Ser Criston Cole is a very lucky man!
Initially introduced as an honourable knight who pledged his sword to the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the character was taken in a much darker direction in the closing moments of last week's episode of House of the Dragon when he brutally beat Laenor Velaryon's lover Joffrey (not that Joffrey) to death for bringing up the fact that Cole and Rhaenyra have been having a sexual relationship.
We then saw Criston make his way outside and prepare to take his own life before being stopped by Queen Alicent Hightower, and he was still standing proudly by her side after the 10-year time-jump when we caught up with them in this past Sunday's instalment.
So, how in seven hells did Ser Criston escape execution or at the very least imprisonment after murdering someone in front of the King and practically everyone else in King's Landing?
While speaking to EW, the show's co-creator Ryan Condon offered an explanation.
"There were mistakes made. It was a different time. Alicent saves his life. That's what that final scene is telling you. Alicent goes in there and saves his life and begs for his life and honor with the king and wins. And then he is absolutely, as we see in episode 6, 100 percent devoted to her."
Okay, assuming we buy that, wouldn't Laenor still seek vengeance himself? This might be something that's addressed in a future episode, but whatever happens, we hope the now bitter and spiteful Ser Criston Cole gets what's coming to him.