Who Is Black Aly? Discover Alysanne Blackwood’s Role in ‘House of the Dragon’
‘House of the Dragon’ has spent three seasons building toward a moment fans have eagerly anticipated since Ser Criston Cole first betrayed his oath, and season three finally delivered. Cole, the White Sword turned traitor and architect of the Green faction’s cruelest decisions, has been at the heart of some of the show’s most intense storylines.
Episode six provided viewers with his conclusion, staged as an ambush known in George R.R. Martin’s source material as the Butcher’s Ball. Cole found himself surrounded by Riverlands bannermen and the Winter Wolves, led by Oscar Tully and Roderick Dustin, in a sequence that unfolds with brutal, grounded intensity rather than relying on dragon fire.
The character responsible for finally ending Cole’s story is Alysanne Blackwood, a noblewoman from the Riverlands better known by her nickname Black Aly. In the series, it is Alysanne who delivers the fatal blow, a moment that has left fans eager to learn more about the fierce warrior who has quickly become one of the season’s standout characters.
Alysanne has been subtly introduced throughout season three as a member of the Blacks’ army fighting in the Riverlands. She made her earlier appearance in the Battle by the Lakeshore, participating in the slaughter of Lannister forces loyal to the Greens, and her striking black eyeliner has made her instantly recognizable among a cast of new faces.
In Martin’s ‘Fire and Blood’, Black Aly is the daughter of a Blackwood lord and the aunt of Lord Benjicot Blackwood. She becomes a legendary fighter for Rhaenyra’s cause during the Dance of the Dragons, eventually marrying Lord Cregan Stark, which cements her place in House Stark lore long after the war concludes.
The show has already diverged from the source material. In the books, Alysanne does not directly kill Cole; instead, a different character named Red Robb Rivers finishes him off with a bow rather than a blade. This change reshapes one of the more satisfying moments of the war for television audiences.
Alysanne Blackwood is portrayed by Australian British actor Annie Shapero, whose casting was first reported as an exclusive by Deadline. The report revealed that Shapero had been cast in the role while the season was already filming in the United Kingdom. It noted that Blackwood was expected to appear in five of the season’s eight episodes, aligning with how gradually the character has been integrated into the story.
Before joining ‘House of the Dragon’, Shapero’s credits include the Israeli series ‘Red Skies’, the FX pilot ‘The Border’, and the film ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ alongside Jacob Elordi. She is also set to appear in the upcoming Australian horror film ‘Saccharine’.
Since Cole’s death aired, reactions from critics and fans have been largely positive, with many noting that Alysanne’s introduction may be one of the strongest new character debuts of the season. Some have even pointed out that the show gave her a moment of levity earlier in the season, referencing an in-universe song nicknamed after her exploits in battle.
With Cole gone and Alysanne firmly established as one of the season’s most compelling new additions, fans are eager to see how much more of her arc from the books will be adapted for the screen before the season concludes. Given how much of her storyline still lies ahead, Black Aly may be far from finished.
What did you think of how ‘House of the Dragon’ portrayed Criston Cole’s death and Alysanne Blackwood’s introduction? Share your thoughts in the comments.