‘House of the Dragon‘ is heading into its third season with a massive weight on its shoulders. After a divisive season 2 that left portions of the audience frustrated over pacing and character focus, season 3 now carries the responsibility of restoring confidence in the franchise.
The latest confirmation is that Criston Cole will die in season 3, and this is major. Not because book readers don’t expect his death. But because of how the show handles it, and what it implies about the showrunners’ approach to character nuance going forward.
‘House Of The Dragon’ Must Get Criston Cole’s Death Right
Showrunner Ryan Condal recently revealed on The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of podcast that he gave Fabien Frankel, who plays Criston Cole, the character’s sword and helmet as a parting gift. That effectively confirms Cole’s exit ahead of time. It’s a surprising choice for a show that thrives on suspense and brutal twists. The reaction across fan circles has been mixed. Some viewers see Criston as one of the most loathed figures in Westeros since Joffrey Baratheon, while others understand his importance as more than a villain.
Related: ‘House Of The Dragon’ Star Claims Season 3 Will Fix Underwhelming Season 2 Finale
And that nuance is exactly where ‘House of the Dragon’ must shine if it wants to hold its ground. Criston Cole, whether you love him or despise him, is not a throwaway character. He represents the rot within Westeros’ institutions and the weight of vows. Dismissing him as a one-note antagonist, as season 2 often did, risks flattening the moral complexity that defined the first season. His arc mirrors Jaime Lannister’s in certain ways.
He is a knight with honor-coded expectations, compromised by personal desire and political games. However, instead of leaning into that, season 2 painted him mostly as a spite-driven, chaotic agent with no introspection. To kill him off without exploring the cracks in his armor would be a disservice not just to the character, but to the thematic spine of the story. If his death is indeed one of the biggest moments of season 3, it has to land.
Additionally, there’s actually room to make his end compelling. Season 2, beneath the bitterness and brutal choices, hinted at a man who may be too far gone but who still knows it. He’s not someone meant to go out as a martyr, but he shouldn’t die as a tyrant either. ‘House of the Dragon’ can redeem its broader storytelling tone by exploring that internal downfall before swinging the sword. That doesn’t mean making him a hero; it just means treating him like a person whose choices mattered.
‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3 Filming Has Officially Wrapped
While character fates are stirring discussion, production has officially taken a major step forward behind the scenes. ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 has officially wrapped filming after more than six months of production. With cameras down, the show now moves into post-production ahead of a planned Summer 2026 release. HBO’s Casey Bloys revealed that the release date will fall just outside the Emmy eligibility window, which closes on May 31, 2026.
In case you missed it: ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3 Gets A Summer 2026 Update
So the most likely premiere month is June 2026. That positions the show to dominate the summer spotlight, particularly since it won’t be squeezed into award-season deadlines. Interestingly, season 3’s filming remained entirely within the UK. This is a major shift from previous years. For the first time since 2015, no filming was done in Spain, which has traditionally been a major stand-in for various Westerosi locales. The more contained shooting schedule suggests a tighter production focus.
However, ‘House of the Dragon’ won’t be HBO’s only Westerosi juggernaut in 2026. Just months before its release, viewers will get ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’, the long-awaited adaptation of George R.R. Martin‘s Dunk & Egg novellas, premiering on January 18, 2026. That means we’ll have two very different Westeros stories airing in the same year, one focused on intimate pre-war adventures, the other on civil war carnage. So, 2026 is set to be a defining year for the franchise.
