There is a lot to love about House of the Dragon, but like every show, it also has its share of shortcomings as well.
The first two seasons of the show have drawn both praise and criticism among fans, with the criticisms of the show often coming from creative choices made regarding the source material. It’s not just the fans who have complained about changes to the plot. George R.R. Martin has blasted the show for plot changes and voiced frustrations about some of the creative liberties the show has taken.
Martin has made it clear that he is not a fan of some of the choices that have been made to the show, and it seems he’s not alone. This time, it’s a member of the cast who is making it clear that he’s not exactly thrilled with the choices that have been made for his character.
In a new interview that is gaining momentum on Reddit in promotion of the upcoming third season of House of the Dragon, star Fabien Frankel made his frustrations about how unlikable Condal and the writers have made his character known.
“It was a bit of a turn that I didn’t expect. But, you know, the writers want to keep me unlikable, man, and they want to keep my career derailed,” Frankel quipped when the reporter admitted he was hoping to see a more likable version of Criston Cole in season 3, alluding to yet another turn coming for the character, which will not earn him any love from fans.
As the conversation continued, Frankel’s costar Olivia Cooke noted that the show did at least try to show different sides of Criston Cole in season 2, which was when Frankel revealed that many of those moments got cut and he took a bit of a jab at House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal and executive producer Sarah Hess.
“Yeah, they got cut. Anytime we try to bring a little bit of humanity to the thing, Ryan and Sarah just want me f—king really down in the dumps,” Frankel remarked.
It’s certainly a fair assessment of his character’s direction in the show, as the writers have not exactly given Criston Cole any redeeming qualities. Instead, they just keep having the character dig a deeper and deeper grave, using his “code” to explain away his actions.
The only problem is, as Frankel points out, like the viewers, he doesn’t even know what Criston Cole’s code is meant to be as it’s changed so many times throughout the show’s run.
“I don’t know. I mean, does he have a code? His code’s always changing,” Frankel laments. “It’s like one second his code is 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 that code is gone. Then he’s on Alicent’s team, but he betrays her and the small council. I mean, what’s his code? I don’t know what his code is.”
Frankel is not wrong. The writers have repeatedly shifted Criston Cole’s motivations and allegiances throughout the series, making it difficult to pin down a consistent moral framework. Whether he’s acting out of honor, loyalty, resentment, ambition, or self-preservation seems to depend largely on what the plot requires in a given moment. As a result, the show has made Criston a punching bag for the fans, making him irredeemable and one-dimensional.
Sadly, given the way Frankel talks about Criston Cole, it seems this will continue in House of the Dragon season 3, which is a true shame. Criston could be such a more fascinating character if the writers had given him more care and found a way to give him some redeeming qualities. Frankel has done the best he can with the character and given an amazing performance, even when he’s not been given the best materials to work with.
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