The Sandman Showed a Queer Character's Death—And It Wasn't a Harmful Trope
out.comAfter a recent episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon, when one of the show’s two confirmed queer characters (Laenor Velaryon’s lover, Joffrey) was brutally murdered, we wrote that the death fit into the tired “Bury Your Gays” trope.
Many fans of the show disagreed. Some defended the show, saying that “literally every character” in the GOT universe dies a painful death.
But is that really true? Jon Snow, Tormund Giantsbane, Brienne of Tarth, Arya, Sansa, and Bran Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Podrick Payne, Samwell Tarly, Gilly, Bronn of the Blackwater, Robin Arryn, Davos Seaworth, Grey Worm, Gendry, Daario Naharis, Jaqen H’ghar, and so many more straight characters survived the end of the original series.
But how many queer characters did? Just one: Yara Greyjoy. It’s not surprising, it’s not subversive, and it’s not clever writing.
