As the Season 2 finale of House of the Dragon approaches, things are heating up. An epic civil war between the Blacks, led by Rhaenyra, and the Greens, led by Aegon II (and, of course, his mother, Alicent) is threatening to becoming more bloody and more brutal than ever. Each side is busy securing new recruits and solidifying the support of their allies. And, naturally, amongst these key power plays, there have been a few bitter betrayals. (If you haven’t yet seen Episode 7, “An Army of Bastards,” we urge you to look away now.)
One of the most shocking casualties of the shifting power dynamics between the Greens and Blacks was Daemon’s execution of Willem Blackwood.
Willem made his first appearance in House of the Dragon in Episode 4 of Season 1, “King of the Narrow Sea,” when a young Willem arrives to offer a proposal to Rhaenyra representing House Blackwood. As he makes his proposal, he is mocked by Jerrel Bracken, whose own house has a long history of conflict with the Blackwoods. This eventually leads to a duel in which Willem unexpectedly kills Jerrel.
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Willem reappears as an adult in Season 2. Now a knight under Lord Benjicot Blackwood, Willem offers to help Daemon and Rhaenyra’s cause in exchange for their support in the Blackwood’s conflict with House Bracken.
Willem gets into a conflict with Lord Amos Bracken — after Amos insults House Blackwood, Willem, still as honour-bound as ever, asks Daemon to kills Amos. Daemon seemingly give permission to Willem to terrorise House Bracken in order to force them to give their support to the Black’s cause. Willem leads a bloody attack on the Brackens and they yield — but after he uses Targaryen banners, the Riverlords confront Daemon and accuse him of sanctioning the attack. In order to keep their support, Daemon feels he has no choice but to order the execution of Willem.
Willem’s death illustrates that Daemon is as ruthless and single-minded as ever — but it also shows a renewed determination to support Rhaenyra’s cause. His decision to let Willem take the fall for the campaign against House Bracken wins him (and, in turn, Rhaenyra) the full support of the Riverlords, which will prove to be vital to their coming battles with the Greens.