‘House of the Dragon’ Star Reveals Relief Over Character’s Exit After Shocking Death

‘House of the Dragon’ has consistently embraced major shifts through unexpected character deaths. The HBO series has woven much of its narrative around the fierce rivalry between the Blacks and the Greens, where even key figures in Westeros can vanish without notice.

Season 3 has upheld this tradition by eliminating yet another significant character from the storyline.

Episode 6, titled “Faceless Men,” marked the conclusion of Ser Criston Cole’s journey, offering fans a farewell that differed from what they might have anticipated.

Unlike many dramatic demises in fantasy tales, Criston Cole did not meet his end in a heroic battle or with a poignant last speech. Instead, the former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was abruptly killed during an ambush by Rhaenyra’s Riverland forces.

Criston, portrayed by Fabien Frankel, was struck by three arrows from Alysanne “Black Aly” Blackwood, bringing the arc of one of the series’ most contentious characters to a close. His death occurred early in the episode rather than serving as the emotional peak, allowing the show to swiftly move on.

While some fans may have anticipated a more dramatic conclusion for such a prominent character, Frankel expressed that the understated and unforeseen nature of Criston’s death was precisely what he desired.

In an interview with The New York Times, the actor shared that he was “relieved, to a degree” about how his character exited the series. He noted that Criston’s ending aligned with the version penned by George R.R. Martin in the original book, ‘Fire and Blood.’

“Criston Cole’s gone out in the way I wanted him to, and in a way that feels very in honor of what George R.R. Martin wrote,” Frankel stated.

In Martin’s book, Criston also meets his end without the legendary moment he had hoped for. His adversaries ensure he does not achieve hero status, with one character remarking to his body, “I’ll have no songs about how brave you died, Kingmaker.”

This notion resonated with Frankel, as Criston spent much of his final storyline seeking a glorious conclusion. After witnessing the devastation wrought by dragons, the knight became convinced that his own demise was imminent and sought a way to exit as a warrior.

However, instead of receiving the dramatic farewell he yearned for, Criston was deprived of that chance. According to Frankel, this made the ending more appropriate for the character.

The actor also described filming Criston’s last moments as a fulfilling experience because the character was finally present in the moment rather than preoccupied with what lay ahead.

“When one knows the end is nigh, it’s very hard not to live in the present because you don’t have a choice. You can only live now,” Frankel explained.

Frankel also acknowledged that many fans had long awaited Criston’s downfall after years of witnessing the character’s controversial choices. However, he believes the abruptness of the death was a more fitting choice than providing the audience with the emotional resolution they anticipated.

“I’m excited to give the fans what they want. But I also don’t want them to feel like he’s gone and they can go to bed,” the actor remarked.

For a character who spent years instigating conflict across Westeros, Criston Cole’s final moments were surprisingly understated. But according to Fabien Frankel, that was precisely the intention. Instead of becoming a legend, Criston received an ending that perfectly reflected the complex and often frustrating life he led.

‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 continues airing on HBO and streaming on HBO Max.

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