‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 6 Review - More Death, Less Talk, Please

It was only in the previous episode of House of the Dragon Season 3, "Unbowed and Unbent," that Criston Cole spoke of wanting to die honorably in combat. Now, in "Faceless Men," Cole does die, all right, but not in the way he so intently desired. When troops ambush him and his men, he simply requests a fair duel and asks that his men be spared. But three arrows pierce his body (one of them goes through his face), and Criston meets his maker in the most...unremarkable manner. Not all wishes are fulfilled; not everybody receives a hero's death. It's hard not to feel a little sorry for Criston. Then again, such sudden death scenes were one of the main attractions of Game of Thrones, and House of the Dragon could use more of them. I remember how early Game of Thrones, at its peak, lured viewers into its world with the promise that no one was an impenetrable hero. There is a reason why Ned Stark's death in the first season of Thrones remains unforgettable even all these years later. I don't think Criston's demise is actually on that level, considering that, in retrospect, his emotional speech in "Unbowed and Unbent" looks like heavy-handed, sentimental foreshadowing. Nonetheless, House of the Dragon should embrace this casually shocking mode of killing off its characters. What's more, it should sharpen its blade further by applying this approach to major figures as well.

Another aspect of early Thrones that was memorable was its unabashed, raw depiction of sex—sex that was more animalistic than sensational, physically underlining the characters' primitive passions. The third season of House of the Dragon, so far, has been tamer than a PG movie in this respect. One can only imagine what erotic intensity Thrones would have unleashed through moments involving Alyn and Baela, and Alys and Aemond. In "Faceless Men," they merely kiss, and the show immediately cuts to the next scene as if feeling shy of raunchiness. Why so prudish? Why not let these humans express themselves through their moans and heaves and ecstatic thrusts? Their tongues would have been better used in this way because all the relentless talking and scheming eventually leaves you exhausted. All "Faceless Men" has going for it is the earnestness with which the actors deliver their lines. It offers little more than committed performances. As a result, the episode can be a chore to watch, even if you somewhat respond to moments like Ulf being yelled at by Daemon and Rhaenyra forcing Alicent to go to Harrenhal to draw out Aemond in exchange for her and Helaena's freedom. You can almost touch the strain—the growing rift between Rhaenyra and Alicent—thanks largely to Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke.

But what about poor Helaena? Her mental health continues to deteriorate, and you feel very, very sorry for her, given that she is living a life in which she has little to no choice in matters pertaining to her own needs and desires. She is confined within the castle like a prisoner. Helaena is clearly depressed. If she remains Rhaenyra's prisoner, trapped within four gloomy walls without agency or friends, it's possible she will end up dead. I can't imagine her growing old in captivity; she might commit suicide sooner or later. When that happens, you won't be shocked or surprised. You will simply be left with a mournful aftertaste. If not everybody dies a hero, then not everybody gets to live as one either.

Final Score - [4.5/10]