House of the Dragon: A Matter of Honor? That’s why Kriston Kraut kills SPOILERS

• The 5th episode “House of the Dragon” shows how the situation in the royal family deteriorates drastically.
• Especially Kriston Kraut, Rhaenyra’s bodyguard and secret affair, is involved in many actions.
• Out of shame and fear of the consequences of his actions, he kills the groom’s lover at Laenor and Rhaenyra’s wedding.

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In the 5th episode of “House of the Dragon” events came in quick succession. There was a marriage, a murder, an attempted suicide and a great betrayal. All of this has to do with one person: Ser Kriston Kraut (Fabien Frankel).

The trigger for his actions was the fateful affair that the Knight of the Kingsguard started with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock). In doing so, Kriston had broken his oath, for as a member of the Kingsguard one promises to honor the virtues of chivalry. This includes a vow of chastity.

In order to find a way for Rhaenyra and especially for himself to deal with this situation, he suggests that the heir to the throne run away together. But Rhaenyra cannot and will not escape her duty. She tells him instead that she made an agreement with her future husband. This allows Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate) to continue dating men and Rhaenyra to continue dating Kriston.

But her bodyguard reacts differently than hoped. In his eyes, with such an arrangement, he is just the “whore” of the princess. This contradicts his attempt to restore his honor. He turns his back on Rhaenyra and is torn with guilt. Out of desperation, he finds an unexpected ally in Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey). After he admits his guilt, she forgives him, because Alicent also feels betrayed by Rhaenyra.

At Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding, there is a final break between Kriston and the princess. When Laenor’s lover Ser Gottfrid Lonmund (Solly McLeod) asks him about his relationship with Rhaenyra, the knight sees red and attacks Gottfrid. In shame for his actions, Kriston decides to take his own life, but Alicent stops him before he can. In her he finds his savior.

Why does Kriston Kraut kill Gottfrid Lonmund?

Kriston is upset after his conversation with Rhaenyra. After revealing to him that she will not abdicate the throne for him, Kriston doesn’t know what to do. At the wedding of Laenor and the future Queen Rhaenyra, Gottfrid asks Kriston about his love affair with Targaryen. The knight feels caught. Not only because he feels like a “whore” by Rhaenyra, but also because he is reminded of his shame.

Kriston may have thought that Rhaenyra told Laenor or Gottfrid that he was her lover. He could also have simply felt caught and wanted to prevent his shame from coming to light with his act. Out of many emotions he attacked Gottfrid and killed him. He no longer wanted to be reminded of his deeds and wanted to free himself from his burdens and he did it by killing Laenor’s lover.

Why did Kriston want to take his own life?

After the murder of Gottfrid, Kriston decides to take his own life. When he became a member of the Kingsguard, he held the highest position anyone in his family was ever allowed to hold. With his affair and dishonorable murder of an innocent man, Kriston has gone against everything the Kingsguard stands for.

In his shame, he chooses not to face the consequences of his crime but to end his own life.

What does Alicent and Kriston’s alliance mean?

After Alicent decided not to punish Kriston for the affair and then stopped him from committing suicide, an alliance was formed between the two. Based on deep guilt, Kriston decides to stand by the queen’s side.

Both feel betrayed by Rhaenyra and threatened by the princess’ rule. Alicent fears for her children’s lives as they stand in the way of Alicent’s government, and Kriston blames Rhaenyra for breaking his oath.

After Otto Hohenturm (Rhys Ifans) was forced to leave King’s Landing at the behest of King Viserys I (Paddy Considine), Kriston becomes Alicent’s new confidante. We will see how deep their alliance is in the next episode. The new episodes of “House of the Dragon” appear every Monday on Sky Atlantic and the streaming provider Wow.