- Ser Criston Cole is dead, marking a significant moment in House of the Dragon Season 3, with many fans expressing relief at his demise, calling it 'Good riddance, you insufferable prick!'
- Cole's death was depicted as ignominious, as he was cut down suddenly by three arrows while still clutching Queen Alicent’s handkerchief around the hilt of his sword.
- His demise aligns closely with the events in the book Fire & Blood, although the show made notable changes, including who ultimately killed him.
- Lady Alysanne Blackwood was responsible for killing Cole in the show, a departure from the book where he was killed by Red Robb Rivers and his archers.
- A lifetime of poor choices led to Criston Cole's demise and the needless deaths of his remaining troops.
- Cole was described as a bitter hypocrite who broke his vows yet punished others for their own mistakes.
- Ser Criston Cole made a series of bad, selfish choices, driven by his needy, petty, and vindictive nature.
- His early violation of his oath as a member of the Kingsguard by sleeping with then-Princess Rhaenyra sowed the seeds of his destruction.
- This rejection led him to switch sides in the Dance of the Dragons, becoming a fervent warrior for the Greens.
- Cole's violent actions included beheading Lord Darklyn during a council meeting and causing chaos at Rhaenyra’s wedding feast.
Fabien Frankel discusses the demise of Ser Criston Cole in 'House of the Dragon,' emphasizing the character's bitter end. Cole, who longed for battlefield glory, was ultimately cut down by arrows while clutching Queen Alicent's handkerchief, a moment that starkly contrasts his earlier ambitions.17
In the series, Cole's death mirrors the events of George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, though the adaptation made notable changes. In the book, Red Robb Rivers and his archers are responsible for his death, while the show attributes it to Lady Alysanne Blackwood, wife of Lord Cregan Stark.34
Cole's demise is a culmination of a lifetime of poor choices, including his betrayal of the Kingsguard by engaging in an affair with then-Princess Rhaenyra. This act of hypocrisy, coupled with his violent outbursts—such as beheading Lord Darklyn—sowed the seeds of his destruction. Ultimately, Cole's switch to the Greens and his role as a fervent warrior for Aegon II led to his downfall, as he became a target in the chaotic Dance of the Dragons.59
Frankel's reflection captures the essence of Cole's character: a man whose ambition and moral failings led to his ignoble end, leaving viewers to ponder the complexities of loyalty and betrayal in the realm of Westeros.
“Criston Cole's death in Season 3 aligns closely with George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, though the show altered key details, including the identity of his killer. His character's downfall stemmed from a lifetime of poor choices, including breaking his Kingsguard vows and switching sides in the Dance of the Dragons.”
