Few characters in ‘House of the Dragon’ have been as controversial as Ser Criston Cole. Even the actor behind the controversial knight has mixed feelings about his journey.
In a recent promotional interview for House of the Dragon season 3, Fabian Frankel revealed some honest opinions about Criston’s character, making light of the fact that the writers seem intent on keeping the character unpopular.
Criston Cole’s Evolution Has Left Even Fabien Frankel Scratching His Head
Fabian’s remarks were definitely tongue-in-cheek, but they did provide an interesting look into the current debate about one of the show’s most polarizing personalities. After two seasons, Criston’s actions have made him one of Westeros’s most criticized characters. His downfall has been a captivating and vexing spectacle for many of his fans.
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Frankel said he had hoped Criston would be more likable in season 3. He acknowledged that he had wanted him to go in a different direction. The actor playfully admitted that Criston’s better side was sometimes not selected for the final cut.
He says that moments that brought humanity to the character were often lost in the process, and that audiences often ended up with a more brutal version of the knight. “They got cut. Anytime we try to bring a little bit of humanity to the thing, Ryan and Sarah just want me f*cking really down and dumped,” he told Blackgirlnerds.
The remarks mirror the criticism that has long been voiced by fans. ‘House of the Dragon’ has been great at casting morally ambiguous characters. But a lot of people have seen Criston more as a flawed character than a character with a motive. That impression has only strengthened as the Black-Green conflict rages on.
Fabian Believes Criston Cole Would Choose A Different Path If He Had The Chance
Frankel’s most telling comments were about Criston’s sense of honor. The actor openly wondered if the character still has a code of any sort. He referred to Criston’s “loyalties” changing throughout the series, as his ideals appear to shift based on the situation he finds himself in.
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“It’s like one second, his code is that he supports Rhaenyra, and his code is honor, and then that code is gone. Then he takes the white cloak and sleeps with the Queen and Rhaenyra, and then that code is gone. Then he’s on Alicent’s team, but then he betrays her in the small council. I mean, what’s his code?”
That’s a fair statement. The knight who used to stand for duty and honor has failed to uphold those values on many occasions, resulting in a character that is often torn and unpredictable. Yet Frankel feels Criston’s tragedy is that he might never have fit in the political sphere of kings and queens.
If he could do it all over again, the actor said Criston would probably opt for a simpler life as a soldier.
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