House of the Dragon: "There's a real closeness" between Criston Cole and Aemond Targaryen

House of the Dragon is a show about family. We met some of our main characters, like Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, when they were very young. By the end of the season, they were grown up and had children of their own, children to whom they've passed on their grudges and obsessions. Alicent's kids, who include King Aegon II Targaryen and his very intense brother Aemond, seem especially messed up.

Of course, they had help. Although he's not their biological father, Kingsguard knight Criston Cole helped raise Alicent's kids, particularly the boys, teaching them to fight and to dislike their half-sister Rhaenyra. Aemond in particular has taken a lot of cues from Criston, becoming a skilled fighter with a similar puritanical streak when it comes to women.

"I think he sees it as his duty, by proxy of being Alicent’s sworn protector, to protect these boys," actor Fabian Frankel told The New York Times about playing Criston Cole. "He’s been very close to a father figure to them. Criston Cole taught these kids to fight, taught these kids respect."

Frankel brings up an example of Criston's parenting in action: when the two of them are walking the streets of King's Landing looking for Aegon, they visit a brothel, figuring that Aemond's missing brother might be there. Aemond says something vulgar about the last time he visited this place. Disapproving, Criston says: "Every woman is an image of the Mother, to be spoken of with reverence.”

Now, that's pretty funny coming from Criston, who has a dicey relationship with women; he's basically dedicated his life to destroying one woman -- Rhaenyra -- for rejecting his romantic advances years and years ago. But no one said parents had to be consistent.

"I remember thinking it was hilarious," Frankel said of that line. "There was a conversation between Sara [Hess, the episode’s writer]; Clare [Kilner], our director; and myself when we were in Spain shooting that scene about how it should be delivered. I said it can only be funny. I mean, he’s not exactly proved that every woman is an image of the Mother."

But whatever his shortcomings, Criston is the father figure that Aemond has. "Criston sees Aemond in himself, and himself in Aemond," Frankel said. "Ewan and I talked a lot about that. He and I would spend a lot of time together, walking around Spain together, discussing this relationship. There’s a real closeness between them."

Fabien Frankel is "very Team Green, and proud of it"

In the upcoming second season of House of the Dragon, these two sides of the family will clash: Rhaenyra's kids vs Alicent's kids, father figure Daemon vs father figure Criston, and of course, dragon vs dragon. Frankel knows what side he's rooting for. "I’m very Team Green, and proud of it," he said, referring to the name given to Alicent's side of the fight. "That’s kind of how I’m programmed to think now. I’m glad to hear there’s some love for the Greens out there. I think we are a force to be reckoned with. It’s a good solid crew. I’d back us in a street fight."

We'll see who comes out on top when House of the Dragon season 2 premieres on HBO and Max sometime this summer.

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