Ser Criston Cole, we have to understand, was never a good guy. He wasn't an honorable knight who went over to the dark side. He merely wore a chivalrous façade. He didn't want Rhaenyra to run away with him because he loved her despite his claims to marry “for love.” Nor was he heartbroken over her refusal.
In Fire & Blood, however, Rhaenyra is in love with Daemon from a young age. Things change after she meets Criston Cole. Nevertheless, George R. R. Martin's books show that Rhaenyra's first love was Daemon, whereas House of the Dragon has a slower build-up between the two.
In the fifth episode of the prequel "Game of Thrones" series, Criston (Fabien Frankel) reveals to queen Alicent that he slept with her friend and stepdaughter Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock).
Yet, after finding his proposal of elopement rejected by lover Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock, then Emma D'Arcy) in the fifth episode, Ser Criston was furious that he had betrayed his vow of chastity in the Kingsguard for the Princess and was more disgusted when she suggested they continued their affair ...
The subtext of one big House of the Dragon episode 9 scene suggests Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) is in love with Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke).
Ser Laenor even discusses this with Ser Joffrey himself, the latter of whom is aware that Rhaenyra has her own paramour in Ser Criston. Sailing back from Driftmark where the marriage was agreed to King's Landing, Ser Criston makes his own proposal to Rhaenyra: to run away together and forge a new life.
Cooke said that she and D'Arcy” have “definitely” talked about Alicent and Rhaenyra being “each other's first love,” although by this point “too much has happened and too much time has passed to probably even recognize those fledgling feelings.”
In "King of the Narrow Sea", Rhaenyra seduced Ser Criston after she herself was denied by her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith). She and her paramour spent the night together, and she was warm towards Ser Criston afterward.
So yeah, he will always love Rhaenyra. Cole certainly did not take Rhaenyra's rejection well; in fact, he beat a man to death because he was so salty about it. He's now taken a central role in the faction that opposes Rhaenyra's claim to the Iron Throne, and things are not going to get better.
We last saw her find out the truth in "We Light the Way" that Rhaenyra lost her virginity to Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel).
Ser Criston Cole: According to Martin's The World of Ice and Fire, Ser Criston was born in 81 AC, making him 16 years Rhaenyra's senior. But Dragon's Ser Criston is likely much younger: Fabien Frankel, who portrays the knight onscreen, is 28 years old, only 8 years older than Alcock's young Rhaenyra.
Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon Episode 6! “The Princess and the Queen” opens up with Rhaenyra giving birth to her third child, another boy. Laenor decides they'll name him Joffrey after his late lover who Criston beat to death right before he and Rhaenyra wed.
As is known from Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon will eventually lead to the Targaryen civil war between Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon: the Dance of Dragons. The reason why Criston and Rhaenyra having sex in House of the Dragon episode 4 is so important is due to Criston's loyalties during the Dance.
Rhaenyra will have two marriages (and two lovers) in House of the Dragon, with six children (technically three by each husband, the suspicion that the first three are by another man is a source of much violence and discord in Westeros).
After Daemon's first wife dies, he gets together with Laena Velaryon—who was initially suggested as a bride for King Viserys. They have two daughters. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra marries Laena's brother, Laenor Velaryon, and they have several kids.
The HBO series' Season 1 finale on Sunday ended with Princess Queen Rhaenyra receiving the news that her second-born son, Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon, had been killed by a dragon ridden by Alicent's son, Aemond Targaryen.
One heart that got hurt during the course unconventionally was that of the House of the Dragon's Kingsguard knight Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frenkel), who was deeply in love with Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
6 Betraying Rhaenyra For Petty Reasons
He was her sworn shield and her constant companion. However, this close relationship ends long before the Dance of the Dragons. Criston comes to hate Rhaenyra and becomes her most fierce opponent. Alongside House Hightower, he also becomes Aegon II's biggest supporter.
However, their words of regret turned out to be sincere, revealing the love that teenage Alicent and Rhaenyra had shared as best friends was still there deep down. Alicent and Rhaenyra forgiving one another in House of the Dragon episode 8 also implies that the entire war had the potential to be avoided.
Many fans have been pointing to Rhaenyra as being similar to Queen Cersei Lannister. After all, both had three children, both were romantically interested in a family member, and both found themselves ruling over ungrateful lords and members of the smallfolk.
Alicent believes she's protecting her own kids, so when Rhaenyra tries to offer peace through marriage, Alicent rejects it. The resentment between the two women is passed down to their children.
So, who is the real father of Rhaenyra's children? In the show and in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood novel, it is heavily implied that Ser Harwin Strong, a knight and the captain of the City's Watch, is the true father of Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey.
Jacaerys, Rhaenyra's eldest son, and his two younger brothers have spent their short lives surrounded by whispers that their real father was Ser Harwin Strong.