Fabien Frankel’s Ser Criston Cole became one of the most beloved characters when he debuted in HOTD Season 1. His story started as a King’s Guard, and fans loved how he connected to Rhaenyra. However, things got dirty when Rhaenyra rejected his proposal to run away and leave everything behind. Since that day, Ser Criston Cole turned against her and befriended those against Rhaenyra. With the story’s progression, Ser Criston Cole has turned into one of the most disliked characters in House of the Dragon, so it’s evident that fans are awaiting his death. How does Criston Cole die in the books?
When Does Ser Criston Cole Die in House of the Dragon
As per the books, following the Butcher’s Ball, when Rhaenyra nearly killed her half-brother, Aegon II, in a battle, Aemond and Ser Criston Cole decide to kill Daemon and reclaim Harrenhal. They believe it would be difficult to take Rhaenyra down until Daemon is Alive. However, it seems Daemon knew about the ordeal, so he was all set to face Aemond and Ser Criston’s army.
After the Blacks knocked off almost every man in Ser Criston’s army, he pleaded in front of three Blacks to let the remaining ones live. After facing denial, Ser Criston Cole challenges to take all of them down with a single blow. However, he didn’t get a chance to fight as three arrows ambushed him at a time. One on his chest, the other one on his neck and stomach. The Kingmaker’s head fell off his body within seconds, marking the end of his story once and for all.
These events occur at the end of Dance of the Dragons, so it will likely take another season to watch Ser Criston’s brutal fate on our screens.
Ser Criston Cole Get a Cowardly Death
Ser Criston Cole never misses an opportunity to show his false bravery in front of the other members of the King’s Guard. He usually makes every knight understand the true meaning of a white cloak. He also tells them to follow the vows of chastity strictly, but he is seen breaking the vow himself, earlier with Rhaenyra and now with Alicent. So, it’s obvious that when Rhaenyra rejected him for the sake of the Targaryen dynasty, Ser Criston took it on his ego. And that’s why every action of his is not for the crown but for his hatred towards Rhaenyra.
When his men get killed by the Blacks at Harrenhal, his cowardly personality comes out in the front, and he starts pleading in front of the three Blacks. He also said that they could take him and leave the remaining men of his army. So, it would be safe to say that he didn’t get a heroic death at the end. He was a coward and got a death in the books that suited him well. Now, it would be interesting to see if the TV show follows the books or takes liberty to make his death even more satisfying.
