House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 6, delivered significant plot developments, including the confirmed death of Ser Criston Cole and a cliffhanger involving Lord Corlys Velaryon. The episode, now streaming on HBO Max, saw major twists in the ongoing conflict.
Ser Criston Cole's Demise
Ser Criston Cole, portrayed by Fabien Frankel, met his end early in the episode during an event known as the Butcher's Ball. Book readers were aware of this confrontation, where the combined forces of House Tully and House Stark trapped Cole and his remaining men. While Frankel had previously compared the encounter to the Battle of the Gullet, he noted its isolated and land-based nature.
In the show, Cole believed he was facing his final moments with dignity, ready to fight to the death against the Rivermen, including young Lord Oscar Tully and Ser Roderick “Roddy the Ruin” Dustin. However, Alysanne “Black Aly” Blackwood ultimately killed Cole with arrows from a distance. This differs slightly from George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," where other characters are credited with Cole's death and Black Aly's role is different.
Lord Corlys Velaryon's Uncertain Fate
The episode concluded with a perilous situation for Lord Corlys Velaryon, played by Steve Toussaint. Following a successful campaign against Triarchy pirates, Corlys gathered his men to return to King's Landing. While contemplating his next move alone, he was approached by Ser Jon Roxton, an associate of Ormund Hightower. The scene then cut to the sounds of Hightower forces attacking Corlys's men in the distance, with Roxton observing the offscreen events.
While the cliffhanger suggests Corlys may have died, "House of the Dragon" pointedly kept him offscreen, leaving his survival uncertain. There is speculation that Ormund Hightower's forces may have intended to capture Corlys rather than kill him. In "Fire & Blood," Corlys is imprisoned around this time during the Dance of the Dragons, though in the book, Rhaenyra accuses him of treachery, leading to his imprisonment. The series may be adapting this storyline to involve Ormund's forces in Corlys's capture.
Dragonseed Developments
Other plot threads included the growing discontent among dragonseeds Ulf the White and Hugh the Hammer. Ulf was shown being beaten by Daemon Targaryen in King's Landing, while Hugh's wife expressed her distress over his dedication to his dragon. The books detail Ulf and Hugh betraying Rhaenyra during a crucial battle, leading to her mistrust of all dragonseeds and Corlys's subsequent imprisonment. The series appears to be setting up a similar arc, potentially with alterations to the specific events and instigators.