House of the Dragon star Fabien Frankel recently shared what it was like to film his final moments as Ser Criston Cole. The actor appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss his character’s death in Season 3, Episode 6, titled “Faceless Men.”
Frankel spent three seasons playing the divisive Kingsguard knight. His character met his end during the brutal clash known as the Butcher’s Ball, a pivotal moment in the Targaryen civil war.
The Arrow Scene Required Specific Body Movements
During his appearance on The Tonight Show, Frankel explained how the showrunner decided that Criston Cole would die by arrows. The actor described the physical challenge of performing the death sequence.
“I had to take like one to the chest, one to the stomach, one to the face.”
Frankel admitted he struggled to find the right rhythm for the scene. His initial movements looked unnatural, and he compared the experience to performing a Mick Jagger impression. The actor shared that his movements resembled dancing more than acting. At one point, he felt like he was doing a poor Elvis routine on a bad day.
The director had to step in and ask Frankel to calm down. The actor recalled that Rowling firmly told him to stop exaggerating his body movements because it was too much for the scene.
The Final Battle Took Three Days to Film
Frankel revealed in a separate interview with Vulture that Criston’s last fight was one of the most demanding sequences he had ever filmed. The battle took three days to shoot, with much of it filmed as a single continuous take.
The actor wanted the fight to look physically draining rather than polished. He compared staged fights to real combat, noting that real weapons are far heavier than props.
“I wanted it to look exhausting, however proficient he is. I’ve done these fights — they are exhausting, and I’m doing them with fake plastic weapons with stuntmen who know what they’re doing.”
Frankel worked closely with choreographers to decide when to break the fight into segments. This approach allowed the audience to see Cole’s stamina breaking down throughout the battle.
Criston Cole’s Death in the Episode
In “Faceless Men,” Criston and his men walked into a carefully planned trap set by Team Black’s Rivermen and Winter Wolves. The ambush was commanded by young Lord Oscar Tully and Lord Roderick Dustin.
Surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered, Criston tried to negotiate for his men’s survival. He proposed a two-on-one duel against Oscar Tully and Roderick Dustin, hoping for an honorable exit. Team Black refused to grant him that chance.
Instead, Alysanne Blackwood ended the matter swiftly. She fired three arrows into Criston, finishing him with a shot to the face. His death arrived without ceremony or glory.
Frankel’s Reaction to His Character’s Death
Frankel appeared on TODAY on July 29, 2026, to discuss his character’s demise. The actor said he knew his character’s death was coming.
“I knew I had it coming. I’d done so much bad stuff. I knew at some point I’d get a call saying our time was up. I lived a life. I did a lot of episodes. It was a good, long journey.”
Frankel mentioned he would joke with his friends about returning for another season, even though Criston’s fate was clearly spelled out in the source material.
“I kept doing a while bit where I’d say, ‘I gotta go back next year, do a whole new season of the show.’ My friends were like, ‘You’re really lying directly to my face.’”
The actor also described the reaction he has seen since his character’s death. He noted there seems to be more appreciation for Criston now that he is gone.
Frankel’s Tribute to Criston Cole
A day after his character’s death aired, Frankel posted a tribute to Cole on Instagram. The post featured behind-the-scenes photos from the set of the HBO series.
“3 seasons. 21 episodes. 5 and half years. A badly dealt with heartbreak.”
He added in the caption, “To all of you who tuned in every week, And to all those who have carried me along the way, I couldn’t have gotten through it without you. It’s been an honour. Criston Cole, over and out.”
The official HBO account left a message on the post.
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Fan Reactions to Criston Cole’s Death
Viewers have responded to Frankel’s performance since the episode aired. One fan commented, “Hated your character which means you are a spectacular actor sir.”
Another wrote, “A sign of a great actor is that they can make you hate them on screen. You were up there with some of the most hated in the GoT universe and we love you for that!”
Frankel played Criston Cole across three seasons and 21 episodes of the series. The character first appeared when the show premiered in 2022.
Season 3, Episode 6 of House of the Dragon is now streaming on HBO Max.
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