House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3 “The Burning Mill” reveals that one key character has gotten themselves a makeover. Yes, the HBO hit shows us that after becoming the Hand of the King, Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) has chopped off his long locks and embraced the short haircut of a Roman soldier. Not only that, but his armor has gotten an imposing “upgrade.” No longer content just to wear the standard armor of the Kingsguard, Ser Criston’s Hand armor not only seems larger, more imposing, but also comes crafted with a gilt garland of interlocking hands around the collar. It’s a bold new look for a dark new era for one of House of the Dragon‘s most polarizing characters…and one that tells the audience a lot about what’s going on within Ser Criston Cole’s psyche.
**Spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3 “The Burning Mill”, now streaming on HBO**
The first time we see Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3 “The Burning Mill”, he is anxiously preparing himself to enter the Small Council chamber for the first time as Hand. He’s still got his whitecloak and Kingsguard armor and his trademark sexy hairstyle. (Sorry, I think it’s sexy. At least sexier than the new ‘do.)
However, when we see Ser Criston Cole later in the episode, preparing to ride out to battle with the Hightower forces — including his lover Alicent’s (Olivia Cooke) brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) — the Hand has a new “lewk.” It’s as if he’s sanded down any sign of the chivalrous, courtly knight he playacted as a Kingsguard and is in full “Terminator” mode.
So what inspired Ser Criston Cole’s haircut and new set of armor? According to House of the Dragon star Fabien Frankel, it was all about practicality.
“Well, for me, the haircut was a really big thing because it’s a military thing,” Frankel said during a roundtable Decider attended last month. “You know? It’s impractical to have long hair in a battle. It just is. And short hair is practical.”
However, Frankel conceded that Cole is a character who definitely externalizes his feelings through his clothing.
When Decider pointed out how he’s at his most vulnerable — emotionally and sexually — when his Whitecloak is off or how much he literally equates his own worth with the cloak’s color, Frankel said, “That’s such an interesting observation and actually very, yeah, there’s a scene in Episode 8. I won’t say what it is, but —”
“For god’s sake, don’t give away Episode 8!” House of the Dragon co-star Matt Smith interjected, causing everyone present to burst into hysterics.
“Meghan’s like —” Frankel said, referring to Decider.
“Meghan hasn’t seen it,” Smith sasid.
“Megs is like, ‘WHAT IS HE SAYING?’” Frankel said.
Matt Smith then threatened Frankel, “Gonna throw that bottle of water over your head!”
After even more silly jokes about Cole’s departure from Kings Landing, and what the new armor certainly didn’t represent, Frankel said, “Anyway, the haircuts! Good. The armor is different. He looks different.”
He looks different, and when it comes to Ser Criston Cole, looking different means he’s most certainly feeling different. And if his new look is all about military precision, you better believe we’re seeing Cole at his most practical, predatory, and powerful.