why George R.R. Martin recently wrote a long blog about how dragons exist and behave in his world, possibly signaling his concerns about House of the Dragon's interpretations.

George R.R. Martin’s Blog Insights

George wrote, "My dragons are creatures of the sky ... but they don't unless their riders take them there." He emphasized that dragons are not nomadic and remain close to their homes unless specific circumstances arise. For instance, the wild dragons mentioned in Fire & Blood have layers on Dragonstone. He also said, "You won’t find dragons hunting the Riverlands or the Reach or the Vale or roaming the Northlands or the Mountains of Dorne."

Show vs. Book: Dragon’s Presence in the Vale

In light of this, seeing a dragon in the Vale where Rhaena is almost certainly points to Sheepstealer. This suggests that the show might be taking liberties with dragon behavior and bonds, offering Rhaena a storyline potentially merging her with Nettles from the books.

The Fate of Laenor

Given these deviations, the question arises: Is Laenor dead, or is he off somewhere with his new life? If the show isn’t following the lore strictly, Laenor could be alive, perhaps living his best life at some Essos Pride, twirling around with his white twink, or exploring the Dothraki coast.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Seasmoke’s bond with Addam could imply Laenor's off-screen death, the show’s departure from book lore creates room for speculation.

Keywords

• Dragon bonds
• Laenor
• Seasmoke
• Addam
• George R.R. Martin
• House of the Dragon
• Dragon behavior
• Fire & Blood
• Rhaena
• Sheepstealer

FAQs

Q: Is Laenor dead in the show? A: The show has not confirmed Laenor's death, leading to speculation.

Q: Are dragons nomadic according to the books? A: No, George R.R. Martin states that dragons are not nomadic and stay close to their homes.

Q: Does the show follow the book’s dragon lore? A: The show appears to deviate from the book’s lore regarding dragon behavior and bonds.

Q: Who is Sheepstealer? A: Sheepstealer is a dragon in the books, likely appearing in the show near Rhaena in the Vale.