Ser Criston Cole has been on a wild ride in House of the Dragon, and not exactly a likable one. From a sympathetic knight to a divisive figure whose choices often lead to disaster, his arc has sparked plenty of debate. Now, the actor behind the white cloak is speaking out—and he's not holding back.
During a recent junket interview for House of the Dragon Season 3, Fabian Frankel, alongside co-star Olivia Cooke, was asked if he'd hoped Criston would become more sympathetic this season. Frankel's response was blunt: “Dude. I know, so was I. It was a bit of a turn that I didn’t expect, but you know the writers want to keep me unlikable, man. They want to keep my career derailed.” While he delivered the line with a wink, his frustration was clear.
Cooke noted that the cast tried to show different sides of Cole in Season 2, but Frankel quickly countered: “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.” This echoes the broader criticism from A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin, who has publicly questioned the show's creative direction, particularly in Season 2.
Frankel also questioned whether Criston even has a moral code anymore. “I don’t know. I mean, does he have a code? His code’s always changing. 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?”
The actor did find a sliver of sympathy for his character, suggesting that Criston's deepest wish is simply to start over. “I think it would just be a chance to do it again, I think he would never have accepted the position as a member of the Kingsguard. I think he just, if he could go back and remained a soldier, that’s what I think he was good at, and I think he was put in a world that he was never going to be good in.”
This isn't the first time the show's creative choices have been under fire. Martin's own critiques have fueled discussions about the series' direction, and Frankel's comments add a new layer to the conversation. For fans, it raises questions about how much control actors have over their characters' arcs—and whether the showrunners are listening.
As House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres this month, viewers will see if Criston Cole's journey takes any unexpected turns. For more on the season's reception, check out our analysis of House of the Dragon Season 3 Audience Score Stays Stuck—Critics Love It, Fans Don't. And for a deeper look at the show's lore, see House of the Dragon Season 3 Breaks Game of Thrones Riverlands Funeral Lore.
