The Butcher’s Ball finally broke out in House of the Dragon season 3, episode 6, and that means the long-awaited death of Ser Criston Cole. Fans of Fire & Blood knew that this knight would turn out to be a real piece of work, but season 1 really made it look, for a moment, that he was one of the good ones. Criston became Rhaenyra’s friend and personal guard, and he was fiercely protective of her. However, it only took her turning down his invitation to run away and elope for this House of the Dragon character to turn into an absolute monster.
Criston Cole isn’t as sadistic as Joffrey Baratheon, but ever since the conclusion of House of the Dragon season 1, there have been endless comparisons. The only comfort was that, just as with Joffrey, Criston’s death was on the way. Season 3 made it clear that the moment was inching ever closer, with the character himself having resigned himself to death. All he wanted was to go out in a blaze of glory in his own service, rather than the service of the Targaryens or the Hightowers. Unfortunately for him (though satisfactorily for us), Criston didn’t get his wish.
The Best Thing about Criston Cole’s Death Is That It Wasn’t Spectacular
Criston Cole’s death happened at the very start of House of the Dragon season 3, episode 6, and then it was never mentioned again. In the Game of Thrones prequel’s previous episodes, Criston went into a monologue about what he wanted for the end of his life. After seeing the devastation of dragons in battle and discovering that the Targaryens he placed on the throne had abandoned him, Criston wanted only to go out fighting. He wanted his death to be a thing of songs which would one day make their way back to Alicent’s ears.
This, of course, isn’t what happened. Criston Cole tried his best to get his enemies to face him one-on-one. He wrapped Alicent’s favor around this sword hilt and prepared to fight gloriously in her honor. As he prepared to begin, however, Alysanne Blackwood fired two arrows into his chest, and one straight to his face—and that was the end of it.
House of the Dragon didn’t make Criston Cole’s death drawn out and dramatic like it did Joffrey Baratheon’s. Instead, the tone of the moment was rather melancholy. There are few viewers who will actually mourn this character, so the point of the poetic camera angles and slow cello music wasn’t to inspire sympathy. Rather, the whole moment went to show just how meaningless Criston’s life was in the end. Alicent will never hear songs of his bravery or ferocity during his final battle. If she hears anything at all, it will just be that Criston fell in the mud before the fighting began.
What’s Next For House Of The Dragon With Criston Cole Gone?
There’s always got to be someone to hate in Game of Thrones, and in the case of House of the Dragon, that was Criston Cole. This character was certainly despicable in Fire & Blood, but there is something truly pathetic about House of the Dragon‘s take that Cole despised Rhaenyra because she denied him love. Then, turning his affection toward Alicent only added to the hypocrisy and, in truth, disguised misogyny. Now, Criston Cole is dead, yet there are still two more episodes left of House of the Dragon season 3 ahead of the final season 4.
Luckily for us, House of the Dragon has given us a new character to despise. Sure, Aegon and Aemond are still atrocious, but season 3 has managed to make even them somewhat sympathetic. At this point in the story, it’s Ormund Hightower who really takes the cake. He is truly far more Joffrey-like than Criston Cole ever was, and his ambition makes him even more pathetic. Surely, this is another satisfying Game of Thrones-style death in the making, but for now, we can only celebrate the loss of Ser Criston Cole.