Criston Cole made a huge mistake showcasing Meleys's head in House of the Dragon

The smallfolk did not like seeing Meleys’s head dragged through the streets in House of the Dragon. It marks the beginning of the end of the dragons, and it was a huge mistake by Ser Criston Cole.

Cole wanted to show off the victory at Rook’s Rest. He wanted the people to celebrate the win. Instead, they stood in silence as they watched the head of the dragon being brought through. It was a stark change to the way they mourned the loss of Prince Jaehaerys just episodes earlier.

The people viewed the dragon head as a bad omen in House of the Dragon

As Cole led the parade, we could hear people say how it was a bad omen. This wasn’t something they supported, marking a turn against the Greens.

Cole is surprised. He asks Alicent’s brother if the people realize that they won the Battle at Rook’s Rest. Alicent’s brother remarks that it was a strange victory. And it was. They all watched as Aegon and Sunfyre fell from the sky. They lost people on the ground as dragons landed on top of them and burned them to a crisp.

On top of that, the dragons have been revered by people for a long time. They are a symbol of the Targaryen dynasty, and here are people dragging the head of one through the streets.

Criston Cole has set up the end of the dragons in House of the Dragon

This moment makes it clear to the smallfolk that the dragons can be killed. Sure, scorpions have been used in the past to take them down, but making them isn’t easy. And someone has to have the best aim. The heads of those dragons have never been shown off to the people. People have mourned the deaths of the dragons.

Now Cole is setting up the storyline that will see many dragons lose their lives. As people grow restless and angry, there are sure to be riots. This could lead to the storming of the Dragonpit, which will see the end of the dragons in there.

Had Cole not done this, people would still constantly fear the dragons. Cole made a huge mistake, and he will end up having to pay for it. Sadly, it’s the other dragons who will.