HotD Creators Did the Right Thing Cutting Hate-Inducing Criston Cole Scene
If there is one book character whom House of the Dragon's showrunners either hated or were unable to figure out, that is Criston Cole.
Now, in all versions of Martin's story, which serves as House of the Dragon 's foundation, Cole was a not a knight in shining armor, but he was one of, if not the strongest knight in Westeros, and a man whose scheming mind was as dangerous as his sword.
And actually he was the Lord Commander of Viserys' Kingsguard, before the latter's death and outbreak of the civil war, both his position and his abilities making him a pillar of the Green party
In the series he is, admittedly, no longer a cold-blooded murderer, but he's also sort of pathetic. He kills the same people so far, but by accident or in a fit of rage, he's little more than the Greens' attack dog by the time the war is about to begin, and he's not even that formidable as a fighter.
And his motivation for what he does (not entirely clear in the book, but likely rooted in ambition) is reduced entirely to a grudge against Rhaenyra.
Now, to be fair, he had a good reason to hold a grudge. Most people would have been pissed off upon realizing that their secret romance with a Princess, which would have resulted in their painful execution and utter dishonor in case of the secret ever leaking out, involved little to no feelings beyond sexual attraction on her part.
However, even that reaction is framed by the show in such a childish way, that Ser Criston became one of the most-hated characters in House of the Dragon.
At least the showrunners did not go far enough in their enmity to include in the show a deleted scene, revealed by newly-released images.
In that scene Viserys and Rhaenyra Targaryen would have personally anointed Criston Cole a Kingsguard knight in a private ceremony. Had House of the Dragon included the scene, Criston's change of heart would have been even more pronounced, as the moment added more depth to their emotional relationship while suggesting that Rhaenyra was actually infatuated with him, instead of, you know, using him as a more easily available stand-in for Prince Daemon.
It is actually pretty strange to see the showrunners deleting a scene which would have cast a better light on Rhaenyra, but there is no doubt, that had it been included in the show, the audience's hatred for Criston Cole would have reached new peaks.