Aidan Kelley

Published Jul 26, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT

In addition to being a die-hard fan of filmmaking, television, video gaming, and anything else with a gripping narrative, Aidan Kelley is also a passionate and detail-oriented writer and journalist at Collider.com. In addition to his work as a Senior Resource Writer, Aidan has also contributed to Collider’s features and news reporting sections. He has covered major industry events, such as San Diego Comic-Con and the D23 Expo, and has had the privelege of interviewing industry stars like Bruce Campbell, Maggie Q, Chad Stahelski, and more. This sincere love for the art of storytelling began at a young age, with Aidan making video movie reviews for the news program at his local high school. That love only increased over the years, with an ongoing career in independent filmmaking and screenwriting after graduating with a degree in Film and television from DePaul University.

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Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 6.

What made Game of Thrones such a phenomenon when it first released was how it felt like any character was in constant danger of being killed off at any moment. This is a series where Ned Stark, one of the show’s best-known characters (played by the show’s most well-known actor, Sean Bean), dies in the first season, after all. 2014, however, marked a significant year in the Game of Thrones fandom, as, after years upon years of watching their favorite characters meet an unceremonious end, viewers got to see one of the show’s most hated enemies finally earn his comeuppance.

There are many reprehensible characters in Westeros, but none was more despised in Game of Thrones than King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), whose callous behavior and unabashed cruelty made him one of the most hated characters in television history until he was poisoned to death in Season 4. Now, in House of the Dragon, which many fans have praised for bringing the franchise back to its roots with more political intrigue and developed characters, it has had its own equivalent moment with the demise of a similarly hated character.

Despite House of the Dragon having a (somehow) beloved character who groomed and married his niece, killed his wife, and has slaughtered innocent lives, no member of the show’s vast ensemble is more widely reviled than Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). The former Kingsguard-turned-Hand of the King has had a bumpy road ever since he went full incel after his public love was rejected by a young Rhaenyra (played by Milly Alcock). Something in Criston snapped that day, leading him to stop at nothing to make Rhaenyra’s life a living hell.

The version of Criston that Season 3 has presented thus far paints a picture of a man who has an almost deluded opinion of himself. He calls himself the realm’s greatest warrior, all while leading his slowly deteriorating battalion on an aimless campaign to nowhere now that Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) are nowhere to be found. Eventually, the Starks and the Tullys catch up to Cole and his forces, and it’s all but over for the mad Hand of the King. After taking out the handkerchief he’s been keeping safe since Alicent (Olivia Cooke) first gave it to him and asking for a proper duel, Criston is shot to death with arrows, almost identically to how Jace (Harry Collett), the young prince that Cole would practically abuse during training, died. It’s a somewhat anticlimactic, but also oddly fitting ending for House of the Dragon’s most hated character.

window.arrayOfGalleries[“article-gallery-1-1264985762”] = ’“<div class=“w-gallery-carousel”><section id=“main-carousel-1-1264985762” class=“splide splide-gallery” data-gallery-expanded-id=“main-expanable-carousel-1-1264985762” data-gallery-expanded-thumbnail-id=“expanded-gallery-thumbnails-1-1264985762”><button class=“expand icon i-expand” type=“button”></button><div class=“splide__track”><ul class=“splide__list” style=“—gallery-aspect-sm: 2 / 1; —gallery-aspect-md: 2 / 1; —gallery-aspect-lg: 2 / 1;” ><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img”>

<source media=“(max-width: 480px)” data-srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-matt-smith-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-matt-smith-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” /><img width=“1500” height=“844” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“emma-d-arcy-matt-smith-_1 (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-matt-smith-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-matt-smith-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /></picture><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></li><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img”>
<source media=“(max-width: 480px)” data-srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” /><img width=“1500” height=“844” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“benjamin-evan-ainsworth- (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /></picture><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></li><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img”>
<source media=“(max-width: 480px)” data-srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” /><img width=“1500” height=“844” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“emma-d-arcy-_1 (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /></picture><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></li><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img”>
<source media=“(max-width: 480px)” data-srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fabien-frankel-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fabien-frankel-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” /><img width=“1500” height=“844” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“fabien-frankel-_1 (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fabien-frankel-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fabien-frankel-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /></picture><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></li><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img”>
<source media=“(max-width: 480px)” data-srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/phoebe-campbell-amanda-collin-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/phoebe-campbell-amanda-collin-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=705&h=397&dpr=2” /><img width=“1500” height=“844” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“phoebe-campbell-amanda-collin- (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/phoebe-campbell-amanda-collin-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/phoebe-campbell-amanda-collin-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=750&h=422&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /></picture><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></li></ul></div></section><section id=“gallery-thumbnails-1-1264985762” class=“splide gallery-thumbnails” style=“display: inline-flex; 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<img width=“2000” height=“1000” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“emma-d-arcy-matt-smith-_1 (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-matt-smith-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=2000&h=1000&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-matt-smith-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=2000&h=1000&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></div></li><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img image-landscape”><div class=“body-img responsive-img”>
<img width=“2000” height=“1000” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“benjamin-evan-ainsworth- (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=2000&h=1000&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=2000&h=1000&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></div></li><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img image-landscape”><div class=“body-img responsive-img”>
<img width=“2000” height=“1000” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“emma-d-arcy-_1 (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=2000&h=1000&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/emma-d-arcy-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=2000&h=1000&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></div></li><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img image-landscape”><div class=“body-img responsive-img”>
<img width=“2000” height=“1000” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“fabien-frankel-_1 (1)” data-img-url=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fabien-frankel-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=2000&h=1000&dpr=2” src=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fabien-frankel-_1-1.jpg?q=49&fit=contain&w=2000&h=1000&dpr=2” style=“width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: contain;” /><figcaption style=“display: none;”>‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6</figcaption><small class=“body-img-caption”>Image via HBO Max</small></figure></div></li><li class=“splide__slide gallery-main-img image-landscape”><div class=“body-img responsive-img”>
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srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=145&h=85&dpr=2” /><source media=“(max-width: 767px)” data-srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=145&h=85&dpr=2” srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=145&h=85&dpr=2” /><source media=“(max-width: 1023px)” data-srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=145&h=85&dpr=2” srcset=“https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=145&h=85&dpr=2” /><img width=“290” height=“170” loading=“lazy” decoding=“async” alt=“benjamin-evan-ainsworth- (1)” 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After finding some of his most loyal Goldcloaks slaughtered, Daemon (Matt Smith) is incensed and is ready to find the perpetrators by any means necessary. Some of the Goldcloaks are even resigning from their posts out of fear of getting killed. His recent schism with Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) makes finding the culprit a bit more difficult than usual, although it’s clear that Ormund (James Norton) is the one pulling the strings.

Speaking of Ormund, the Hightower villain is now hosting a battle-exhausted Gwayne (Freddie Fox), who abandoned his station with Cole as soon as he realized the now-dead soldier was fighting a losing battle. Not only is Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) desperate for any news about his mother, Alicent, but he’s also willing to confide in his uncle that he wants to be free of Ormund’s influence once and for all. For the time being, this trio will have to work together, but at least they’re in a better spot than Aegon, Larys (Matthew Needham), and Tyland (Jefferson Hall), who are barely able to make camp.

Big moves are also being made in Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) and her sister Baela’s (Bethany Antonia) worlds. Rhaena is chastised by Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) after she and Sheepstealer were spotted in the Vale, and Baela is busy taking a break from hunting down rogue dragons to instead do some smooching with her half-uncle, Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim). Par for the course in the *Game of Thrones *universe.

Baela and Alyn aren’t the only ones who have sparked up a romance. Love is also in the air for Aemond and the witch who saved his life, Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), who still has quite a few surprises up her sleeve. Alys reveals that she’s been watching over at least five unhatched dragon eggs, offering all of them to her new beau. A small army of new dragons could be just what Aemond needs to turn the tide of the war, even though Game of Thrones taught us that dragons can take entire seasons to age.

While Aemond has taken a step forward toward reclaiming the throne, he now has Rhaenyra hot on his trail, who’s just learned from Alicent that he has been separated from his gargantuan dragon Vhagar. Aemond has already eluded her capture before, so Rhaenyra hatches a devious plan to use Alicent as bait to lure Aemond out from Harrenhal so she can kill or capture him. After bidding farewell to her pregnant daughter Helaena (Phia Saban), Alicent finally leaves King’s Landing as a pawn in Rhaenyra’s greater scheme. What the queen doesn’t yet know, however, is that one of her closest frenemies, Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), has been captured by Ormund’s men.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is streaming now on HBO Max.

House of the Dragon ](/tag/house-of-the-dragon/) A much-hated character finally meets his end while the larger plot advances.

Matt Smith

Prince Daemon Targaryen