Did Laenor die in House of the Dragon episode 7? It’s complicated.

House of the Dragon’s game of succession is finAlly playing out in earnest, and as one might expect, heads are going to roll — at least metaphorically (though it being a Game of Thrones joint, probably also literally). In episode 7, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith) make a strong play to, uh, allyIt comes at the price of Laenor Valaryon (John MacMillan).

But as Macbethian as the Whole scheme is, it’s ultimately far more kind than almost any other Game of Thrones plot we’ve seen — though delightfully it’s a little unclear whoWho exactly is to blame for the final result?

[Ed. note: This story contains spoilers for House of the Dragon through episode 7.]

Rhaenyra proposes that Daemon do what their ancestors did. She suggests that they wed in order to help her claim the throne. But he quickly points out that that plan would involve getting Laenor away. When the plan is revealed, Daemon and Ser Qarl Correy (Arty Foroushan) meet to discuss their plans. They offer to cover a person’s expenses overseas for him to commit a murder in front of witnesses. Laenor meets Qarl at the Great Hall of High Tide. Daemon kills the guy who was climbing up the steps. The charred remains, which appear to belong to their son, are discovered by Princess Rhaenys and Ser Corlys Velaryon. (Steve Toussaint).

In this game of thrones, Laenor appears to have paid the worst price — at least until we see he is, in fact, alive and well, disguised (by shaving off his signature platinum locs) and sailing into the metaphorical sunset with his lover, Qarl.

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

While Rhaenyra and Daemon’s cryptic voice-over makes clear the intention of getting Laenor out of the way so they can (re)merge their bloodlines, the actual execution of the plot is left a bit open to interpretation: Do Rhaenyra and Daemon actually conspire to kill Laenor only for him to be saved by his would-be assassin (and bedmate)? Do they want to spare Laenor and provide him with a comfortable life, away from what is sure to be bloody and boring?

The “objective truth” here will color the coming war, which is not going to set anyone up as a perfect hero. (If that sounds like a spoiler… have you been watching the show?) Rhaenyra’s story might be (thus far) better plotted than Daenerys’ descent into madness. But just because her actions — both so far and to come — are understandable doesn’t make them much easier to take. Und In some wayYou are already close to the end of your line by arranging to have your cousin-husband out of the picture in order to marry your uncle. It seems unlikely that she would have her new beau (I cannot overstate this: her uncle) enlist the help of her husband’s lover for an assassination attempt, but stranger things have happened.

If anyone comes out looking great it’s Mushroom, one of the three narrators in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the “historical” source material for the HBO series. Although his story is taken more seriously than the court fool he is, House of the Dragon’s commitment to a single, True timeline for the events of the novel it’s based on has confirmed parts of his account.

And here Mushroom’s testimony bears out: In the book, he says Qarl killed Laenor on behalf of Daemon, while Martin’s in-universe author follows up to say there’s no evidence of that whatsoever. Yes, there were some changes (in Fire & BloodQarl murdered Laenor during a dispute at fair. He escaped with his life. Episode 7 is the final episode. House of the Dragon teaches us anything it’s that we all deserve to celebrate a partial victory, even if it’s just abandoning your life and your title so you can live across the narrow sea in peace.