Why did Criston Cole kill Joffrey Lonmouth in ‘House of the Dragon’ Episode 5? The actor at the back of Joffrey Lonmouth became some heads alongside the means.
Spoiler alert: This article accommodates spoilers for House of the Dragon Episode 5.
We’re gearing up for the Dance of the Dragons as House of the Dragon unfolds. In the ultimate episode with younger actors Emily Carey and Milly Alcock, Rhaenyra’s affairs pass front and middle. By the end of Episode 5, Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) makes a devastating choice to kill Ser Joffrey Lonmouth (Solly McLeod).
It seems that this grotesque killing came somewhat , even supposing it’s no longer unexpected that there’s violence at a wedding in the universe of Game of Thrones. After all, that is the franchise that introduced us the “Red Wedding.” So why did Ser Criston kill Ser Joffrey, and what's the significance of this specific tournament in House of the Dragon?
Why did Criston Cole kill Joffrey?
In the international that George R.R. Martin has created, marriage is sort of at all times political, especially when it’s between those close to the Iron Throne. So, Viserys (Paddy Considine) demands that Rhaenyra marry her cousin, Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate). But both Laenor and Rhaenyra have their own interests. Laenor has an affair with his favourite knight, Ser Joffrey, and Rhaenyra has an affair together with her personal sworn protector, Ser Criston.
As Princess Rhaenyra heads back to Westeros with Ser Criston for the marriage ceremony, Criston questions their relationship. He asks her to run away with him, and he or she admits that she by no means has any intention to achieve this. But she says they may be able to proceed their affair, and Criston asks if he’s just her “whore.” He’s indignant that he broke his knight’s vow and were given not anything in return.
Joffrey Lonmouth : I do know your secret & you recognize mine.
Ser Criston Cole : #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/REjYBq9WJH
And then, very quickly, we’re at the wedding birthday celebration, which is meant to final a complete seven days. Joffrey figures out that Ser Criston is Rhaenyra’s secret paramour, and he approaches his fellow knight to swear secrecy and coverage. However, Joffrey does this in a way that’s akin to blackmail. "You know my secret … and I know yours," he hints.
As the wedding unfolds and Criston’s emotions build, he’s pushed to murderous rage … and he takes it out on Joffrey. In an interview with EW, Fabien finds some of the motivation at the back of his character’s choice. “I don't believe it's because [Rhaenyra] says she may not cross away with him,” he admits. “I think it is the method in which she says she won't cross away with him. … She chose to keep him there. She made him stand via that wedding. That's where the animosity builds.”
Between the animosity and Criston’s “thuggish” nature, as described through showrunner Ryan Condal, this impulsive act of rage might not be Criston’s final. In fact, as he grows resentful of Rhaenyra’s alternatives, it’s conceivable that his allegiance will shift and make him a key character right through the Dance of the Dragons.
Ser Joffrey Lonmouth is portrayed through actor Solly McLeod.
Episode Five is Solly McLeod’s beginning and end in the Game of Thrones franchise, but that doesn’t mean he made any much less of a mark on us. His performance as Laenor’s secret lover is charming and tragic, as when he tries to give protection to Laenor, he loses his lifestyles as an alternative. In the lore, Joffrey is nicknamed the “Knight of Kisses,” even though he jokes in House of the Dragon that he has no concept why.
In the books, Joffrey’s romance with Laenor is best rumored, and it changed into one of the many ingenious liberties House of the Dragon’s showrunners took. There is a few pushback in opposition to his demise, on the other hand. While he does die in the supply subject material, his dying in the sequence turns out extra grotesque.
In fact, the Los Angeles Times drew a comparability to some of the queer deaths in Game of Thrones from Renly Baratheon to Prince Oberyn Martell: “LGBTQ characters in the world of Game of Thrones — in particular queer males — have an extended history of being ignominiously dispatched on the show. And while it may be argued that the majority characters in the series revel in some form of horrific violence, queer characters’ deaths are ceaselessly additionally marked by homophobic subtext that can’t be ignored.”
joffrey lonmouth used to be talking about it how laenor getting married to rhaenyra is ‘better than they could’ve was hoping for’ and was so happy they proceed their dating just for christianity homophobale to crash the life out of him pic.twitter.com/0V6Nm6eWxm
— 🥀 lina | book purist (@rhaegarlya) September 19, 2022Even regardless that Solly is not in House of the Dragon, we will be able to be expecting to see lots extra of him in the long term as he’s set to celebrity in several projects, together with a Tom Jones reimagining and teen mystery Beach Boys.
New episodes of House of the Dragon air each Sunday at Nine p.m. EST on HBO and can also be streamed on HBO Max.
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