Criston Cole - How Obsession Makes Men Bad (A Character Analysis) 

Based on how you described him, he should have been one of the best written characters in the show.

I think the books version of Lonmouths death is a missed opportunity, though it was probably removed for budget I think it would have been a moment of drama and character development. Criston has broken his vows, and he goes through with the same plan to run ways and is rejected, and he breaks the relationship off. Princess Rhaenyra is now fully set on her own path with Laenor, leaving him behind, and he becomes increasingly ashamed and su1c1dal. He also begins suspecting that Rhaenyra is starting to become entangled with Harwin, only confirming in his mind that he was a bit of fun for the princess and nothing more, and that he ruined his life and soul for whimsy. When the tourney begins Laenor gives Joffrey favours and Rhaenyra very pointedly gives hers to Harwin, leaving Criston conspicuously out of her good graces, and the crowd starts to whisper and laugh about a stewards son and a Dornishman. He has been abandoned by those who can afford to cut him loose, Cristons honour is done. As he rides past in shame, Alicent calls out, and offers her favour. At this point he takes her favour and thanks her for it, a small kindness. He decides that since his life is ruined he might as well ball, and Criston Cole crashes out. He knocks Harwin off his horse and caves Joffreys head. Outrage in the camp, Laenor is obviously distraught, Rhaenyra outraged, and Viserys taking his marching orders from his beloved baby girl, confines him to his room pending a decision. There Criston in about to do the last thing he can think of and fall on his sword but Alicent enters and stops him. She bats for him and from then on, Alicent Hightower can do nothing wrong in his eyes.

All of the creative writing energy was used on King V's character. No energy left for the other characters development. Im checking out interview with a vampire and see depth that is given to supporting and side characters....as well as how they deal with conflicting versions of the storytelling. Very nice way around untrustworthy narratives in Fire n Blood/Hotds.

I don't know what the hell is going on with Alicent, that's exactly how I feel🤣, I feel like the writers want her to have the same values ​​and actions from the books, but they also want her to be innocent, and that makes her delusional, hypocritical, and stupid. And we as the audience know she's not stupid, they gave Otto More stupid moments to make Alicent more innocent I don't know why they don't make her like the books say this makes her like the typical evil stepmother like looking at the character from one perspective in the books she is ambitious and wants her son to sit on the throne she has every reason to be This way she has the potential to make it happen. In fact, it would be foolish not to do something. Especially if I get support for it, I am one hundred percent convinced that the audience will like Alicent's character even more. Or at least her reasons for doing what she does will be understood, instead of watching a RU-vid clip telling you why Alicent isn't evil, I think they could have done a lot more with Alicent's character from the books. Instead, we get a character whose half of her reasons are to make Rhaenyra pay. Price and the Greens will be more likable in Season 2, not because the Blacks showed their "true" colors, but because characters like Egon and Edmund will be the center of the Greens, not Alicent,

If he was really about his honor he would have stood his ground and suffer the consequences based on his honor. Did he really believe he could marry a highborn lady. Please

I feel like a lot of people reduce him to “bitter incel ex” when they don’t realize that he quite literally offered up everything he had to Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra didn’t show any interest in her duties as heir; I don’t think it’s all that wild that Criston thought she would be willing to fly away with him across the narrow sea. I think he truly did love her. Obsession and vindictiveness and wrath soured his soul, but I don’t think he’s just a bitter ex. He’s flawed but he’s interesting and in some ways justified in his anger. He offered everything to her only for her to laugh in his face and discard him for the luxury her life as princess and heir offers her while she more or less jilts the duties that come with being heir. Of course it hurt for him to realize he was a toy, a bit of fun for Rhaenyra. She gave up nothing to enjoy herself with him while he had to risk everything. It doesn’t justify his wrong doings but it explains them. He’s definitely not faultless, but he isn’t a simple one dimensional villain either. Hatred born out of love burns the strongest.

I wish they showed some courtly love and sympathy for Alicent, attracted to her because of her piety and her doing her duty as queen in accordance with Andal tradition. That would be historic ish and play into his Sansa-like chivalric fantasies. He loves Alicent and her kids and loyally because he feels they have been wronged by the selfish and absolutist and privileged Viserys and Rhaenerya and Daemon who think they are above honor and Andal tradition and law.

Team Cole here myself... Honour it is... Vindictiveness too. Both are human qualities. No vilification allowed on my own terms. Do people think him a villain? Sure. I don´t. In fact. Though it´s taken me some time to accept this. I identify with the guy in many ways... so yeah. Team Cole here.

The writers clearly just wanted to make the greens as cartoonish villains compared to the the blacks. I would say criston killing beezebury was justified because he accused Alicent n the council of killing the king which is treason. Kinda like how briene threatened to kill a Karstark when he confronted Caitlyn. I don’t see Criston as a knight looking for honor anymore because I see that he is with the greens to defend his family. He is essentially the father figure Aemond, Helena, and aegon. He train Aemond after he lost n eye. He has probably the only man close to alicent that didn’t exploit her n is probably her only true confidant. Look in episode 6 when Criston baited Harwin n when Aemond baited Jace n Luke in episode 8. They both make statements take lunches n smiles and laughs about it because they got what the want from the strings which was a reaction. I think criston is a very interesting character and is way too hated by the community n not really for good reasons either.

I don't understand how everyone doesn't see it was Rhaenrya that made him the villain. This guy in this video never read the book. It's obvious

I 100% agree, and ive been saying this for awhile now about Cole. They fucked up hìs character all up and did NOT do it justice. I was so hopeful too that he would be an awesome bad guy, like they made Daemon into. And then as soon as they possibly could, starting with the tournament, they completely dropped the ball and fucked it all up with the duel against Daemon. I was so pissed. They made it look like he just barely won, and only because he attacked Daemon while his back was turned. And thats just complete bullshit for his character. He was supposed completely out class and out skill Daemon in every way. In the books it is made clear that Cole is one of if not the best warrior in Westeros. Daemon is too, but the book makes it crystal fucking clear that Daemon is not even on the same level as Criston Cole. It explicitly states in the books that no knight in the realm, including Prince Daemon, could stand against Criston Cole. He was the Jaime Lannister, Barristan Selmy, Arthur Dayne of his time. There isnt even supposed to be a question of who is better between Criston and Daemon. And the show completely fucked that up. Almost immediately.

I'd say his value of honor is suppose to be seen through his relationship with alicent. Both because they share some of the same values, and because Alicent was in some ways used by rhaenyra so Criston can convince himself that what happened to him was no different and thefore can still salvage his honor as a victim.

HEAR HEAR. aegon II gon get them Zuko facials, get this man his Zuko mouthingisms

He is not bad or vilan. He is a anti hero

From my very limited knowledge of Queen Elizabeth’s court, it always seemed like it was littered with men like Cristen. Guys who took one minor spurn or perceived slight from the Queen and became lifelong enemies.

Wait why are bro jokes funny +1 subscriber👍

the book criston is way better..the show goes out of it's way to make the greens like some cartoon villains

Awesome

Nice work! 😀 Keep making these videos!!!!!! 😁

You sound like Nanami Kento from Jujutsu Kaisen.

So what are your opinions now? :/

7:41 THIS is my biggest complaint about Season 1 -- one of their many missteps -- regarding Criston. They CUT the scenes that would've given his character more context & thus more weight. They cut the scene where Criston is clearly very fascinated & starting his infatuation with Rhaenyra. They cut the scene where he's getting his white cloak/getting sworn into the Kingsguard & how much it meant to him. I remember when Season 1 was airing & episode 4+5 aired & media was releasing interviews & Fabian talked about the scenes & he was somewhat disappointed that they were cut bc it informs his character more. Bc it was omitted, I agree with you it makes Criston's actions muddled & his actual motivations unclear. I dont think he "loved" Rhaenyra. I think he was fascinated & infatuated -- she was the "realms delight" after all...even tho the show never bothers to showcase this 🙃 -- & it's very clear that Criston feels indebted to her for plucking him from obscurity & making him Kingsguard. So when Rhaenyra makes her moves on him, he is conflicted bc he's infatuated with her, he could never imagine ever being with her but shes making moves & then what that all means to his oath/his station. Of course, the power dynamics at play, CAN he deny her? Will that be worse? Etc. He obviously consents to having sexy time & enjoys himself. But I think once reality sinks in, he's racked with guilt/uncertainty. Much like Arys Oakheart & Arianne. They shouldve played that up more VS making him a bit like a love sick puppy who gets spurned & THAT'S why he's violent/bitter. & I agree, if youre gonna make him a villain, MAKE HIM A VILLAIN. Dont half ass it. I guess we'll see what they do with him in Season 2...

Why does this dude act like he's the Mandarin from Iron Man 3??

I like Criston Coles character. He slowly turns into a bitter man due to his belief in honour despite dishonouring himself constantly. He's the anti knight or anti Jaime Lannister which really proves how great Jaimes character is given how much bad he does compared to Criston.

A conformist cautionary tale

ਬੱਲੇ ਸ਼ੇਰਾ , ਸਦ ਕੇ ਤੇਰੀ ਗਰੇਜੀ ਤੇ। (Mad King) ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰੋਪਰ ਸਮਝਾਈ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਵੀਰੇ, ਵੀਡਿਓ ਦੇ ਜ਼ਰੀਏ। ਵਾਹੇਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਹਿ। 🙏🏼

I kind of think that by honour he means (actually means, maybe not even understanding this) his ego. Situation with Rhaenyra doesn't offend his honour, it offends his pride. Maybe also because he is low born in the world of high borns... At least that what I see in the show. That's why he seem so fake. Just like Otto with his duty to realm.

My guy… the show runners literally confirmed Cole and Rhaenyra doing the deed was consensual. Full stop. As for his honor it’s a lame excuse, he lost that when he switched up after being SWORN to Rhaenyra before joining the Greens… he’s untrustworthy all because she couldn’t run off with him to sell oranges… she’s the princess they would’ve been tracked down and Cole likely would’ve been killed for treason so be serious. He killed two people because he can’t control his temper and spoiler alert… (this video aged poorly) the actor Fabien basically confirmed Cole and Alicent hookup. So the very thing Cole and Alicent judge Rhaenyra for they do…. quite hypocritical of them and their righteous “decency must prevail” attitude. There is also no way to justify Cole treating Rhaenyras sons like shit because they were CHILDREN. Children are ultimately innocent. He’s the adult and his behavior was foul especially in front of the king. Cole much like Alicent hate Rhaenyra because she couldn’t live up to their expectation of who they wanted her to be to them rather than accept her for who she actually was the whole time which is someone that who likes to bend the rules and enjoy their sexuality. Rhaenyra also only had bastard sons because her husband was gay, they literally admit in the show they tried to have kids and perform their marital duty together but he wasn’t able to perform. So where does that leave things? 🤷🏿‍♂️ Cole isn’t innocent, Alicent isn’t innocent, nobody really is but let’s not act like it he didn’t have a hand in his own downfall. The kings word in westeros is law and Viserys named his heir and her birthright was usurped… so Cole and the rest of the greens exhibit no honor and are traitors to the realm. Simply put. I’m team black but Fire & Blood is extremely nuanced but that doesn’t mean *within fiction that objectively speaking Cole is a bad dude. He’s an interesting character and a strong player on the greens side but the loss of his honor is on him and him alone.