The Dragonpit S2E5: Competing Councils

In Episode 5 we see the realm’s reactions to the battle at Rook’s Rest. Despite Criston’s best-laid propaganda plans, the small folk in King’s Landing see the parading of Meley’s head as a bad omen. On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra’s council continues to second-guess her and she sends Baela to Driftmark to convince her grandfather, the Sea Snake,  to become the Hand of the Queen. In the small council room in King’s Landing, Alicent’s campaign to become the Queen Regent fails as Aemond is appointed to serve in the place of the severely injured Aegon. At Harrenhal, Daemon is struggling to build his army of Rivermen and with his own Oedipus Complex. Jace has some success in winning over the Freys as Rhaena struggles to convince Lady Arryn to send her men to war to fight for the Blacks. At the end of the episode, we see Rhaenyra and Jace hack a plot to find new riders for the dragons residing on Dragonstone.