Still somehow managed to get three different actresses to play her.
If you have read Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin, which was used as a basis for House Of The Dragon season 1, you will be surprised to see that many things have changed from the canon.
Of course, considering the way the book was written, there is no way to prove which story was reliable and which was not.
However, it is very obvious which character’s timelines were changed and who was almost completely erased.
Team Black supporters still mourn Laena Velaryon, who died in episode 6 of the first season and was buried in a tradition of her house in the next.
Although her character was present throughout the season from the beginning, and was played by three different actresses due to the time jumps, her importance to the plot was never emphasized nearly enough.
There were only a few episodes that sort of established her character: the very young but already brave Laena asked King Viserys I about Vhagar, the eldest dragon she could claim.
Later, as a teenager, we see her dancing and flirting with Daemon.
After that, 10 years but only half of the episode later, she dies, leaving behind her then-husband Daemon and two daughters, Baela and Rhaena.
Although her life and story would have ended in season 1 anyway, as stated in the book, fans believe they were robbed of Laena’s scenes.
One that was confirmed to exist showed Laena claiming Vhagar at the age of 15, but was cut in favor of Aemond’s similar scene.
Others were skipped over by the time jump, but would be crucial to painting a picture not only of her, but of her relationship with Daemon and Rhaenyra.
While the show tried to push the narrative that Daemon was just a horrible person who did not care about his wife and tried to keep her away from her home, the books were quite different.
The relationship between Laena, her brother Laenor, and their respective spouses was portrayed as very friendly and warm.
Unfortunately for the fans of the books, there is no way to revisit the story and add more to it.
The only hope they have is that the show will be more accurate as season 2 progresses and maybe some deleted scenes will be released to fill in some of the gaps.