House of the Dragon changed Laenor’s fate

polygon.com:

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, ally themselves, and it comes at the cost of Laenor Velaryon (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 who exactly is responsible for the end result.

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

After Rhaenyra proposes to Daemon, suggesting that they do as their ancestors did and wed to better shore up her claim to the throne, he immediately points out that the plan would mean getting Laenor out of the way. The episode shifts into montage mode as the plan comes to life: Daemon meets with Ser Qarl Correy (Arty Froushan) and offer to pay for a life overseas if he pulls off a murder with witnesses. Laenor finds Qarl in the great hall of High Tide. Daemon kills a guy on the stairs. Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) and Ser Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) find the charred remains of what appears to be their son in the fireplace.

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.

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