House Of The Dragon is continuing with its Targaryen civil war in the show’s second season. Serving as a prequel to Game Of Thrones, it is based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, and depicts the fall of House Targaryen through the war known as the Dance Of Dragons. After Miguel Sapochnik left co-showrunning duties, Ryan Condal is leading the second batch of episodes, which star Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, and Olivia Cooke. Prior to the season two premiere, House Of The Dragon was renewed for a third season in June 2024.
In the second season’s second episode, Ser Criston Cole has become the new Hand of the King, and he is seen alone with Alicent Hightower in the episode’s final scene. The pair, who have struck up a secret affair between seasons one and two, start out quarrelling with one another before ending up kissing. While the affair may be simply a result of sexual attraction, the history between them suggests there’s something more complicated bubbling under the surface.
Ser Criston Cole had appeared to fall in love with Rhaenyra in season one, but the princess refused to leave and marry him. As a member of the Kingsguard, he took a vow of chastity, an oath he broke by sleeping with Rhaenyra. His integrity as Kingsguard damaged, Ser Criston may now harbour hatred towards Rhaenyra for not running away with him so that he does not have to live with his guilt.
For Alicent, who knows about the affair between Ser Criston and Rhaenyra, wanting to be with him may similarly stem from wanting to get back at her former friend, while indulging in the behaviour she had previously been unable to get away with. Both of them are bound by frustration over Rhaenyra’s actions, and in discovering themselves following years of repression.
In an interview with Collider, showrunner Ryan Condal explained how the pair both have a troubled, under-developed view of intimacy. “The idea is that these two characters have this very stunted emotional development, particularly in the world of intimacy with a partner,” Condal said. “Cole, because he’s been a canned man his entire life in the order of the Kingsguard and his past sins with Rhaenyra and wearing that like a millstone around his neck. And on Alicent’s side, she was married off at 14 years old to a guy that was 20-plus years her senior.
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