He’s a hypocrite plain and simple. Think the second time around he just doesn’t have any misunderstandings about what it is…and accepts his place more I guess. Also, growing close to Alicent and being like a second father to her kids all those years would make the situaiton seem a bit different I think
There isn’t any hypocrisy involved because the two situations are completely different. First of all, as Cole said in the season finale, Alicent saved his life more than once. She didn’t reveal that he had slept with Rhaenyra and hasn’t revealed it for over a decade since she learned the truth. If she had taken Cole’s confession to her father, Otto would have made sure their “Rhaenyra problem” was taken care of for good. He would have exposed Rhaenyra’s crime so publicly that Viserys would have been forced to banish her, at best. But, Alicent chose not to expose Cole. She also kept him from killing himself in the Godswood. So, there is nothing Cole wouldn’t do for Alicent. She’s shown him kindness and mercy. Secondly, Cole feels that his honor as a member of the Kingsguard has already been tarnished by his encounter with Rhaenyra. So, since he feels he’s already lost his honor, it doesn’t matter to him that he’s sleeping with Alicent. Lastly, Alicent and Cole are both single people. Alicent made quite clear that she is not seeking another husband anytime soon, if ever, when the Master of Laws suggested they lure Dalton Greyjoy to their side by offering him Alicent as a wife. Rhaenyra was about to get married to Leanor but, despite that, she wanted to keep sleeping with Cole. That would have made Cole the side guy and Cole didn’t want to be the side guy. With Rhaenyra, he would have been but, with Alicent, he’s not. Viserys is dead and it’s pretty clear to me that they didn’t start having sex until Alicent was a widow. So, he’s not Alicent’s side guy, even though their relationship has to stay secret for both their sakes. They’re both single and that makes them equals as far as their intimate relationship goes. They’re just lovers.
Which only shows Rhaenyra’s callousness. She has never understood, to this day, what being a Kingsguard meant to Cole and what honor meant to him. She doesn’t understand what she helped strip away from him when she never should have approached him sexually to begin with. It’s no better than a company CEO trying to sleep with a secretary. There’s an unfair imbalance of power. Naturally, Cole was very attracted to young Rhaenyra and wanted to sleep with her too. But, even if he hadn’t, he was in a pretty bad bind. He didn’t know what she might do if he refused her. She was very sweet as a young girl but Targaryens also don’t like to be told “No”. She could have accused him of anything and had him killed.
@tanjaceren984 Rhaenyra’s duty was to fulfill her role as heir to the throne. If she’d run away with Criston Cole she would have turned her back on the role she was raised to fulfill. She would have proven herself unworthy to rule. Agon II showed himself unworthy when he tried to runaway from his duty to the crown. Rhaenyra also provided the kingdom with as many potential heirs as possible. That is part of the duty of a hereditary monarch. You have to produce the next monarch of your bloodline. Access to power did not come from the father’s line, in Rhaenyra’s case, it came from the mother’s line. It didn’t matter who the father was.
@tanjaceren984 you know Cole only wanted her because he thought himself sullied right? Not a great basis for a "love." He even spells it out here saying that he thought marriage would somehow restore his honor.
@tanjaceren984 One of her primary duty to the Targaryen line (beside becoming queen to rule and protect Westeros per prophecy) is to produce heirs and continue her line. Viserys seemed to believe that it would be via Rhaenyra's line that the 'prince' who's promised would come from (per book, it is so, but via her 2nd son with Daemon, Viserys II, who also became king later on). That's her duty in her mind and she fulfilled the duty as best as she could despite the circumstances. Laenor was unable to impregnate her, so she turned to her lover, Harwin Strong. I think Rhaenyra's weakness was that she actually cared about Harwin Strong and didn't care enough that her babes looked more like Harwin rather than Laenor so instead of seeking lovers who looked more Targaryen or Velaryon (a dragonseed perhaps), she kept going to Harwin to have children (heir and spares). Laenor, in turn, supported Rhaenyra's claim that the boys are his, freely gave them his name, since he knew that he was unable to impregnate her (their discussion stated pretty clearly that they tried to procreate but didn't manage to have a child otherwise, so it's not for lack of trying that he couldn't have kids, he just can't).To be fair, the line (if they followed Viserys' wish) would continue via Rhaenyra, so the father of her children should not matter, but of course, due to the obvious appearance of her first three sons, there would be trouble. However, they were able to be dragon riders, which strengthened their claims that they are of Targaryen's blood. --So per Ep7 and 8, not surprised Jace was so upset with Rhaenyra's decision to request dragonseeds to try and claim dragons.
I think he made a big, big mistake 🙄. If he had stayed by her side the children she has would be his and she would belong to him bc her husband was gay anyway. If he only had some patience and wisdom 😳. Such a shame.
That wouldn’t have benefitted Cole. That would have been agony for him. Imagine having Jace, Luke and Joffrey as his sons and not being able to call them “Son” or even acknowledge them. Harwin Strong was heir to Harrenhal. I don’t know why he wasn’t married already, at his age, but he certainly would have gotten married eventually and had more children. Cole could never marry openly and have kids openly. So, the three boys would have been a painful secret and then he would have also have had to suffer losing Luke.
It's insane how the fanbase collectively whitewashes Rhaenyra while hating on Cole as just an incel/simp 'who raged at being rejected' and miss the intricacies so badly. Rhaenyra abused her power and disregarded Cole's honour, vows and duty entirely to get herself off, using him like Daemon did her. Then, when he tried to restore his honour and give her an out (admittedly stupid but desperate), after years of her whining to him about how 'nobody has ever held my position' when Cole had to remind her what a privileged, well off little royal she was, she then suddenly threw the 'I may chafe at my duties' rubbish at him and happily didn't give one thought to the vows and oaths she had coerced him to break, while then hilariously going straight to using her own duties ('I am the crown') as a get out of jail free card. Imagine if in 2024, a male CEO locked his receptionist in a room, kissed her twice, began undressing her and did so while she said 'Stop' and physically tried to prevent him? Cole got MeToo'd. But no. People just see it that 'he tried to marry her and got salty because she rejected him'. Rhaenyra is more to blame than anyone that she made such a nasty enemy out of Cole.
@@DaleKelly1971: A child who could have gotten him killed if he had refused to sleep with her. The power imbalance was all on Rhaenyra’s side. She never should have approached Cole in the first place because they weren’t equals and he wasn’t free to really consent (as we think of consent). She could have lashed out and had him executed in five seconds.
Exactly. Well said. Yes, Cole wanted her but he said “stop” and she didn’t. He had no idea how she might react if rejected. She had the power of life and death over him.
That is a good point, except with the laws of the land of today, Rhaenyra would've been a child and Cole would've gone to jail; rightfully so because he's the adult in the situation and should've stopped her, even physically if needed be.
I am #TeamBlackall day but they both are to blame Rhanerya sealed her fate with Cole the moment she gave him her maidenhood and she persisted we all watched the episode Daemon rejected her because she was still a child in his eyes
No he only wanted to marry her and be with her because he felt like he betrayed his oath to men and felt like marrying the princess would make up for it with his boys.
Sir Cristin was/is very selfish. Rhaenyra broke his brain with the idea of an open marriage…but the real sadness is that this episode is close to the last we will see the splendid acting of young rhaenyra and closer to when we get to the dullness of old rhaenyra actress
Emma D'arcy was casted first and always meant to play Rhaenyra. I think it was great that the world had the opportunity to see a tallented young actress.
I eventually hated Cole as the story progressed, but that means the actor is doing a phenomenal job with the role
Criston loathe Rhaenyra for not accepting his proposal and be her mistress, but then he has become the dowager queen mistress without problem?
Yes his a idiot
@@Serena_9 I wouldn't say "without problem" but yes much easier lol
He’s a hypocrite plain and simple. Think the second time around he just doesn’t have any misunderstandings about what it is…and accepts his place more I guess. Also, growing close to Alicent and being like a second father to her kids all those years would make the situaiton seem a bit different I think
There isn’t any hypocrisy involved because the two situations are completely different.
First of all, as Cole said in the season finale, Alicent saved his life more than once. She didn’t reveal that he had slept with Rhaenyra and hasn’t revealed it for over a decade since she learned the truth.
If she had taken Cole’s confession to her father, Otto would have made sure their “Rhaenyra problem” was taken care of for good. He would have exposed Rhaenyra’s crime so publicly that Viserys would have been forced to banish her, at best. But, Alicent chose not to expose Cole.
She also kept him from killing himself in the Godswood. So, there is nothing Cole wouldn’t do for Alicent. She’s shown him kindness and mercy.
Secondly, Cole feels that his honor as a member of the Kingsguard has already been tarnished by his encounter with Rhaenyra. So, since he feels he’s already lost his honor, it doesn’t matter to him that he’s sleeping with Alicent.
Lastly, Alicent and Cole are both single people. Alicent made quite clear that she is not seeking another husband anytime soon, if ever, when the Master of Laws suggested they lure Dalton Greyjoy to their side by offering him Alicent as a wife.
Rhaenyra was about to get married to Leanor but, despite that, she wanted to keep sleeping with Cole.
That would have made Cole the side guy and Cole didn’t want to be the side guy. With Rhaenyra, he would have been but, with Alicent, he’s not. Viserys is dead and it’s pretty clear to me that they didn’t start having sex until Alicent was a widow. So, he’s not Alicent’s side guy, even though their relationship has to stay secret for both their sakes. They’re both single and that makes them equals as far as their intimate relationship goes. They’re just lovers.
The King is dead so he's really not her mistress.
I love how at least in the show, cole is just barley a blip on her radar and is never really mentioned by her again 😂😂
Which only shows Rhaenyra’s callousness. She has never understood, to this day, what being a Kingsguard meant to Cole and what honor meant to him. She doesn’t understand what she helped strip away from him when she never should have approached him sexually to begin with. It’s no better than a company CEO trying to sleep with a secretary. There’s an unfair imbalance of power.
Naturally, Cole was very attracted to young Rhaenyra and wanted to sleep with her too. But, even if he hadn’t, he was in a pretty bad bind. He didn’t know what she might do if he refused her. She was very sweet as a young girl but Targaryens also don’t like to be told “No”. She could have accused him of anything and had him killed.
She understood her role in life and Cristen didn’t understand his. He failed in his duty and Rhaenyra fulfilled her duties.
@tanjaceren984
Rhaenyra’s duty was to fulfill her role as heir to the throne. If she’d run away with Criston Cole she would have turned her back on the role she was raised to fulfill. She would have proven herself unworthy to rule. Agon II showed himself unworthy when he tried to runaway from his duty to the crown.
Rhaenyra also provided the kingdom with as many potential heirs as possible. That is part of the duty of a hereditary monarch. You have to produce the next monarch of your bloodline.
Access to power did not come from the father’s line, in Rhaenyra’s case, it came from the mother’s line. It didn’t matter who the father was.
@tanjaceren984 you know Cole only wanted her because he thought himself sullied right? Not a great basis for a "love." He even spells it out here saying that he thought marriage would somehow restore his honor.
Ans she couldn’t even get that right. She fucked cole over only to just fuck around.
@tanjaceren984she didnt. Dont get why anyone says otherwise.
@tanjaceren984 One of her primary duty to the Targaryen line (beside becoming queen to rule and protect Westeros per prophecy) is to produce heirs and continue her line. Viserys seemed to believe that it would be via Rhaenyra's line that the 'prince' who's promised would come from (per book, it is so, but via her 2nd son with Daemon, Viserys II, who also became king later on). That's her duty in her mind and she fulfilled the duty as best as she could despite the circumstances. Laenor was unable to impregnate her, so she turned to her lover, Harwin Strong. I think Rhaenyra's weakness was that she actually cared about Harwin Strong and didn't care enough that her babes looked more like Harwin rather than Laenor so instead of seeking lovers who looked more Targaryen or Velaryon (a dragonseed perhaps), she kept going to Harwin to have children (heir and spares). Laenor, in turn, supported Rhaenyra's claim that the boys are his, freely gave them his name, since he knew that he was unable to impregnate her (their discussion stated pretty clearly that they tried to procreate but didn't manage to have a child otherwise, so it's not for lack of trying that he couldn't have kids, he just can't).To be fair, the line (if they followed Viserys' wish) would continue via Rhaenyra, so the father of her children should not matter, but of course, due to the obvious appearance of her first three sons, there would be trouble. However, they were able to be dragon riders, which strengthened their claims that they are of Targaryen's blood. --So per Ep7 and 8, not surprised Jace was so upset with Rhaenyra's decision to request dragonseeds to try and claim dragons.
I think he made a big, big mistake 🙄. If he had stayed by her side the children she has would be his and she would belong to him bc her husband was gay anyway. If he only had some patience and wisdom 😳. Such a shame.
That wouldn’t have benefitted Cole. That would have been agony for him. Imagine having Jace, Luke and Joffrey as his sons and not being able to call them “Son” or even acknowledge them.
Harwin Strong was heir to Harrenhal. I don’t know why he wasn’t married already, at his age, but he certainly would have gotten married eventually and had more children. Cole could never marry openly and have kids openly. So, the three boys would have been a painful secret and then he would have also have had to suffer losing Luke.
@@kimberlyrobinson3992 Harwin Strong was in the guard so he was also sworn to celibacy.
It's insane how the fanbase collectively whitewashes Rhaenyra while hating on Cole as just an incel/simp 'who raged at being rejected' and miss the intricacies so badly.
Rhaenyra abused her power and disregarded Cole's honour, vows and duty entirely to get herself off, using him like Daemon did her. Then, when he tried to restore his honour and give her an out (admittedly stupid but desperate), after years of her whining to him about how 'nobody has ever held my position' when Cole had to remind her what a privileged, well off little royal she was, she then suddenly threw the 'I may chafe at my duties' rubbish at him and happily didn't give one thought to the vows and oaths she had coerced him to break, while then hilariously going straight to using her own duties ('I am the crown') as a get out of jail free card.
Imagine if in 2024, a male CEO locked his receptionist in a room, kissed her twice, began undressing her and did so while she said 'Stop' and physically tried to prevent him? Cole got MeToo'd. But no. People just see it that 'he tried to marry her and got salty because she rejected him'. Rhaenyra is more to blame than anyone that she made such a nasty enemy out of Cole.
A child is responsible for what a man does...Cole never had the honor he thought he had.
@@DaleKelly1971: A child who could have gotten him killed if he had refused to sleep with her. The power imbalance was all on Rhaenyra’s side. She never should have approached Cole in the first place because they weren’t equals and he wasn’t free to really consent (as we think of consent). She could have lashed out and had him executed in five seconds.
Exactly. Well said.
Yes, Cole wanted her but he said “stop” and she didn’t. He had no idea how she might react if rejected. She had the power of life and death over him.
That is a good point, except with the laws of the land of today, Rhaenyra would've been a child and Cole would've gone to jail; rightfully so because he's the adult in the situation and should've stopped her, even physically if needed be.
How would marriage (also against his vows) have restored anything?
Viserys: i gave you real power and choice. And you spent your days as you always have, bedding knights and birthing bastards.
He actually said this?
@@calleocho2107 no…
Rhaenyra could have been better spoken, more empathetic and less insensitive.
I don’t think so, it was a ridiculous notion…he should have accepted her offer (to be her wh*re) 😂
Doesn’t excuse his behavior
@@sachinhj9910 no, it was a ridiculous notion, he should have accepted her counteroffer 😆
She became more empathetic when she grew up
I am #TeamBlackall day but they both are to blame Rhanerya sealed her fate with Cole the moment she gave him her maidenhood and she persisted we all watched the episode Daemon rejected her because she was still a child in his eyes
He’s a big nothing. She’s the crown. End of.
She should've just married him, and then married her kids to Daemon's kids. 😅😅😅
man poured his heart out poor and foolish dude
No he only wanted to marry her and be with her because he felt like he betrayed his oath to men and felt like marrying the princess would make up for it with his boys.
Yall know its not real right? 😂😂 these comments are wild
My guy got queensgaurd zoned
Sir Cristin was/is very selfish. Rhaenyra broke his brain with the idea of an open marriage…but the real sadness is that this episode is close to the last we will see the splendid acting of young rhaenyra and closer to when we get to the dullness of old rhaenyra actress
Emma D'arcy was casted first and always meant to play Rhaenyra. I think it was great that the world had the opportunity to see a tallented young actress.
Emma is a great actress.