‘HOTD’ E5: Twitter Thread Compares Daemon And Criston Cole’s Toxic Masculinity And Violent Tendencies
House Of The Dragon episode 5 was quite a roller coaster. So many things happened in the 59-minute-long episode that I am sure I will have to watch it all over again to digest all that went down in it. From a show of power and emotions taking control to major secrets being revealed and a hastened royal wedding, all these events summarise the episode titled ‘We Light The Way’. Plus, a key takeaway for me from this episode was never to let my emotions take over otherwise it would result in a mess. Quite literally.
On that note, I came across a Twitter thread that talked about the emotional range the men in House Of The Dragon have and how it resulted in a bloody mess as well. The Twitter user who goes by the handle @heathen_king wrote about how both Daemon and Criston Cole in episode 5 were insulted but how differently they both reacted to it. Starting the thread by talking about toxic masculinity, the user wrote that these men get petty emotions ‘get the best of them’.
there’s something to be said for this #HotD episode being bookended by skullsmashings by men whose petty emotions get the best of them. it’s almost like toxic masculinity is a helluva thing.
— heathen king (@heathen_king) September 19, 2022
Giving more insight, the Twitter user talked about how Daemon was insulted by his own wife but we do not get to see him murdering her. His action of picking up the stone to smash Rhea’s head is only implied in the next scene which shows a fisherman chopping a fish’s head off. But on the contrary, Criston Cole is provoked by Joffrey Lonmouth, the Knight Of Kisses. As the nobles and princesses start dancing at the feast, Joffery confronts Criston and tells him that Laenor Velaryon is as special to him as Rhaenyra is to Cole. He also says that if they can keep each other’s secrets, all parties involved in this will remain ‘safe’.
we also see the insult that provokes Daemon, but we don’t see the culmination of the violent act. we don’t see what, if anything beyond their initial conversation, provokes Criston, but we do see the violence.
SYMMETRY
— heathen king (@heathen_king) September 19, 2022
The Twitter user also draws a comparison between the insults that both Daemon and Criston receive. he says that Daemon was insulted by his own wife who goes on to question his masculinity while Criston feels insulted when Lonmouth talks about his deed with Rhaenyra which he finds shameful. Shameful because Cole feels he has dirtied the armour and the cloak by breaking his oath of maintaining celibacy.
and the insult that provokes Daemon is about his manhood, while criston’s violence results from someone else commenting on his transgressions which bring him shame
— heathen king (@heathen_king) September 19, 2022
Also read: ‘House Of The Dragon’ Ep 5: The Colour Of Queen Alicent’s Gown For The Royal Wedding Signals Major Power Play And Upcoming War
The last tweet in the thread talks about how Daemon cleverly murdered his wife in a location that did not bear any witness. But Criston Cole openly commits a murder in front of all the guests at the feast.
also, daemon murders his wife in a location with no witnesses. criston murders lonmouth in front of hundreds of witnesses.
— heathen king (@heathen_king) September 19, 2022
This thread did a good job at drawing our attention to our favourite characters’ toxic traits. It also helped me understand how both Daemon and Criston Cole were primarily acting out due to their bruised egos yet, how very different the nature of their violence was. While one chose to murder in secret so that his image would not tarnish any further while another killed in front of the king throwing all care about his reputation out of the window. Such contrasting ironies is making the show worthwhile to watch.
