Spoiler Alert: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon Episode 5 & Game of Thrones
Royal weddings in Westeros rarely go well when George RR Martin is behind them. The Red Wedding, which took place in Season 3 Episode 9 of game of thrones, saw the deaths of several main characters, including Robb Stark, his mother, Catelyn, and his wife and unborn child. The Purple Wedding, in Season 4 Episode 2, would then feature another horrific death, with King Joffrey Baratheon being poisoned during his wedding feast, effectively killing the character. Now The Green Wedding took place in Season 1, Episode 5 of House of the Dragon. While no main character dies prematurely, the festivities are nonetheless filled with excitement.
Ser Criston Cole, played by Fabien Frankel, was the center of the excitement, as his character lashed out in a way we haven’t seen in the first four episodes of the series. During an interview with Weekly entertainment, the actor discussed his role and how he will change in the coming episodes and seasons. He says, “He’s very much set up as one thing, and as the show goes on, a lot changes. That’s what I found exciting,” Frankel says. “He’s really set up there as a noble, well-meaning knight to protect Rhaenyra. And for those who have read the book, he isn’t at all.’ The book is natural Fire & Blood, released in 2018 by George R. R. Martin. The historical novel chronicles Targaryen’s family history and the events that followed House of the Dragon will cover in television form.
Ser Criston Cole Let love conquer its duty
As we often see in the Game of Thrones universe, love is the death of duty. Those are the words Maester Aemon says to Jon Snow during the first series, and they resound for both shows. Jon falls for Ygritte, Robb Stark falls for Talisa and Criston Cole falls for Rhaenyra. They all have huge implications for the future of their respective shows, and Fabien Frankel acknowledges that.
During last week’s episode, titled We light the way, Criston Cole confesses his love for Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and suggests that they leave Westeros and cross the sea where they may be allowed to marry. However, the princess declines his request and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard is forced to watch as Rhaenyra marries Laenor Velaryon in order to align the two mighty houses. Eventually, anger mounts for Cole, who beats Laenor’s friend to death at the wedding, leading to an alliance between Queen Alicent Hightower and Criston Cole. Frankel discusses his role on The Green Wedding and tells EW that he wanted to avoid conflict at all costs.
“I don’t think he’s looking for any kind of conflict at this wedding. In any case, he wants to be as far away as humanly possible. […] I don’t think it’s because [Rhaenyra] says she’s not going out with him. I think it’s the way she says she’s not going out with him. That scene could have been written so easily [as] he asks her to run away with him, she understands why he feels this way, she cannot give up her role as queen, but what she will offer him is a way out if he wants to leave the kingsguard. That could very well be the scenario that happens. It’s not. That is very interesting to me. She chose to keep him there. She made sure he got through that wedding. That’s where the hostility builds.”
Ser Criston Cole should have a captivating character arc moving forward as the episode concludes with the harbinger of Alicent and Cole’s alliance. Whether he will ever try to take revenge on Rhaenyra is up in the air; however, anything is possible for Frankel’s character at this point. Olivia Cooke and Emma D’Arcy will be taking over the roles of Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen as there is a ten year time jump between episodes 5 and 6. As a result, Ser Criston Cole can be a very different character in terms of his personality and loyalty the next time we see him, as a lot of time has passed. Fans can see where the characters go when House of the Dragon goes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET. premiered on HBO and HBO Max