Includes SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5.

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5, sees Daemon Targaryen coming into conflict with the lords of the Riverlands, which has broader implications for the show. Following the Blacks and Greens split and the start of the Dance of the Dragons, Daemon flew out on Caraxes to capture the castle of Harrenhal, which is one of the largest fortresses in Westeros with a prime strategic location, making it the ideal spot to amass an army to wage war on King’s Landing. Since arriving at the castle, Daemon has experienced a slew of internal and external problems.

Daemon is haunted by dreams and visions of Rhaenyra, Laena Velaryon, and his mother, and he’s beginning to question himself. As usual, Daemon responds to his complicated emotions with anger and recklessness, and in “Regent,” he begins calling himself king, halfway implying that he’s branching off away from Rhaenyra. Aside from Ser Simon Strong of Harrenhal, Daemon’s first ally in the Riverlands is Willem Blackwood, whom he uses to incite violence, playing off of the ancient Blackwood & Bracken feud to bring the region’s forces to his side. Unfortunately for Daemon, it backfires.

What Exactly Did Daemon Do To The Riverlords & Why Are They So Mad?

Daemon Had Willem Blackwood Commit War Crimes To Bring The Brackens To His Side

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5’s ending, sees the lords of the Riverlands arrive at Harrenhal to condemn Daemon, which can be a bit confusing because he never explicitly says what his plan is. Willem Blackwood declares that he’ll fight for Daemon if he’s promised action against the Brackens. When the Brackens decline Daemon’s option to bend the knee, declaring themselves for the Greens, Daemon suggests that the Blackwoods use alternate methods to force their will. He essentially tells Willem Blackwood to commit war crimes on his behalf.

At some point during the episode, off-screen, the Blackwoods launch attacks on Bracken territory, kidnapping women and children to hold for ransom in exchange for the Brackens’ loyalty to Daemon. This is a horrible act, and the Riverlands take the matter very seriously. Similarly to the North and the Vale, the Riverlands hold their honor in high regard (except the Freys, generally). The House Tully words are, “Family, Duty, Honor,” after all, and what Daemons has done provokes their anger, causing his plan to collapse almost immediately.

How Daemon’s Riverlords Backlash Changes The Book

Daemon Has A Massive Problem To Salvage

In Fire & Blood, the Riverlands primarily side with Rhaenyra Targaryen from the get-go, and there’s no conflict at Harrenhal for Daemon to handle. The Riverlords typically squabble, as exemplified by the Brackens and the Blackwoods and the Tullys and the Freys, but for the most part, the books see them taking sides and rallying at the start of the war. The main purpose of the Harrenhal narrative is for Daemon to have something to do this season, as most of his story in House of the Dragon season 2 has been entirely original to the TV show.

This leaves many questions going forward as House of the Dragon’s book changes and deviating storylines can’t be predicted. All of Daemon’s visions, scenes with Alys Rivers, and internal conflict this season are entirely original to the TV series, and it seems like they’re all matters Daemon will have to solve in the final three episodes. The Riverlords backlash is quite significant, and he needs to find some way to turn things around if the Blacks are to have an army in Westeros.

What Daemon Losing The Riverlands Support Really Means

Daemon Wants To Be King, But He’s Not Fit To Be One

Daemon’s narrative in season 2 sees the external conflict of him trying to gain followers and the internal conflict of him coping with his fallout with Rhaenyra. He’s beginning to call himself king because he’s angry and emotional, and he feels like Rhaenyra got what he deserved. His plot in the Riverlands is him trying to prove that his methods can work and that people will listen to him because he’s strong and powerful. In both cases, he’s heading toward a major disappointment, as he has little chance of winning anything without Rhaenyra, and he’s not the leader he thinks he is.

Now that Daemon has lost the Riverlands, he has a massive situation to clean up. Turning to Rhaenyra to solve it doesn’t seem likely, so the rest of season 2 could see Daemon acknowledging some of his faults and realizing that Rhaenyra was right in many ways. If he can find a way to bring the Riverlords to her side, Daemon could rethink his position and realize how much he needs Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon.