Warning: Spoilers ahead for “House of the Dragon” season two, episode three.
The newly christened Hand of the King, Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), has a near-miss with death when he gets chased by a dragon in “House of the Dragon” season two, episode three. Unfortunately for the many fans who absolutely hate this guy, he survives this time.
He even nearly gets killed by Alicent Hightower’s (Olivia Cooke) brother in the season finale.
But like us all, the time will eventually come for the hot-headed knight. Here’s how he might die in the show if it follows the source material provided by George R. R. Martin’s book “Fire and Blood.”
Criston is almost dragon chow in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2, episode 3
In the latest episode of the season, which aired Sunday, Criston is sent to Harrenhal in an attempt to take the Riverlands for the greens, the group backing Aegon II Targaryen as king. But while journeying with Alicent’s brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), the Hand of the King sees a dragon rider high up in the clouds.
Since he and the rest of the knights all wear shiny silver armor, Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) and her dragon Moondancer, also spot them on the ground — leading to a pulse-pounding chase across the Westerosi countryside.
Fortunately for Cole, they all make it into the cover of the nearby woodland, and they’re not turned into a dragon snack because Moondancer can’t get in between the trees.
Ser Gwayne Hightower threatens to kill Criston for sleeping with Alicent Hightower
In the final episode of the season, Cole has a short scene in the forest with the rest of the Greens’ army where he feels sentimental over Alicent Hightower while looking at her handkerchief.
When Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) confronts him about sleeping with his sister, Cole makes it very clear that he isn’t afraid of dying — and refers to the fact that anyone can die easily in this war because of the dragons.
He points out that normal people are insignificant next to the terrifying power of the fire-breathing beasts. Hightower realizes that there’s no point in killing Cole, and backs off.
According to the book, Criston ultimately gets killed in a battle called the “Butcher’s Ball”
In “Fire and Blood,” Cole survives the Targaryen civil war until a battle known as the “Butcher’s Ball.” The green army gets ambushed south of the Gods Eye, the biggest lake in the seven kingdoms.
He tries to organize some sort of agreement with the blacks by offering his surrender to Ser Garibald Grey, Ser Pate of Longlead, and Lord Roderick Dustin, but they refuse. Cole is killed by nearby archers when he tries to fight all three of the knights at once.
He handled the conflict nearly as well as he handled his weird love triangle with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). Which is to say, poorly.
To add insult to injury, Grey and Pate mount Criston’s head on a spear and take it with them to another battle as a show of strength.
It’s the type of brutal death that “Game of Thrones” became infamous for. Just recall the Red Wedding, the penultimate episode of season three, which saw House Tully butcher Robb Stark (Richard Madden), his mother Catelyn (Michelle Fairley), his new bride Talisa (Oona Chaplin), and his army.
But the Targaryen civil war, dubbed the “Dance of Dragons,” is only just starting to escalate at the start of season two. It could be some time before audiences see Cole’s death in live action.
“House of the Dragon” season two airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is streaming on Max.
