House Of The Dragon’s Arya Stark Replacement Looks Likely To Steal One Of Season 3’s Most Satisfying Death Moments

July 30, 2025

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Warning: Includes MAJOR SPOILERS for Fire & Blood that could play out in House of the Dragon season 3!

House of the Dragon season 3’s Arya Stark replacement character might steal one of the most satisfying death moments. House of the Dragon season 3’s filming is well underway, meaning a 2026 release date is likely for the title. Following season 2’s mixed reviews, the upcoming release will face challenging pressure, and battles are in high demand.

As was the case with season 2’s Battle of Rook’s Rest, battles in the Game of Thrones franchise mean character deaths, and a number of prominent figures are likely to face their end in season 3. Among those is Ser Criston Cole, who dies from a longbow arrow shot at the Butcher’s Ball.

Today, House of the Dragon’s season 3 cast gained a new member, as actress Annie Shapero was added to the ensemble as fan-favorite Alysanne Blackwood. Alysanne is the future wife of Cregan Stark and stands out as a female warrior who commits great deeds during the Dance of the Dragons.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Skipped Alysanne Blackwood’s Killing Of Amos Bracken

Alysanne Missed Her Archery Kill Opportunity In Season 2

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3, “The Burning Mill,” briefly exhibited the Battle of the Burning Mill, a bloody skirmish fought between House Blackwood and House Bracken in the Riverlands. These houses have been long-time rivals, and they used the Dance of the Dragons as an excuse to have at it.

This episode actually skipped over a pivotal moment in Fire & Blood, which is one of Alysanne’s first mentions. Ser Amos Bracken and Lord Samwell Blackwood engage in a duel, which the former wins. However, Bracken dies almost immediately after, when he’s shot through the eye with an arrow from Alysanne Blackwood, avenging her brother.

Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Syrax crying in House of the Dragon season 2

House of the Dragon season 3 needs to explain what happened to Harrold Westerling, and a notable character death could be why it brings him back.

While we’ve been introduced to some minor characters from the Brackens and Blackwoods, House of the Dragon season 2 offered no mention of this. In fact, Amos Bracken survived the battle, and Daemon Targaryen used Willem Blackwood to force Amos into a surrender later in the season.

Luckily, Amos Bracken isn’t the only character to die from an arrow in the Dance.

Many of Alysanne’s most unforgettable moments happen during the Hour of the Wolf, following the Dance of the Dragon’s conclusion. However, this is still a moment that defines her as a character earlier on, establishing her as a woman who subverts the status quo as a warrior, much like Arya Stark in Game of Thrones.

Given how much readers love Alysanne in the books, it seems crucial to give her an equally memorable moment at some point in season 3. Luckily, Amos Bracken isn’t the only character to die from an arrow in the Dance.

Alysanne Blackwood Could Kill Criston Cole In House Of The Dragon Season 3

Another Archery Kill Opportunity Is Left Vacant

Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) being threatened by Ser Gwayne's sword in House of the Dragon season 2 Episode 8 — Image via Max

Alysanne Blackwood missed her opportunity for a dramatic, badass introduction, but I believe House of the Dragon will set her up for something even better. The actress has been cast to appear in five of the season’s eight episodes, meaning she’ll be around for a majority of the season.

During the Dance of the Dragons, Alysanne commands archers in the Battle of the Kingsroad, but that likely won’t be until season 4. If she’s going to be doing anything this season, it will likely be aiding the Riverlords and the Winter Wolves from the North, ultimately leading up to the Butcher’s Ball.

Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) looking concerned in House of the Dragon custom image

After two seasons without a key member of the Green faction, House of the Dragon season 3 will officially introduce a missing Targaryen.

In the book, Criston Cole attempts to pull his forces back from Harrenhal to join Ormund Hightower’s army from the Reach, but is intercepted by the Riverlands and Northern forces, led by Lord Roderick Dustin. Actor Tommy Flanagan was previously announced to be joining House of the Dragon season 3’s cast as Lord Dustin.

This battle is a one-sided victory for the Blacks, and Criston Cole is shot to death with arrows from Red Robb Rivers. Notably, Robb Rivers has not been cast, leaving a vacancy for this moment. My theory is that Alysanne Blackwood will be the one to deliver the killing blow against Cole.

Alysanne Blackwood Is The Perfect Arya Stark Replacement

Alysanne Is A Future Stark

Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) sailing to Braavos in Game of Thrones season 4, episode 10

George R.R. Martin’s stories are often cyclical, particularly when it comes to the Dance of the Dragons and the War of the Five Kings. There are numerous characters we’ve made comparisons between, such as Cole and Jaime, Alicent and Cersei, and Larys and Littlefinger. Alysanne Blackwood is the Dance’s Arya Stark.

Crucially, Alysanne Blackwood is a Stark, at least by name. Following the war’s ending, she and Cregan Stark meet and wed, and she becomes a rather legendary figure in the mythology of Martin’s world, beloved by fans for her story during the Dance.

Despite being wed to the Lord of Winterfell, Alysanne Blackwood is not the ancestor of the Starks in Game of Thrones.

Killing Criston Cole wouldn’t just be a terrific moment for Alysanne, it would also establish another connection between her and Arya. For better or for worse, Game of Thrones season 8 saw Arya killing the Night King, a blow that ends the Long Night. Killing Cole isn’t as pivotal to the Dance, but it’s still a hefty moment.

Criston Cole is the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, one of the Greens’ greatest military leaders, and Aegon’s Hand of the King. Even more importantly to House of the Dragon audiences, he’s the most hated character in the series, and his death will be a significant, game-changing moment for the show.