In a candid interview with Vulture, Fabien Frankel reflected on Criston Cole’s final moments in House of the Dragon and how the character might have felt about being killed by a woman. Frankel’s response was both surprising and humorous, offering a glimpse into how he interprets Cole’s complicated relationship with violence, desire, and isolation.
Quick read
- Frankel says Cole would be “quite thrilled” to know who killed him.
- He hints at Cole’s mix of sex and violence.
- Laughs off suggestion that Cole might find his killer attractive.
Frankel on Cole’s death
When asked directly what Cole would think about being killed by a woman, Frankel replied: “You want to know the truth? I think he’d be quite thrilled. I won’t say more.”
The interviewer suggested that sex and violence are deeply intertwined for Cole, imagining him thinking, “She’s hot, actually.” Frankel laughed and deflected: “Your words, not mine.”
HBO
Isolation during filming
Frankel also revealed that he had little interaction with Annie Shapero, who plays Alysanne Blackwood: “I don’t even know if we ever spoke a word to each other. We might have said ‘hello’ in hair and makeup, but I was in my own thing then. I’m by no means that kind of actor, but there was a feeling of isolation I wanted to experience at that time. You’re getting into the headspace of exhaustion.”
Add WoT as a preferred source on Google.
This choice reflects how deeply he immersed himself in Cole’s mindset, portraying a man worn down by war, loyalty, and inner turmoil.
Read next: “He gets it pretty tough”: Fabien Frankel says fans hate Criston Cole a bit too much
