Fabien Frankel spoke about how he was aware from early on that his character, Ser Criston Cole, would follow a darker and more controversial path in House of the Dragon; one he even compares to Joffrey Baratheon’s infamous arc.
Quick read:
- Fabien Frankel compares Criston’s character to Joffrey Baratheon
- He reveals being aware about Criston’s dark character development
- He recalls showrunner Ryan Condal’s warning
Joffrey Baratheon (Credit: HBO)
Early awareness of Criston’s dark turn
In a recent appearance at the Budapest Comic Con, Frankel was asked whether he knew his character would take the “Joffrey lane” when he first landed the role. He answered honestly:
“Well, a bit. No, no, I did know a bit.”
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He explained that he had read the relevant sections of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood before filming began, giving him a clear idea of where Criston Cole’s story was headed.
Ryan Condal’s warning
Frankel also recalled showrunner Ryan Condal sitting him down and warning him that the character was “going to change.” At the time, he didn’t fully understand the extent of that change, but he does now.
“I had an idea. I remember Ryan sitting me down and saying, you know, he’s going to change. I didn’t know what that meant, and I do now.”
Understanding Criston Cole’s depth
The actor admitted that while playing the role, it’s sometimes hard to see the full picture of the character from the inside. He drew a parallel with the actor who played Joffrey, noting that even deeply disliked characters often have more layers than audiences realize.
“I kind of feel like that about Criston Cole. There is definitely a whole other dimension for Criston Cole.”
Frankel praised the writing in season 2, saying the finale did an excellent job of showing the “why” behind Criston’s actions, creating a clear arc of understanding for the character. Frankel suggested that the strong negative fan reaction to Criston Cole could end up being similar to the hatred once directed at Joffrey.
He believes this complexity makes the character far more interesting to portray. With Criston Cole’s controversial journey set to continue in season 3, Fabien Frankel’s comments have sparked fresh discussion among fans about one of the most divisive figures in the House of the Dragon series.
