House of the Dragon is back for seconds and we’re once again thirsty—nay, parched—for Ser Criston Cole, sexy knight and devious schemer! In case you hadn't noticed based on his antics last season, Ser Criston is actually a pretty major character in Fire & Blood, the (extremely dense) Targaryen history book that House of the Dragon is based on. So, like, casually wondering what happens? We have answers, but please be advised that SPOILERS are ahead.
Some Background on Ser Criston
He was born the “son of a steward in service to Lord Dondarrion of Blackhaven,” in case that means anything to you. Meanwhile, the book describes him as 23-years-old with “pale green eyes, coal black hair, and easy charm,” and he’s apparently a “favorite among the ladies at court” including Rhaenyra, who—as we know—gets herself a crush and starts calling him “my white knight."
As a reminder in case House of the Dragon season 1 is but a distant and confusing memory, Rhaenyra has a steamy affair with Ser Criston before she turns down his offer of marriage and he bitterly joins Team Green (read: sides with Alicent Hightower).
When King Viserys dies, Criston is right there by Alicent’s side and instrumental in the plot to prevent Rhaenyra from taking the throne. He even places the crown on Aegon II’s head! So...what happens next?
Meet Criston the Kingmaker
Criston becomes Aegon II's hand and is (somewhat dramatically) known as ~Criston the Kingmaker~ as a result. During this era, he spends his time murdering anyone who refuses to bend the knee to Aegon II and organizing a plot to kill Rhaenyra. Said plot fails, but TL;DR: he sends Arryk to Dragonstone to murder the queen—but Arryk's twin brother Erryk stops him and they end up killing each other instead, whoops.
Anyway, we're here to talk about Ser Criston, so moving on! Next on his agenda? Our dude mounts an attack on Rook's Rest (aka the seat of House Staunton), which ends in the death of Rhaenys, the Queen Who Never Was.
He Dies in an Extremely 🥴 Way
Majorrrr spoiler, but if you're wondering how Ser Criston dies (because no way was he making it outta this show alive), it's pretty brutal. Basically, Prince Aemond and Ser Criston Cole head over to Harrenhal only to find it empty because—lol—Rhaenyra and Daemon are busy seizing Kings Landing.
Criston then heads south with a small army, who aren't exactly in great shape when they come face-to-face with the Lords of the Trident. Criston attempts to negotiate a surrender, but Red Robb Rivers (a skilled bowman) shoots a buncha arrows into his "belly, neck, and breast," killing him instantly. Meanwhile, Longleaf the Lionslayer has this to say over Criston's dead body: "I'll have no songs about how brave you died, Kingmaker. There's tens o' thousands deal on your account."
Annnnd scene. On that note, I bid you farewell!
FAQs
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.
What happens in House of the Dragon season 2? ›
The season 2 finale of House of the Dragon sees Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) strike a deal with Alicent (Olivia Cooke) to end the war, hoping to avoid a fiery conflict with Aemond (Ewan Mitchell).
What happened at the end of episode 2 of House of the Dragon? ›
House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2 raises the stakes in Targaryen civil war with tragic deaths and emotional fallout. The duel of the Cargyll twins ends with both Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk dying, the latter taking his own life after killing his brother.
Does Criston Cole sleep with Alicent? ›
House of the Dragon Season 2: Alicent & Criston Cole Relationship Explained. When fans discovered that Criston Cole and Alicent Hightower were sleeping together in Season 2 of House of the Dragon, many were stunned.
Who is stronger Criston Cole or Daemon Targaryen? ›
Ser Criston Cole has experience with war before joining the Kingsguard. He remains the only one to defeat Daemon Targaryen in fair combat.
Who kills Daemon Targaryen? ›
Daemon and Prince Aemond Battle It Out
According to Fire & Blood (the extremely lengthy source material for House of the Dragon), Daemon dies after an epic dragon fight with Prince Aemond…who also dies, womp.
Who does marry in House of Dragons? ›
After Daemon's first wife dies, he gets together with Laena Velaryon—who was initially suggested as a bride for King Viserys. They have two daughters. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra marries Laena's brother, Laenor Velaryon, and they have several kids.
Does rhaena get a dragon? ›
Rhaena reminds Lady Arryn that she promised her 15,000 soldiers, Rhaenyra in exchange for a dragon and fulfilled her promise by sending two dragons to the Vale. Lady Arryn (somewhat annoyed by Rhaena's tone of speech) points out that they are still young and that she cannot afford to wait until they grow up.
What happens to the twins in House of the Dragon? ›
The two brothers stay loyal to their queens and fight a tearful duel to the death. It's hard to tell who has the upper hand in the sibling scuffle, but Erryk deals a mortal wound to his brother, then apologizes to Rhaenyra and kills himself out of sorrow for what he's done.
What happens to Otto in House of Dragons? ›
FYI, Otto's story comes to an end soon after the battle, when Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) takes King's Landing and quickly beheads him for being a traitor.
But for a brief moment in the “House of the Dragon” Season Two finale, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent (Olivia Cooke), have a meeting where they are able to make high-powered agreements without middlemen causing a ruckus.
Whose son was killed in House of the Dragon? ›
Grief-stricken by Aemond murdering her son Lucerys, Rhaenyra tells her council that she wants Aemond. Daemon then decides to pay for two assassins, Blood and Cheese, to murder Aemond. However, Blood and Cheese struggle to find Aemond and instead stumble across Helaena's bedchamber.
Who is Criston Cole in love with? ›
Criston regards his own honour highly, which is what drove him to propose an elopement with Rhaenyra and confessing his relationship to Alicent. Similarly, after killing Joffrey Lonmouth, Criston was prepared to take his own life out of shame for his actions.
Why does Criston Cole hate Rhaenyra? ›
Rhaenyra's rejection of him in Season 1 and her unwillingness to run away with him and give him redemption for breaking his Kingsguard vows at the cost of Rhaenyra losing her throne has fueled his hatred of her ever since.
How much older is Criston Cole than Rhaenyra? ›
Ser Criston Cole: According to Martin's The World of Ice and Fire, Ser Criston was born in 81 AC, making him 16 years Rhaenyra's senior.
Why did Criston Cole betray Rhaenyra? ›
9 Ser Criston Turned On Rhaenyra After She Spurned Him
He suggested that they run away together, but Rhaenyra refused to leave behind her life and station--nor would she forsake the Iron Throne her father had promised to her.
Why did Ser Criston Cole turn evil? ›
Every time he talks. Everything he does. Ser Criston's entire “thing” is based around being embarrassed that Rhaenyra rejected his proposal to run away together in their youth, and now he's turned into a fountain of bad ideas and hypocrisy, in this week's episode failing upward to an absolutely absurd degree.
Why did Criston Cole sleep with Rhaenyra? ›
Criston was more preoccupied with Rhaenyra, whom he was deeply infatuated and slept with before she turned down his marriage offer.
Who kills Rhaenyra? ›
So What *Specifically* Happens to Rhaenyra? According to Fire & Blood (the source material for House of the Dragon by George R. R. Martin), Aegon II has Rhaenyra killed and eaten by his dragon.
