There’s “something weird burgeoning” between Alicent and Criston

Alicent Hightower and Criston Cole have an odd relationship on House of the Dragon. Is he just loyal to her for saving his life, or is something more going on?

Of all the characters introduced in the first season of House of the Dragon, Alicent Hightower may have gone through the most changes. She began the show as the best friend of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, was pushed into marrying Rhaenyra’s father by her own father, ended up becoming bitter enemies with Rhaenyra, and finally came back around…only to fight to install her son Aegon on the Iron Throne rather than Rhaenyra when King Viserys finally died.

Along the way, she picked up a number of allies, although they’re not necessarily the kind you want. Take Criston Cole, for instance, the Kingsguard knight who beat a wedding guest to death with his own hands after Rhaenyra spurned his proposal to run away together. Alicent (somehow) talked her husband out of executing Criston for that, and he’s been her loyal sworn sword ever since.

“I think there’s a kinship that is established initially from them both being hurt by Rhaenyra’s actions,” actor Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent, told Variety. “That has grown into a really fucked bond, where she’s immensely appreciative of his loyalty and in turn he will do whatever for Alicent, because she saved his life and gave him another chance.”

"It’s difficult because I don’t think it’s love, but it’s an appreciation for what he will do for her — and he’ll be completely undoubting when she requests something of him. She doesn’t have anyone like that in the castle. But I don’t think she was aware of the extremes that his loyalty will go to, when he kills Lyman Beesbury right in front of her."

I dunno, if a man is capable of beating a guy to death at a wedding you’d figure he’s also capable of killing an old man at a council table. But beggars can’t be choosers, and Alicent is short on allies she can trust in King’s Landing. “She’s just surrounded by these fucking psychopath men,” Cooke said. “It’s claustrophobic and terrifying trying to live within that intense paranoia and fear for your life all the time. It’s sort of what’s propelling her to make these decisions.”

"It’s a weird dynamic, Alicent and Criston Cole’s relationship, and I think there’s simmering undertones of something. He’s casting a light onto her, he’s a virile man, and that’s the only version she has ever had in her life. She’s probably very confused where their relationship stands. I think there’s something weird burgeoning with them that you see in Episode 9. I think that is an appreciation of his duty and his loyalty, but also it’s a fear of him as well."

Some fans have wondered if there isn’t more to Alicent and Criston’s relationship than meets the eye. Is it possible they’re into each other? They’re both so buttoned down and repressed that it’s hard to imagine, but Cooke’s talk about Criston being a “virile man” and “something burgeoning” between them is interesting.

Perhaps we’ll learn more when House of the Dragon season 2 premieres, probably in 2024!

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