I have detested Ser Criston Cole from the moment I first read about him. George R.R. Martin’s histories, especially Fire & Blood, might debate what motivated Rhaenyra’s sworn protector to turn on her. But I never had any doubts. I always knew the Kingmaker was a pathetic, oath-breaking baby who helped start a civil war because the heir to the Iron Throne rejected his offer to run away to Essos to sell oranges. My well-established hatred of Criston Cole is why I was overjoyed when House of the Dragon saw the obvious truth about him. It confirmed its handsome knight was really the lowlife punk I always knew he was.
I have not been shy about sharing my thoughts on the infamous knight in my posts and on Nerdist‘s talk show Maesterminds. But recently, I finally got a chance to do something I’ve long hoped to do. I got to ask Ser Criston Cole himself, Fabian Frankel, what it’s like to play the infamous knight/villain. And it went better than I ever could have hoped. Because before he gave me a thoughtful answer, I got a truly wonderful gift. The Hightowers booed me.
Then I went ahead and turned a win into the ultimate loss.
Before House of the Dragon‘s season three premiere, I took part in a series of virtual media roundtables with the stars of the show. That included speaking to Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Freddie Fox (Gwayne Hightower), and Frankel. Before things started, I knew my pro-Rhaenyra stance was going to be at odds with the people who play her enemies on the show. Frankel was wearing a custom Gwayne shirt while Fox was wearing the most disgusting shirt ever made. His celebrated Criston Cole. Truly vile.
While I waited for my turn to ask a question, I listened to the three stars being downright silly. The roundtable began with Fox and Frankel referencing That’s So Raven. They then talked about their characters having huge crushes on one another and being intimidated by the others’ physique. The atmosphere was lighthearted and fun. This is very important to understand. Partly to know I wasn’t out of line with how and why I asked my question, but more so you can appreciate how genuinely funny their response was to my query.
While I can’t fully convey the clearly absurd tone with which I asked my question, you’ll get a pretty good idea of how intentionally ridiculous it was. even in print This is what I asked Ser Criston Cole the very first chance I got to speak to him:
Fabian, I’ve had some very strong feelings about Ser Criston Cole that long predate the show. So I worked very hard to ask what I think is a fair question: What’s it like getting to play the worst person in the history of Westeros?
Dear reader, and hopefully dear fellow hater of the Greens, Olivia Cooke’s reaction to this question is a true career highlight. It was half groan/half boo. “Ooooh, that’s unfair,” she said. Freddie Fox responded the same way at the same time.
As for Frankel, he made me laugh as he calmly said, “It’s a loaded question. It’s a loaded question.” I insisted, it wasn’t. I claimed, with the innocence of Ramsey telling Theon he was safe, I had worked really hard to make sure it wasn’t loaded. Frankel said, “No no no.” And, I mean…..yes. Obviously. The obvious loaded-ness was the point. But it was also sincere, since Cole is a major villain on the show.
And that’s exactly how Frankel took my question when he talked about playing the part. Here’s what he said:
It’s funny. I actually remember Sara Hess our writer saying something like, “Be ready.” Because [Cole]’d been set up as such a different character in the first season. As this kind of quite noble knight who’s going to protect Rhaenyra and help her manage the expectation. Then obviously he turns so quickly. And what I think is kind of a shame, not a shame, but what I would’ve been interested to see is how that 20-year gap would’ve unfolded.
The way it starts, he’s just such a different person in the sixth episode of season one. Obviously over the course of 20 years, a bunch of shit happened, which we don’t tackle as a show, but it would’ve been something I would’ve found very interesting to read about. But I tell you, I take it with great pride and it’s a great joy to play this kind of a villain. I have enjoyed every moment of it.
It was a great answer loaded with insights into both his character and the show. But my duel victory—one personal for upsetting the Greens, the other professional for asking a question that garnered a thoughtful response—came at a cost. I wasn’t really worried anyone was upset. All three understand the spirit of my silly question.
But I still wanted to make clear that my feelings about Criston Cole were limited to the fictional knight. In fact, the question came from a place of admiration for Frankel. He gives one of my favorite performances on the show. Thanks to his portrayal of Cole, the whole world knows exactly why I have always hate the dishonorable knight.
“I know everyone groaned,” I told Frankel, “But honestly, you have played this character in all the ways I hoped for. If you would have made him sympathetic or likable, I’d have been furious.” Nothing loaded in that comment. I was being completely honest.
Then, Ser Criston Cole—Ser Criston freaking Cole, my fictional nemesis I’ve always hated and always will—thanked me for the compliment. The compliment I paid him. Ser Criston Cole told me he appreciated that I said something nice about him. Total disaster.
Now I have to live with that. And really, in some ways—maybe the biggest way—that makes me the final victim in the Dance of the Dragons.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. Despite his appreciation of Fabian Frankel’s performance, Mikey remains the world’s leading Criston Cole hater. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.