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Although the shifting allegiances in House of the Dragon are not altogether surprising, the character arc of Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) is rather unexpected. He is introduced as a literal knight in shining armor, who was born to a steward of Lord Dondarrion at Blackhaven. He climbs the ranks due to his fighting prowess, and goes on to have considerable influence during the Dance of the Dragons.
However, his motivations in both Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon are quite unclear, as he goes from being Rhaenyra Targaryen’s “white knight” to “the most bitter of her foes”.
House Of The Dragon: Alicent And Rhaenyra's Rivalry, Explained
Alicent and Rhaenyra start off House of the Dragon as the best of friends, but a marriage sours their friendship and they become enemies with time.
Criston Cole’s Relationship With Rhaenyra Targaryen
In contrast to the show, Criston’s relationship with Rhaenyra is never actually confirmed in the books. In 104 AC, he wins a melee at the tourney at Maidenpool and gives the victor’s laurel to Rhaenyra. Afterward, King Viserys I Targaryen appeases her by naming him as her sworn protector.
There are conflicting rumors about what happens between Criston and Rhaenyra later on. According to Mushroom, the court fool, Daemon gives Rhaenyra explicit lessons on “womanly arts” so she can seduce Criston. However, when she approaches the righteous knight, he is “horrified” and rejects her. The devastated princess ends up finding solace in Harwin Strong.
According to Septon Eustace’s version, it is Criston who proclaims his love to Rhaenyra when the latter is about to marry Laenor Velaryon. He supposedly slips into her bedchamber and asks her to elope with him. She refuses as she considers it beneath a Targaryen to live as a common sellsword’s wife. Moreover, “if he could set aside his Kingsguard vows, why would marriage vows mean any more to him?”
Either way, their relationship sours from this point onwards. While Criston becomes the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in 112 AC, Harwin is Rhaenyra’s new sworn shield. During Laenor and Rhaenyra’s wedding festivities, Criston competes with Harwin in a melee, leaving him with a broken collarbone and elbow.
Does Criston Love Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon?
In the show, Criston also seems fiercely loyal to Rhaenyra at first, and even saves her from a boar in Kingswood. Their relationship changes when she lures him to bed after her escapade with Daemon. When Rhaenyra’s marriage with Laenor is finalized, Criston proposes running away together to Essos. However, she refuses as she does not wish to abandon her duties. She informs him that she and Laenor have agreed to pursue their own desires behind closed doors while performing their royal duties.
Disgusted at the prospect of being a part of a polygamous arrangement, Criston is finally pushed over the edge when Joffrey Lonmouth approaches him at the welcome feast and admits to being Laenor’s paramour. In the midst of the celebration, he beats him to death in a blind rage. As Frankel explains to EW:
I don’t think it’s because [Rhaenyra] says she won’t go away with him. I think it’s the way in which she says she won’t go away with him. That scene could so easily have been written [as] he asks her to run away with him, she understands why he feels this way, she can’t give up her role as queen, but what she will offer him is an out if he would like to leave the Kingsguard […] She chose to keep him there. She made him stand through that wedding. That's where the animosity builds.
Following the 10-year time jump, Criston regards Rhaenyra as “brazen” and “relentless” (“A spider who stings and sucks her prey dry”). However, being a jilted lover does not seem to be the cause of his intense hatred. While it is true that he may have had genuine feelings for her once, it is his misguided sense of honor that is his sole concern. After breaking his vow of celibacy, he expects her to relinquish her wealth and titles for him, so he can somehow be absolved of his own actions. As he says to her:
I’ve soiled my white cloak and it’s the only thing I have to my […] name! I thought if we were married, I might be able to restore it.
Why Is Criston Cole Loyal to Alicent Hightower?
In the books, Criston strikes Joffrey during the wedding tourney, causing him to die six days later. Although many berate him for this, Alicent Hightower asks for him to be made her personal shield. From then onwards, he becomes a great supporter of the greens. In House of the Dragon, Criston seems to switch loyalties after Alicent interrupts his suicide attempt in Godswood. In the following years, he trains her sons to become skilled warriors, while showing a clear bias against Rhaenyra’s sons.
After the death of Viserys, the small council discusses the matter of who the real heir is. When Lyman Beesbury protests against Aegon II Targaryen, some claim that Criston cuts his throat, while others state that he pushes him from a window. In the show, Criston bangs his head against the council totem (“I will not suffer insults to Her Grace, the Queen”).
When Aegon is missing, Alicent sends Criston to find him:
I trust again to you, Ser Criston, and to your loyalty […] Everything you feel for me as your queen.
Criston also places the crown of Aegon the Conqueror on the new king’s head — for which he becomes known as the “Kingmaker”. He eventually serves as the Hand of the King.
While it is clear that Criston is Alicent’s staunchest defender, House of the Dragon has not suggested any romantic feelings between the two yet. Thus, it can be assumed that, as the traditionalist that he portrays himself to be, he supports the greens because the Andal tradition upholds a trueborn son’s rights before a daughter’s. Another reason could be that he does not want Harwin’s bastards to assume the throne. Whatever his ambitions may be though, he plays a major role in the ensuing war:
Criston the Kingmaker had set brother against sister and divided the Kingsguard against itself, bringing on the terrible war the singers named the Dance of the Dragons.
What Happens to Criston Cole?
In a quest to retake Harrenhal from Daemon Targaryen, Criston departs King’s Landing with 4000 men, along with Aemond Targaryen (now Protector of the Realm and Prince Regent) riding on Vhagar. Upon their arrival, they discover that the blacks have abandoned the castle to join Rhaenyra in the attack on King’s Landing. Criston urges Aemond to join the host of greens in the south, but he is determined to burn down the riverlands using Vhagar instead.
Hence, when the remaining men proceed without the dragon’s protection, several of them are killed by the rivermen along the way. They are eventually confronted by a much bigger army of blacks at the Blackwater Rush. Criston attempts to surrender to spare his men, but is refused. He then challenges the lords, but is struck by archers with three arrows. The event was later known as the Butcher’s Ball. Afterward, the blacks bring Criston’s head on a spear to intimidate the greens in the First Battle of Tumbleton.
As Pate of Longleaf (supporter of the blacks) says about Criston:
I’ll have no songs about how brave you died, Kingmaker. There’s tens o’ thousands dead on your account.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is HBO's prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.
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