Let's break down episode 5 of House of the Dragon, 'Regent'.

Corlys, Rhaenyra and Baela lament Rhaenys' death. Criston parades Meleys' head through King's Landing, though the starving smallfolk consider it a bad omen. Aegon has survived but is comatose and severely scalded, while Sunfyre is presumed dead; Criston withholds telling Alicent what truly happened at the battle. Daemon dreams of incest with his mother, who calls him her favorite son. Despite Alicent's insistence that she should rule, the Small Council elects Aemond regent, since Alicent is female. Aemond orders the city gates shut, preventing Hugh Hammer and his family from fleeing. Jeyne Arryn tells Rhaena she wanted a mature dragon for protection rather than the two young dragons she received. Jace flies to the Twins and obtains the Freys' allegiance in exchange for Harrenhal. Mysaria has Rhaenyra send a maid to King's Landing as a spy. Daemon declares he will reign as King once a large enough army is raised; he sends the Blackwoods to ravage the Brackens, as Alys has envisioned, and force their fealty, but the Riverland people denounce him. Rhaenyra laments her faction lacking dragonriders, but Jaecaerys says Targaryen descendants might be found within other Houses; they decide to search genealogical records.