How House of the Dragon Season 3 Can Nail This Character’s Death and Save the Show

With House of the Dragon Season 2’s ending leaving audiences in a tug-of-war between disappointment and indifference, HBO now stands at a creative crossroads. And as if answering the dragons’ call for a do-or-die moment, showrunner Ryan Condal made a rare move: he confirmed Criston Cole’s death ahead of time, months before the new season even airs.

On The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of podcast, Condal shared that he presented actor Fabien Frankel with Cole’s sword and helmet, a farewell gift signaling the end of his dark, divisive journey.

Quick read:

• House of the Dragon Season 3 confirmed to feature a major character death
• Ryan Condal reveals character exit ahead of time
• Fabien Frankel’s character arc comes to an end

House of the Dragon Season 3 Needs to Make Criston Cole’s Death More Than Just Brutal

Criston Cole may be many things (spiteful, rigid, cruel), but irrelevant is not one of them. As the war between the Blacks and Greens turns bloodier, Cole’s death is more than just another tick in the body count. It’s a moral pivot point, and House of the Dragon can’t afford to flub it.

Though the books tell us how he dies, the HBO series has made it abundantly clear it’s not afraid to bend lore for better (or sometimes worse) drama. Given Cole’s evolution (or some might argue devolution) in Season 2, from the cold tactician to a man unraveling under guilt and duty, there’s fertile ground to explore his internal collapse.

In Fire & Blood, Cole’s end is brutal, swift, and unceremonious. But for a character who’s stirred so much rage and conversation, a mere ax to the face won’t cut it. The show has the chance to offer viewers a man torn apart, not just by enemies, but by the mirror he’s too afraid to look into.

What Season 3 must do is slow down and make the audience feel the erosion of his identity. Perhaps even show glimpses of the young knight who once gave his heart to Rhaenyra. Give us a character who regrets. Who doubts. Who questions. Then kill him. Because that? That would sting.

Why Criston Cole’s Death Could Actually Save House of the Dragon Season 3

Credit: HBO

Say what you want about Criston Cole, but he brought a necessary sharpness to the story; his descent mirrored the twisted chivalry and broken honor that define Westeros itself. He is not just a pawn in a dragon-filled power game; he is the cost of loyalty and pride gone too far.

The argument isn’t that Cole should be redeemed. It’s that he should be understood. The series has flirted with giving him dimension, moments where his cruelty seems less like a cartoon and more like a cry for help. If Season 3 dives into this moral gray and lets Criston wrestle with his own legacy, it could be the emotional payoff the series so desperately needs.

As pointed out in the original analysis, he’s similar to Jaime Lannister, showing what the knight’s vows and expectations can do to a man. Jaime got a full redemption arc. Cole doesn’t need one, but he does deserve a death that reflects the tragedy of who he was and what he became.

If done right, his death could finally bridge the emotional gap between viewers and the story. It could turn casual watchers into die-hard fans again. Sound off in the comments below. Should Criston Cole go out in shame, sorrow, or steel-blazing style?

House of the Dragon Season 3 is expected to premiere in mid-2025 on HBO and Max. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently available on Max.

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