Condal and Hess are literally rewriting and changing every detail from canon, big or small. The excuse of F&B being a faux history book with unreliable narrators is no excuse. First, unreliable narration isn't equivalent to lying. Secondly, there is gossip, theories on how events transpired and characters behaved in private and personal feelings and intentions which can be subjected to speculation and have contrasting versions in the book. Then there are events which undeniably occurred on specific dates, statements that were made in public, locations, alliances, ages and relations that were recorded and whose objectivity within canon can't be questioned. There also exists distance and time. One needs to weigh whatever theory they entertain against facts in the book in order to assess the characters and situations. Then, it can be compared with the show's take.
Theory: Criston Cole turned against Rhaenyra either because, if you go by Eustace's version, he wanted her to run away with him and she rejected or if you go by Mushroom's, she wanted him to take her maidenhead and he refused.
Fact: Criston Cole, Rhaenyra Targaryen's former sworn shield who served by her side since she was eight was dismissed from her service just before her marriage, gained the favour of the Queen after being denied hers, injured Harwin Strong and Joffrey Lonmouth,causing the latter's death six days later, in a tourney where several people were present and was later recorded badmouthing Rhaenyra after participating in the usurpation.
Show: Criston Cole brutally murdered a royal guest during a feast under the king's roof who had accompanied the groom's party and attacked the future Prince Consort before witnesses and got away without facing any consequences.
With regards to Daemon's characterization, they are going out of their way to twist events to make him look bad when it's improbable for them to have occurred in canon. It seems personal when it comes to this character.
1) Theory: Daemon Targaryen disliked being married to Rhea Royce. So, he must have contemplated murder. Or, he likely had her murdered for her inheritance.
Fact: Rhea Royce died nine days after falling from her horse and was well enough to walk for one last time without mentioning any assailant that could have implied foul play was involved. At the time of her accident, Daemon Targaryen was present in Bloodstone trying to defend his kingdom where obviously a number of people would have seen and interacted with him. He traveled to the Vale after receiving news of his wife's death which reached him through a messenger from Lord Baratheon who had traveled via ship. Lord Baratheon himself received that news through a raven.
Show: Daemon Targaryen appears in the Vale out of nowhere on one fine day and murders his wife after smashing her head with a rock and she died on the spot.
2) Theory: Daemon Targaryen was a violent warmonger who most likely craved for war and wanted to burn down the Greens at once after hearing of the usurpation.
Facts: Daemon Targaryen advised against his cousin Rhaenys Targaryen's strategy of unleashing the dragons in war stating the hazards of dragons fighting each other and suggested alternate strategies of negotiation and diplomacy during the war council of the Blacks which was a publicly recorded incident and involved the participation of every notable member and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen herself.
Show: Daemon is the one who wants to take the dragons to war while Rhaenys is mum.
3) Theory: The assassination of Aegon and Helaena Targaryen's son Jaehaerys, which was ordered by Daemon in retaliation of his stepson Lucerys Velaryon's murder and the killing of his dragon Arrax at the hands of his uncle Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar, was an objectively cruel act. So, it is possible that the realm would be angered by it and that Rhaenyra's support would dwindle and she won't be able to raise an army.
- In accordance with the strategy formulated and agreed to by the entirety of the Blacks, Daemon Targaryen flew to the Riverlands which was an unruly region to rally the riverlords in Rhaenyra's favour and gather their allies to fight for her with her leave. Jacaerys Velaryon left to treat with the Vale and the North while Lucerys made his way to Storm's End.
- Daemon was already present in Harrenhal by the time the news of Lucerys' death reached him after which the retaliation was planned.
- Daemon succeeded in his endeavor of raising a host to fight for Rhaenyra and almost the entirety of the Riverlands raised her banners due to his efforts. The noble houses which he rallied to her cause include the Blackwoods, Freys, Darrys, Pipers, Mootons, Rootes, Mallisters and Vances of Wayfarer's Rest.
- The Brackens, the last of the Green loyalists in the Riverlands, were defeated in the Battle Of the Burning Mill which happened after the Blackwoods raided the Bracken lands which happened after the murders of Lucerys and Jaehaerys. Their defeat was sealed for while they were busy with Burning Mill, Stone Hedge fell to Daemon and his host comprising of Freys, Darrys, Roots and Piper in their absence.
- How everyone personally felt or reacted to the death of Jaehaerys is left to speculation. But none of Rhaenyra's major allies withdrew their support to her cause after the assassination.
- The deaths of both Lucerys and Jaehaerys are consequential in the sense that the allies on both sides called their banners and marched to war.
- The Black Council is in disarray. Some members don't even realise they are at war.
- Daemon leaves to Harrenhal after quarreling with Rhaenyra because she thinks the assassination has weakened her position and ability to raise an army. His departure is framed not as a mutual strategy which would work in her favour but as his 'coming and going' or whatever it is.
- The Battle Of the Burning Mill happens before Daemon's arrival at Harrenhal.
- The Blackwoods seem to have declared for the Blacks on their own without Daemon's intervention.
- The raid on Bracken lands happens after the Battle Of the Burning Mill on Daemon's instigation.
- The Frey alliance is handled by Jacaerys.
- Lucerys' death and its significance as the first kinslaying has kind of been erased.
4) Theory: Harrenhal is useless. Daemon wasted his time over there and did nothing during the war.
Facts: Harrenhal was chosen because of its strategic importance as a geographical location. The Blacks needed a base large enough for their allies to convene and strong enough to hold against enemy attacks. Daemon also captured the wealth of House Strong after taking them as hostages.
Show: Repeatedly talks about how Harrenhal isn't of any use because Larys "already moved the gold" out of there.
5) Theory: Meleys rejected Daemon for Rhaenys.
Facts: Daemon was six years old when Meleys was claimed by Rhaenys.
Show: Daemon was 'furious' because Meleys wouldn't let him ride her.
6) Theory: Daemon felt haunted in Harrenhal by his crimes, real and presumed. Probably because of Alys Rivers or the Old Gods.
Fact: Daemon displayed no strange behaviour during his stay at Harrenhal. No noteworthy interactions between him and Alys were recorded.
Show: Daemon is shown to be affected by Harrenhal. Either because of Alys or whatever magic is supposed to be in that place. He also zones out from time to time.
7) Theory: Daemon never cared for Rhaenyra and only for the throne. He wanted to crown himself king.
- Daemon fought under Rhaenyra's banners until his death.
- Daemon and Caraxes killed Vhagar and her rider Aemond One Eye.
- Vhagar, under Aemond's control, was being used to terrorize the Riverlands and was the biggest dragon in the Greens' possession.
- Alys Rivers, who was Aemond Targaryen's paramour at the time, was the primary source of Battle Above God's Eye, the battle between Daemon and Aemond. She makes no mention of any conversation she might have had with Daemon otherwise.
Show: Has Daemon openly confess to treason before Alys that he is planning on crowning himself king and that Rhaenyra would never be accepted as queen.
So, either Condal and Co haven't read the book at all or they have read it but not only do they have no interest in it but are hell bent on altering it or they read it but couldn't understand it because of poor reading comprehension. But, by now, all doubts should regarding this show's faithfulness towards the source material and its interpretation of the characters should be quelled by now.
It's one thing to make necessary changes for the sake of adapting in a different format. It's another to replace the author's characters with OCs and change significant details and still go around claiming that they understand GRRM's book with a straight face
