SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 3, Episode 5, now streaming on HBO Max.

In tonight’s episode of “House of the Dragon,” Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) proclaims that he is ready to die, and that he is ready to do so with honors.

As the war to capture the Iron Throne continues, Criston advances with his men, including Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), to prevent the Rivermen from reaching King’s Landing and aiding Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy). But their journey to reach the Rivermen becomes increasingly difficult after one of their horses gets caught in a trap. Once they find a burned bridge to cross the river, they realize there is no chance of reaching them.

Gwayne and Criston regroup and debate what to do next, now half the men they started with remain. Gwayne says that moving forward would “lead us toward certain death.” It is then that Gwayne realizes that this was Criston’s goal all along, as Criston launches into a revealing monologue: “I have been a servant all my life. To Green or to Black. I have defined myself by oaths, through unwavering devotion. And the nobles have elevated me as they pleased. But I will not let them belittle me now. I will not return despised, rejected. I am the greatest warrior in the kingdom. And I will die.” as such”.

While Frankel says he doesn’t read fan reactions much these days, it’s become easier to tap into his controversial character’s motivations in Season 3: “I can only understand why people feel the way they do about him as a character. It’s tough for me as an actor, because obviously, I just don’t see it that way. It doesn’t serve me any good to see it that way. You always have to be the bastion of your character, and I feel very much the bastion of Criston Cole.”

Frankel spoke with Variety to break down Criston’s suicide mission, why being a soldier is “the only honest version of himself,” and what fans can expect (if the series continues to follow George RR Martin’s book “A Song of Ice and Fire,” as expected) from the upcoming Butcher’s Ball.

This is a pivotal moment for Criston, who proclaims that he is willing to die an honorable death. Can you talk about his journey throughout this episode and how he gets to this point?

It’s something that’s been brewing inside of him a lot over the course of the show, probably since the middle of Season 2. These thoughts of, “What am I going to be and what’s the legacy I’m going to leave behind? In what way do I want to go out?” I guess that really comes to a head in that fire scene with Gwayne.

Do you have a specific vision for how you want your death to play out? How can you guarantee that it will turn out the way you want and that people will remember it?

I don’t know if there’s something in his head, it’s like he’s saying, “Hell folded in glory,” right? Criston Cole started out as a soldier before the 20-year period he spent at King’s Landing; This is how it started and this is how it wants to end. In his opinion, the only honest version of himself is that of the soldier. Everything else is simulation; the diplomat is pretended; the Hand of the King, there is a level of pretentiousness; Lord Commander of the Royal Guard, there is a certain level of simulation. I suppose they are all psychological works, directed by the brain. He is not like that, he is largely carried away by his sword and his fighting instinct. I think the idea that this is how he will be remembered seems honest.

Gwayne finally finds out what’s really going on. Criston is very candid about his suicide mission once it clicks.

Criston has a genuine affection for Gwayne; there is a yin-yang aspect to them. Interestingly, I think Gwayne represents, on the surface, everything Criston disdains in this world. However, deep down, Criston found someone who will go into battle with him, who has heart, who has empathy, who is much more than meets the eye. So their relationship is built through this, these guys go to war with each other. You listen to any soldier talk about their time in the war, any war, and they will say that the relationships they formed are closer than anything you can imagine because you are living life and death with these people. They are risking their lives for each other. As a result of that, there is a depth to their relationship.

So why does Criston decide not to tell Gwayne about his suicide mission for so long?

I don’t think he’s waiting for Gwayne to realize, it’s not a game. I certainly didn’t consider it a game. I think he just knew that as soon as he told Gwayne, it would create a lack of desire to continue. Gwayne’s distaste for this plan would spread to the rest of the men, and Criston would then lose an army that would otherwise have a good fighting chance. There is undeniably selfishness in Criston’s plan, right? He takes care of himself, but I think he’s become very accustomed to a world where each person is constantly taking care of themselves. Unfortunately, any attempt at disinterest fails. For any of the characters, it’s simply a dog-eat-dog world.

You’ve talked in previous interviews about not always knowing Criston’s code or where his motivations lie episode after episode. As the season has progressed, have you been able to take advantage of them more?

There is a freedom that comes with nihilism, to a certain extent. This is a character who, at least at the beginning of Season 2 and towards the end of Season 3, gave up on the idea that the war was over. That ultimately we as humans don’t really have a big role to play in a war that will ultimately be won or lost by the dragons. They’re much more powerful, which is why you find it at the top of season 3 in a genuinely, I wouldn’t say nihilistic way, because I think it’s a little bit reductive. But there is certainly agnosticism in it. You are losing the will to motivate. He finds that will as the season goes on, and certainly in Episode 4’s planning scene with Gwayne that really gives him the impetus. It revitalizes you and then you’ve certainly rediscovered your sense of code: not so much code, but a sense of purpose.

This episode comes immediately after Criston discovered that Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) had left him behind, and he is once again struck by those feelings of abandonment that he has felt all his life. How does that influence your actions here?

It’s complicated, man. I want to think there’s a part of him that’s smart enough (not smart enough) but a part of him that certainly recognizes who Aemond is. I just don’t think that’s all that It’s surprising that Aemond hasn’t shown up, even if he’s playing. Sometimes, to sell a story as people, we use notions that seem the most natural to us. Then Criston says, “He wouldn’t abandon us, I can’t believe it,” I almost feel like he’s playing into the version of this character who needs that information to rediscover a sense of self and purpose.

How do you now remember your relationships with Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke)? Do you regret it? As you spend these long periods traveling into battle, ready to fall on your sword, are you reflecting on your decisions or are you simply focused on moving forward?

Haven’t men always done that in history? Just go ahead and get to work: “I’m not going to deal with anything I’m really feeling, I’m just going to go ahead and do something, and that will replace whatever I’m feeling!” But it’s inevitable that Rhaenyra and Alicent are on his mind all the time. I think Alicent is much more than Rhaenyra. Certainly, for me, Rhaenyra has become something of an afterthought. And really, it’s just the idea of ​​winning the war for Alicent.

Has it become easier to tap into Criston’s humanity, despite being such a controversial character?

There is a genuine insight into who this man is and what motivates him. Yes, I think it’s been easier for me to tap into his humanity. It’s hard, you can’t undo their actions. He has done the things he has done, and those things have been, at times, very morally reprehensible or questionable, to say the least. And so I can only understand why people feel the way they do about him as a character. It’s complicated for me as an actor because, obviously, I don’t see it that way. It doesn’t help me to see it that way. You always have to be the bastion of your character, and I feel strongly about Criston Cole’s bastion.

How do you remember your journey on the show and your portrayal of Criston?

I learned a lot playing Criston Cole. There’s a stillness to him that I don’t naturally have as a person, and I think I’ve learned a lot through that. We are very different as people, but I remember the last few years with great warmth towards the people I have worked with. Regardless of whether you play the character or do the show, it’s the company you keep that creates any experience.

His former “House of the Dragon” co-star Milly Alcock is having a big summer with “Supergirl.” Have you had a chance to see the movie? Do you keep in touch with Milly?

I keep in touch with her all the time, yes! I spoke to her on the phone two weeks ago when she called me from Brazil; I think he was doing press. I am immensely proud of her and it doesn’t surprise me in the least. I told my agent that I should sign her as soon as we did season 1 of “House of the Dragon” together, and that’s what she did. I’m very happy for her, very proud of her. I haven’t had a chance to watch “Supergirl” yet, but I will!

I know fans of the book will be looking forward to Butcher’s Ball, which appears to be setting up at the end of this week’s episode. What can you say about the upcoming action scenes?

All I can say is that it was a long and arduous choreography to learn, it is a brilliantly choreographed fight. There are a lot of amazing stuntmen that make the fight what it is, and I’m really excited for people to see that side of Criston. It’s the side of him that we haven’t really seen at all: what he’s like in a man-to-man situation.

This interview has been edited and condensed.