That Pascal, so hot right now. (Zoolander …)
If you’ve been paying attention, there’s been one name that has been growing in popularity more and more with each passing year: Pedro Pascal. Originally a theater actor, Pascal burst onto the scene in 2014 in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, and his career took off from there.
One attribute that sets Pascal above the rest is his palpable appreciation for the opportunities he has. There is so much joy, respect, and pure gratitude that is evident in every performance that it shines through and lights up the screen, making his work that much more enjoyable to watch.
So, without further ado, here are six Pedro Pascal projects available to stream right now in the US.
Game of Thrones – HBO Max
We should start off with the man’s favorite role, Prince Oberyn Martell, from Game of Thrones. The Red Viper of Dorne was introduced and unfortunately also met his untimely demise in season 4 episode 8 of the wildly popular series. He commanded the screen with his irresistible swagger and barbed tongue, leaving a lasting mark with his unfortunately short stint on the show.
Pascal credits this role as the one that began his trajectory to the level of stardom we’ve come to recognize him in, a role he’s handled with such grace and ease that it’s almost shocking to realize just how recently he became a household name.
Don’t worry, we all know that Oberyn really did win that fight against the Mountain. He got the last laugh, which is exceptionally fitting for the character.
The Mandalorian – Disney+
Probably the role Pascal is best known for is the bounty hunter Din Djarin from the first-ever live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian. While Grogu is a scene-stealer, why lie, Pascal’s portrayal of his reluctant-at-first space dad is just as, if not more, endearing.
The most remarkable aspect of Pascal’s portrayal is how effortlessly he conveys emotions through his Mandalorian helmet, which must stay on per the Mandalorian Creed, more specifically that of the Children of the Watch. Pascal has made Din one of the most beloved Star Wars characters of all time with nothing but his voice work, creating this remarkable character’s entire persona on diction alone. A task that is certainly no easy feat, but Pascal has made it look nothing less than effortless.
Season 3 of The Mandalorian is incoming. Filming wrapped on the season earlier this year.
Narcos – Netflix
Based on a true story, Pascal’s role as DEA Agent Javier Peña in Netflix’s Narcos was his next biggest role following his successful run in Game of Thrones. Pascal helmed all three of the series’ seasons, with the first two alongside Boyd Holbrook before taking over as the man in charge in season 3.
Stoic, headstrong, and willing to stop at nothing to catch the narcos of Colombia, Pascal played Peña as the dangerously flawed and impeccably dressed DEA hero that helped take down Pablo Escobar. Peña was a character bogged down by secrets and a whole lot of self-loathing, and Pascal managed to portray all of his layers through nothing but facial expression at times, one of his specialties.
Triple Frontier – Netflix
Triple Frontier features exactly what the world wants and deserves, an Isaacal team-up. Pascal stars alongside real-life BFF Oscar Isaac, along with Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, and Garrett Hedlund.
Triple Frontier follows the five-man team on a mission that goes very wrong and they’ll have to rely on each other and their skills if they’re to make it out alive. Pascal plays the pilot Frankie “Catfish” Morales, who happens to be one in the group that has some sense about him. As with every role Pascal plays, his charisma shines through to make Catfish one of the most enigmatic of the bunch, and it’s just plain fun to watch.
As someone who doesn’t typically love heist movies, this one had my attention fully. Plus, we can’t ever say no to Oscar Isaac and Pedro Pascal sharing the screen, it’s against the code. This is the way.
Prospect – Hulu
If you like indie films, Prospect is the one for you. Pascal plays Ezra, a dangerous stranger who finds a teenage girl, Cee, and her father on a strange planet. It’s dystopian, otherworldly, and an absolute wild space western from start to finish, with some stunning cinematography along the way.
Ezra’s character arc is one of the highlights of the film. Pascal is a master of playing complex characters and taking viewers on a nuanced journey as he develops them throughout the course of the project. Where Ezra begins is not the same man we see at the end of the film, and for Pascal to metamorphose Ezra in this short of a period took someone who is very skilled at their craft.
One important aspect of Pascal’s role in Prospect is the care he put into crafting Ezra and what drew him to the role. He loved Ezra’s dialogue, as it reminded him of the Shakespearean plays he’d performed, which is something that one wouldn’t expect of Pascal’s acting history referencing the larger roles he’s played. Plus, that blond patch of hair was all his idea and while director Zeek Earl might not have been a fan, we are.
The Bubble – Netflix
In Judd Apatow’s newest film, The Bubble, Pascal plays actor Dieter Bravo, and to meet him is to love him. Pascal himself curated the look of this character himself, wardrobe, Crocs, and all.
Stuck in a Covid bubble as they film the sixth installment of a drowning science fiction series, Dieter is certainly the liveliest and, well, oddest of the bunch. Dieter brings some of the biggest laughs in the film, all thanks to Pascal’s unhindered and wild portrayal of all of Dieter’s antics. The Bubble really showcased that Pascal has every ingredient necessary for a perfect comedic performance, especially in timing and line delivery, which are two unsung skills of comedy acting.
With The Bubble, it only showcased another valuable tool in Pascal’s seemingly bottomless toolkit. This project proved he can excel in any genre, and while we’re not sure why it took so long for him to land a big comedic role, hopefully there’s no stopping more landing on his doorstep.
Bonus:
- Blood Sucking Bastards – Prime Video: Pascal’s first intro to comedy on the big screen!
- We Can Be Heroes – Netflix: This is perfect to watch with the kids as Pascal plays the superhero dad to a legendary daughter who goes on to save the world.
- Wonder Woman 1984 – HBO Max: It’s Pedro Pascal in a superhero movie, say no more.
Pascal’s next project, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, premieres exclusively in theaters April 22. Check out our review if you’re on the fence! After that, we can look forward to The Last of Us, a series based on the popular video game at HBO, and of course, The Mandalorian season 3, both of which are currently in production.
For a deeper dive into some of Pascal’s non-Mandalorian projects, check out this article! Also, something as equally important as exploring his work is exploring his mustaches, so see how we Scoville-ranked each of his movie appearances.
