While Criston Cole‘s fall in ‘House of the Dragon’ had left a lasting impression on viewers, one thing has kept people talking about the series: why was Alicent Hightower the last thing on his mind?
According to actor Fabien Frankel. And the answer was surprisingly simple: love.
Fabien Frankel Says Alicent Was The Only Person Criston Cole Truly Loved in ‘House Of The Dragon‘
When people are at the end of their lives, they think about the people they love the most. For Criston, no family was waiting in the wings. He didn’t have any parents, siblings, wife, or children to consider. In Frankel’s eyes, Alicent was the one person who truly occupied that place in his heart.
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“I’ve fallen in love a few times in my life, and when you’re in love, it’s really hard to think about anything else. The people who come to mind as your end approaches are the ones you love. Criston has no father, mother, siblings, spouse, or children. Who did this man truly love in his life? Alicent was the only one he truly loved.”
It’s a look that gives a character, who is known for his anger, loyalty, and ruthless decisions, an emotional dimension. Under his armor and reputation on the battlefield was a man whose strongest emotional bond never wavered, even when his story ended. For many fans and Fabian, that’s the most poignant ending to Criston’s death. It’s not the death of a warrior, but a man who’s still burdened with unsaid love.
Frankel On Why He Dislikes Team Black, Especially Rhaenyra And Daemon
Frankel also shared that separating himself from Team Black has never been difficult. The actor said that he doesn’t really like the main characters of the faction, and he hates them as soon as they are on screen. He singled out Rhaenyra and Daemon as characters he just can’t cheer on.
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“I have neither the time nor the energy to spare for any character on the Blacks’ side. I don’t like them the moment they appear on screen. The instant I see them on screen, I say, ‘God, I hate all of them.’ I don’t like Daemon. I don’t like Rhaenyra. I don’t like any character on their side.”
While his comments reflect his personal enthusiasm for portraying a Green loyalist rather than any real-life animosity, they underline how deeply he immersed himself in Criston Cole’s perspective. Throughout the series, Criston considered Rhaenyra’s faction as his enemies, and Frankel adopted that attitude on and off the set.
Despite this, it is his interpretation of Criston’s love for Alicent that might be the most compelling to audiences. Regardless of whether fans are for the Greens or the Blacks, Frankel’s words remind us that Criston Cole’s tale was not only about war and honor, but also about the one person he never stopped loving.
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