Summary
House of the Dragonretells one of the many stories inGeorge R.R.
While some of the changes benefit the story, others do it a disservice.
For one thing, while the show has many different characters, few have the time they deserve.
Image via HBO
For example, Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) often appears but does very little.
Yet the series removes the storyline, hardly letting Laena and Rhaenyra speak to each other.
Daemon married both women at different times, connecting them even more closely.
Image via HBO
ButFire & Bloodshows their relationship to be more than blood or marriage.
Laena could have been a significant part of this situation.
Instead, she’s shoved to the side.
If the series wanted to highlight powerful women, Laena would have fit right in.
She was an adventurer, uninterested in marriage in her youth, and rides the oldest living dragon.
How Could ‘House of the Dragon’ Have Used This Relationship?
Image via HBO
Laena and Rhaenyra’s friendship could have done more than amplify the divide between Alicent and Rhaenyra.
It could have helped to explain Rhaenys' betrayal by Daemon and Rhaenyra’s marriage.
But Rhaenyra marrying her best friend’s husband would take it a step further.
In Westerosi culture, it’s unlikely that either would remain unmarried long after the death of a spouse.
If there were a sense of Rhaenyra betraying her dear friend, this could make Rhaenys' reaction larger.
If Laena had more time, the audience would be even more affected by her tragic death.
