Fabien Frankel opened up on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon about the surprising wave of support he’s received from fans after Criston Cole’s death in House of the Dragon. While Cole was one of the show’s most divisive figures, Frankel admitted that many fans kept their admiration quiet until after his character’s dramatic exit.
Quick read
- Frankel says Criston Cole fans “hid for a long time.”
- He’s now seeing an outpouring of support.
- Fans joke about seeing him die on TV but alive in real life.
Fan support after Cole’s death
Frankel described the reaction with humor, noting how fans now openly express their appreciation:
“I died. It was intense. Yeah. People tell me they saw me die on TV and happy I’m alive in real life, and… [Laughter] There’s an outpouring. I feel like — I feel like people were hiding. The Criston Cole fans hid for a long time, but they’re out. They’re coming out now and supporting. There’s one or two out there somewhere.”
For a character often criticized for his choices, the sudden surge of support highlights how Cole’s complexity resonated with viewers.
Learning about his fate
Frankel recalled the moment he found out about Criston’s death:
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“I was in the line at the US Embassy in London, and I got a call from our showrunner, Ryan Condal, and he said, ‘You’re dying.’ But it was in the book, so everyone knows. It’s in the books. I die with some arrows, and I die by some arrows in the show.”
The death scene stayed true to Fire & Blood, cementing Cole’s end as both inevitable and faithful to the source.
Why this matters for fans
Criston Cole’s arc was one of the most polarizing in the series. His death not only closes a chapter in the Dance of the Dragons but also reshapes fan perception. With his exit, viewers who once stayed quiet are now embracing their support, proving that even controversial characters can inspire loyalty.
Read next: Why Criston Cole’s shocking fate was the most book-accurate moment in House of the Dragon
