Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones remains Pedro Pascal’s best role

Pascal radiated coolness on Game of Thrones

One of the first things viewers notice about Oberyn when he arrives in King’s Landing is his penchant for sexual encounters of all kinds. In a show where graphic nudity, orgies, and incest play a major role in the aesthetic of each hour, Oberyn’s sexuality exuded a much more comfortable, liberating vibe. Pascal’s tempestuous rizz made it cool to be bisexual and pansexual on TV at a time when there were far fewer LGBTQ+ characters on mainstream networks. Just look at his introductory scene, where he jokes with the women who work at the brothel, followed by flirtatious advances toward Olyvar (Will Tudor).

Considering how often Pascal is a hot topic on social media, his unique talent in portraying Oberyn has certainly helped establish and perpetuate his current hot reputation. Like a rock star of yore, he sidesteps homophobia and ignorant bigotry towards queerness by inverting expectations of same-sex attraction. People who don’t understand love between men sometimes spread the story that the act is perverse or unnatural. Pascal’s unwavering confidence in portraying a non-heterosexual character helped shape his legacy as a malleable sex symbol and potential shining star early on.

While rumors circulate that he is gay in real life, Pascal doesn’t let his fans pressure him into addressing his sexuality, as his performances in his shows and films speak loud and clear of his passion for supporting LGBTQ+. The mere fact that someone as famous as Pascal plays around with different positions of the sexual spectrum on screen breaks down walls for future gay and bisexual actors. Add to that his staunch defense of his trans sister Lux, and you have an actor who is impeccably adept at navigating the intricacies of the industry and has the intangibles required for megastar status.

Pascal’s text delivery is flawless

The best star actors are often those who start out in small roles because that allows them to practice the little things that make someone great. Pascal’s ability to deliver a single line in the middle of a scene that otherwise has nothing to do with him is particularly admired by TV and film geeks. Prince Oberyn has one of the sharpest tongues in the world. game of Thronesand his honesty often contrasted with the fake songs and dances of other characters in Westeros, such as Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Aidan Gillen).

Take Tyrion’s (Peter Dinklage) trial in Season 4, for example. In the middle of a tense monologue from Shae (Sibel Kekilli) in which she says Tyrion wants her to “fuck him like it’s his last night on earth,” Oberyn retorts, “So, did you?” His persistence in forcing Shae to pursue her claim while others didn’t give it a second thought lent levity to a crucial exchange and cemented his character’s sexual essence. When someone stands out in a clip that has nothing to do with them, people should take note that the actor might be worth more than just a cameo.

Pascal’s fantastic skills as an action actor

In all of the above The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, Narcosand the upcoming Gladiator II And The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Pedro Pascal usually fits the action genre like a glove. He fights intergalactic enemies while rescuing an alien baby, mows down his opponents to save his surrogate daughter from a deadly operation, and fights drug dealers and cartel opponents in episodes. Without his unforgettable exit scene on game of Throneshowever, Pascal may never have shown the world how bombastic he is when the action reaches the level of a summer popcorn flick.