Includes SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6 and MASSIVE SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, the show's source material.
Summary
- Alicent & Cole share a poignant moment before he leaves for war, hinting it may be their last.
- Cole's fate is sealed as he dies in battle, adding depth to his character & Alicent's storyline.
- Cole won't return to King's Landing before his death, setting up a significant event.
Alicent Hightower and Criston Cole's prolonged glance in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, has a much more complicated meaning than the show lets on. Played in the House of the Dragon cast by Olivia Cooke and Fabien Frankel, Alicent and Criston's toxic romance has been one of the HBO show's original narratives, as there's no mention of it in George R.R. Martin's books. Of course, given the immense hatred audiences typically have for Ser Criston, they aren't exactly a fan-favorite pairing, but their romance adds some complexity to the series nonetheless.
Criston Cole was originally introduced in House of the Dragon season 1 as a well-trained knight who rapidly ascended the ranks, becoming a member of the Kingsguard and Rhaenyra Targaryen's sworn shield. After she rejected his proposal to marry and run off together, he grew bitter toward her, eventually siding with her rivals in the Blacks and Greens split at the start of the war. In "Smallfolk," Cole is sent back out to wage war in the Riverlands by Aemond, who hopes to get the strike on Daemon before he can amass an army in the Riverlands.
Alicent & Criston Cole May Have Seen Each Other For The Last Time In House Of The Dragon
Criston Cole Won't Return To King's Landing Before He Dies
As Cole leaves for war for the second time in House of the Dragon season 2, he once again shares a long glance with Alicent Hightower outside the Red Keep before his march begins. While they shared a brief dialogue earlier in the season before he left for Rook's Rest, this exchange lacked any meaningful words. Alicent and Cole address each other with prolonged looks of sadness and longing, setting up the fact that it will likely be the last time this pair shares a scene in House of the Dragon.
In Fire & Blood, when Cole is sent out to wage war on the Riverlands, he never returns from the conflict. He and Aemond set their target on Harrenhal, which Daemon and the Riverlords give up. The Riverlords clash with the Lannisters in the West while Daemon rides Caraxes to capture the relatively unguarded King's Landing. With the help of Cregan Stark's Northmen, the Lannister forces are crushed, making it a game-changing double loss for the Greens due to Aemond's poor, reckless strategy.
Related
Aemond summoned Otto Hightower to King's Landing to be his hand in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6. Here's how this differs from the book.
Alicent & Cole's Relationship Will Make His Death More Meaningful
HOTD Adds Definition To Criston Cole's Character Through His Romances
Due to the path Aemond sets Cole on, he eventually dies at war. While most audiences will celebrate this occasion as they did Ramsay or Joffrey's deaths in Game of Thrones, it's all due to the House of the Dragon writers' work in Cole's characterization. Many of his critical elements exist in Fire & Blood, but the TV series provides a definition to him, exploring ideas of masculinity through his character. The fact that his death will evoke such a reaction is a testament to the show's writing, and the event will also have an impact on Alicent.
Alicent and Cole's romance in season 2 is notably violent, highly emotional, and often a result of both parties' misplaced and disorganized feelings toward everything happening. Regardless, they are two people who have feelings for each other in some capacity, and Cole's death will be another stain on Alicent's life, adding to the grief that she's compounding throughout the TV series.
Related
Aemond Targaryen gives King Aegon an important object when visiting him in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, which represents their new roles.
When Will Criston Cole Die In House Of The Dragon?
Criston Cole Won't Die In Season 2, But It's Coming Up
Following Aemond and Cole's recapture of Harrenhal and the defeats they subsequently suffer, Cole urges Aemond to retreat with him and rejoin the Hightower host further south. His numbers departing King's Landing, as mentioned in House of the Dragon, aren't grand, and they were relying on meeting the Lannister host in the Riverlands for reinforcement. Again, however, Aemond decides to be reckless and not consider his troops. He decides to set out solo on Vhagar to set fire to the Riverlands, leaving Cole's small host to retreat alone.
On his return to the Hightower army, Cole is caught by an army from Rhaenyra's side, who shoot him to death with arrows at an event known as the Butcher's Ball. When this happens, it all depends on the pacing of House of the Dragon. It should likely occur sometime in season 3, depending on how quickly the series moves from battle to battle. There are still some significant events that have to transpire first, and the series seems to be spacing out these moments with breaks of 2-3 build-up episodes in between.
House of the Dragon
Where to Watch
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Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alco*ck and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
- Cast
- Jefferson Hall , Paddy Considine , Fabien Frankel , Ryan Corr , Eve Best , Gavin Spokes , Graham McTavish , Steve Toussaint , Olivia Cooke , Sonoya Mizuno , Bill Paterson , Matthew Needham , Emma D'Arcy , Matt Smith , Rhys Ifans , David Horovitch
- Release Date
- August 21, 2022
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- HBO Max
- Franchise(s)
- Game of Thrones
