Criston Cole vs. Jaime Lannister: ‘House of the Dragon’s’ Ryan Condal Reveals Why Cole Is More Like Jaime Than Fans Realize

Few characters in the ‘Game of Thrones‘ universe inspire as much venom as Ser Criston Cole, and yet the man behind ‘House of the Dragon‘ is asking fans to reconsider everything they think they know about him. Showrunner Ryan Condal has drawn a direct line between Fabien Frankel’s Kingmaker and one of the franchise’s most beloved redemption stories, Jaime Lannister.

The comparison arrives at a moment when Criston Cole’s reputation among viewers is about as low as it gets, following his role in dragging Westeros into open war. Condal’s remarks suggest that the show is deliberately setting up a longer, messier arc for the character, one that mirrors how audiences slowly warmed to the so called Kingslayer over the course of the original series.

Ryan Condal Draws the Comparison

Speaking with Collider, Condal explained that Frankel’s performance was meant to challenge the initial impressions fans had formed about Criston Cole, encouraging them to reevaluate the character entirely. He praised the actor’s scene stealing moments as proof that there is more emotional depth to Cole than the surface level villainy suggests.

According to Collider, Condal specifically pointed to the idea that Cole is another example of a classic George R.R. Martin character, one who seems easy to understand at first before revealing surprising common ground with people the audience already trusts.

That framing is a clear echo of how Jaime Lannister’s own journey unfolded across ‘Game of Thrones’.

The context for these comments matters just as much as the quote itself. In the divisive season two finale, audiences watched Cole pull out an embroidered handkerchief given to him by Alicent Hightower before marching soldiers into a war nobody was going to win. It is a quiet, almost tender beat sandwiched between acts of political ruin, exactly the kind of contradiction that defined Jaime for years.

Two Kingsguard Knights, Two Very Different Reputations

The nicknames alone tell you how differently these two men are remembered. As one breakdown of the rivalry put it, Criston Cole is the Kingmaker who betrayed the arguably rightful heir and effectively crowned Aegon II, while Jaime Lannister is the Kingslayer who murdered the very man he swore to protect. Both titles carry the weight of betrayal, yet fans have historically been far more forgiving of Jaime’s.

Some of that forgiveness comes down to storytelling patience. Jaime spent multiple seasons earning small moments of humanity, from his friendship with Brienne of Tarth to his own admissions of guilt, before the show fully rehabilitated him in the eyes of viewers. Cole, by contrast, has had a much shorter runway to prove there is more beneath the armor.

Fans online have not been shy about picking sides in this debate either. Social discourse around the two knights has turned into its own subculture, with clips and rankings comparing their combat skill, loyalty, and downfall circulating widely on platforms like TikTok.

Comparing Their Skills as Knights

Beyond the emotional arcs, there is a genuine debate raging over which man is the better fighter and tactician. One community breakdown on Comic Vine argued that while Criston Cole is an underrated beast in single combat, Jaime with both hands would still probably edge him out in a straight duel. The same discussion noted that as a battlefield commander, Cole is generally viewed as the stronger tactician, with his advice often ignored by Aegon II and Aemond to their own detriment.

That assessment lines up with a wider critical take that has emerged since ‘House of the Dragon’ season two aired. According to Screen Rant, Jaime joined the Kingsguard at just fifteen years old but was never much of a strategist, making several costly tactical errors throughout his run on Game of Thrones.

The outlet further pointed out that Jaime fell into Robb Stark’s trap and became a prisoner of the Starks, while also failing to protect or mentor his own children.

Ser Criston Cole’s supporters argue his battlefield instincts have been underplayed by the show itself. Even a Quora thread weighing him against legends like Arthur Dayne and Barristan Selmy conceded that Cole was physically talented enough to best Daemon Targaryen and personally trained Aemond Targaryen in combat. That is heady company for a knight so many viewers love to hate.

Where the Redemption Arc Could Go From Here

If Condal’s comparison holds up, the back half of ‘House of the Dragon’ may be setting the stage for Criston Cole to earn at least a partial measure of sympathy, even if he never reaches full redemption. Jaime’s turn worked because the show let his cruelty and his conscience coexist for years before either side won out.

Cole already has the ingredients for that kind of duality, from his forbidden relationship with Alicent Hightower to his complicated mentorship of Aemond Targaryen. Whether the writers give him the same amount of screen time to unpack it all remains an open question heading into future seasons.

What is clear is that the creative team wants viewers thinking critically about Cole rather than dismissing him outright. Comparing him to a character as beloved as Jaime Lannister is a bold swing, and it puts pressure on the show to actually deliver the nuance Condal is promising.

Do you think Criston Cole deserves the same slow burn redemption that eventually won fans over to Jaime Lannister, or has he already gone too far to earn that kind of grace?