'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 2 Takeaway: Criston Cole could cost the Greens the war, here's why
Contains spoilers and speculation for 'House of the Dragon'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 2 dropped on HBO on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
The enthralling episode featured exciting moments that kept viewers gripped, including a grueling combat between the Cargyll brothers that left audiences on the edge of their seats.
Over the first two episodes, an unexpected storyline that has developed is the reluctant romance between Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel).
Cole and Alicent have tried their best to keep their desire in check but it seems that no matter how hard they try, they inevitably give in to this passionate affair
While Alicent runs the risk of being shamed for an affair with a knight in the future, it is Criston Cole who is currently failing in his duty to focus on the war that is going on.
His diverted attention has proven costly for the Green faction, and he needs to refocus if they are to keep the Blacks at bay.
Criston Cole fails twice in the first two episodes of 'House of the Dragon'
As the second episode begins, an irate Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) confronts Criston Cole about his whereabouts when Aegon's son, Jaehaerys, was beheaded.
Criston lies about it as he was with Alicent the previous night. If Criston Cole had been vigilant and on duty, he might have prevented the mishap from taking place.
In his haste to rectify his error, he makes another mistake by sending Ser Arryk Cargyll (Luke Tittensor) to assassinate Rhaenyra Targaryen, disguised as his twin brother who serves as one of Rhaenyra's guards.
While some might argue that the plan had merit, it fails once more as Ser Erryk Cargyll (Elliott Tittensor) ends up saving Rhaenyra. Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) anticipated the failure and criticized Criston Cole for his inexperience.
With two failures already, the Green faction finds itself on the back foot, and Criston Cole bears the blame for their setbacks in the early exchanges of 'House of the Dragon'.
The unexpected affair between Cole and Alicent diverges from 'Fire and Blood', surprising even the most devoted fans of the series. However, the book does provide a clue about Criston Cole's future.
Does Criston Cole redeem himself?
If 'Fire and Blood' is to be followed, Criston Cole does indeed find redemption in the Battle of Rook's Rest.
As Harrenhal falls to Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), the Greens are preparing for a counterattack, and Criston Cole plays a pivotal role by trapping Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) and her dragon, Meleys.
The Battle of Rook's Rest marks the first major victory for the Greens in the war, but it comes at a significant cost as Aegon sustains serious injuries, and his dragon, Sunfyre, is also wounded and incapacitated. The death of Rhaenys, however, deals a significant blow to the Blacks.
Criston Cole has proven himself to be a capable warrior throughout Season 1, and with this victory, he solidifies his position as one of the Green faction's key figures in the war.
'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is streaming on HBO MAX.