Although his paternal roles go back many years, Pedro Pascal has become his own kind of archetype when it comes to playing a dad in Hollywood. After making his big break as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones In 2014, Pascal has only continued to rise to fame more and more, which has created many exciting opportunities for him. After his debut as the Star Wars Father and titular character of The MandalorianDean Jirin, most of these opportunities see Pascal playing a dad – usually, a single dad who reluctantly agrees to protect someone.
Although all the father roles that Pascal plays are quite different from one another, The list is ranked based on how good of a father the characters actually are. It’s worth noting that there are several dad roles that Pascal has previously played that are not included, simply because they are brief appearances made on network television shows. Pascal is expected to play a father in the Marvel Cinematic Universe like Reed Richards, but until the performance debuts, Reed will not be included in the list. Which leaves these 10 dad roles, ranked from worst to best.
10
Dave York
The Equalizer 2 (2018)
Long before the two joined forces for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator IIPascal appeared in an antagonistic role with Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 2Where his character’s actions certainly pose a danger, his own children. Although there is not much focus on who Dave York was as a father, he is seen with his family in at least one scene, and his other actions speak for him. Washington’s former partner Robert McCall at the DIA, Dave and his associates have since become contract killers, with Dave even killing Robert’s close friend to keep the secret.
Robert confronts Dave in his house when he becomes suspicious of what Dave is doing, and that in itself is a silent threat and a terrible reminder that Robert knows where he and his family live. Instead, Dave doubles down on what he’s doing, and he even kidnaps a teenager like Leverage to lure Robert out and attempt to kill him. Anyone who would put their children at risk like this, or risk other children in the process, is not a good parentNot a good person either. Pascal plays the character well, but the father is certainly last on the list.
9
Maxwell “Max” Sir
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Next is Pascal’s antagonistic DC Universe role, as Max Lord’s motives concern him more than his son. As someone with a poor, abusive upbringing, Max wants nothing more than success, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it. With his business on the verge of bankruptcy, Max goes after an ancient artifact said to grant wishes, and he takes on the stone’s powers. The more he gets people to make wishes, the more powerful he becomes, although the process is also killing him at the same time.
Through it all, Max’s son, Alistair (Lucian Perez), is fighting for his father’s attention – and not to deserve it. Max feels as if he has to prove himself to his son, but all his son wants is to love his father and be loved in return. Max’s actions even inadvertently put Alistair in dangerAs he was left abandoned in the midst of the chaos that resulted from Max allowing the whole world to grant their wishes. It takes the whole series of events for Max to understand this, and while their reunion is sweet, it still can’t erase everything.
8
Ezra
Prospect (2018)
The role Pascal plays as Ezra in the indie sci-fi movie Prospect is much more than his familiar archetype of paternal roles, with him going from a stranger to a fierce protector of a child. in ProspectEzra ends up killing Cy (Sophie Thatcher)’s father in a tense showdown between ambitious prospectors, and The two of them instead end up on a journey that leads to them growing closer. Cee and Ezra’s relationship starts out conditional at best, due to the terms of how they met, but by the end, they become a reluctant father-daughter duo.
Ezra certainly does not start out as the ideal father figure. Killing Cee’s father in an attempted robbery is wrong, and then trying to kill Cee afterwards proves as much. Their dynamic, however, changes for the better, symbolized by the moment when Si helps Ezra to amputate his arm that was infected by the shot she took on him when he first tried to kill her. Losing the arm meant losing their past, and instead, they move forward to survive together. Ezra still did many wrong things about Cy, which keeps him lower on the list.
7
Silva
Strange Way of Life (2023)
Although the focus of Strange way of life Is about Silva’s relationship with Jake (Ethan Hawke), not his son Joe (George Stane), Silva’s relationship with his son is still an important part of what happens in Pedro Almodovar’s short film. As the sheriff of a wild west town, Jake is in pursuit of Silva’s son, who is the suspect of a murder – the murder of Jake’s brother’s widow. Silva comes to town to visit Jake specifically, his old friend and lover he hasn’t seen in 25 years, and Jake blames the visit on Silva’s desire to protect his son.
Silva, however, is completely unaware of what his son has done, but he immediately goes to confront him. Silva chooses Joe for what he’s done, and he even pulls his shotgun on him to protect Jake. Still, even as Silva demands that his son leave forever, He protects his son as any good father would, preventing Jake from killing him when his back is turned. Although Silva probably should have kept better tabs on what his son was up to, he does what he can to rectify it, giving him an average place on the list.
6
Francisco “Som” Morales
Triple Frontier (2019)
Interestingly, Pascal’s role as Frankie in Netflix Triple Frontier Never shows him with his child, although the child is mentioned several times – and the way he treats his friends informs how he is like a father. There’s no denying the fact that out of his group of five close friends from his Delta Force Squad, Frankie is the “daddy friend.” He is the one who keeps them on task, offers advice, and even gives a necessary thanks to Santiago (Oscar Isaac) for covering a round of drinks, despite the little white lies Santiago has told them about their mission.
Everything Frankie does in the movie, like his fellow friends, is because He is driven by one clear motive: to provide for his newborn baby and the mother. In the midst of this, Frankie focuses his protective fatherly senses on his friends, which drives him to say and do some questionable things near the end of the movie when their survival begins to look bleak. Regardless, Frankie never actively puts his little family at risk, even if he risks himself in the process. This also earns Frankie an average spot on the list, with other fathers certainly beating him.
5
Oberyn Martel
game of thrones (2014)
Although, again, Oberyn is never actually seen with his children in Game of ThronesThe dialogue and the story tell enough about who he is as a father. His protection and his feelings about his sister are enough to prove that; There is nothing he would not do for his eight daughtersEspecially if they would suffer a terrible fate like his sister. Oberyn dedicates practically every ambition he has after his sister’s death to avenging her, and even though it ultimately leads to his own fate, it proves how much he cares.
Unfortunately, Oberyn’s quest for revenge on his sister’s behalf leaves his eight daughters fatherless. This is a great tragedy in and of itself, especially since Oberyn beat his opponent before his thirst for revenge made him vulnerable to defeat. However, seeking justice for his sister is noble, and it is a very understandable perspective, but the fact that it had to come at the cost of his life, proves that it has, in a way, overshadowed his own children. Still, he was said to be a good father despite this, which puts him in an average place on the list.
4
Marcus Moreno
We Can Be Heroes (2020)
It should certainly be the case that Pascal’s paternal role in a children’s movie portrays him as a truly loving and caring father, and that’s exactly what Marcus Moreno does. After the passing of his daughter’s mother, Marcus makes a promise to his daughter that he will step away from his superhero life for good, in the interest of keeping himself safe so that she doesn’t risk losing him either. When aliens invade their world, however, Marcus has no choice but to spring into action, something he does regretfully. He, and all the other superhero parents, end up captured.
This leaves his daughter, Missy (YaYa Gosselin), to lead the group of superhero children to safety as they seek to free their parents. Although worried, Marcus quietly roots for her the whole time, despite the fact that Missy is the only one of them who has no power. Once Missy’s leadership and selflessness help the children save the day, Marcus assures her that these qualities are her true powers, which makes for a pretty heartwarming moment between the two. Marcus actually acts like a good father, which puts him just outside the top three on the list.
3
Pink the fox
The Wild Robot (2024)
This animated feature sees Pascal’s character, Fink the Fox, develop from a lone survivor to a caring father figure and true friend. Pretending to be reluctant, Fink helps the robot Rozzum “Rose” 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o) catch her Gosling, Brightbill (Keith Connor), who imprinted on her after an accident that saw her destroy the rest of the Gosling’s Family. Fink becomes an important part of Roz and Brightbill’s relationship by helping guide Roz through Brightbill’s upbringingAnd he also becomes very protective of Brightbill, even once threatening to eat other animals to protect him.
Although Fink still struggles with his nature to hold grudges against certain animals and pursue those below him on the food chain, his relationship with Brightbill and Roz truly transforms him. Fink has no desire to eat or harm Brightbill after Rose has made a shelter for all of them to share, instead focusing on Brightbill’s health as they prepare him to migrate. Fink still maintains his characteristic mischief, but he still puts Brightbill first, doing what he can to help him. This became one of Pascal’s most endearing dad roles, beaten by only two others.
2
Joel Miller
The Last of Us (2023-present)
As perhaps one of the most famous reluctant dad roles in history, Pascal’s portrayal of Joel Miller in HBO’s adaptation of The last of us Adds a tenderness to Joel that isn’t necessarily present in the video game. Joel, whose daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) was killed by soldiers the day the cordyceps outbreak started its recurrence, is tasked with getting a young, immune girl named Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey) across the country to find a cure for the Infection. This demanding journey brings the two together, causing Joel to care for her as he did his own daughter.
Their relationship is far from perfect, especially with Joel’s concerns about his ability to protect Eli constantly affecting him, but it develops into a nice dynamic over time. The last of us Season 1 finale arrives. Unfortunately, there is a shadow on this relationship now; Joel lied to Ellie about what he did in the hospital after he killed the fireflies to stop them from taking her life to attempt to make a cure. When this breaks, their relationship may crumble, but even this act demonstrates Joel’s true concern for Ellie. Only one other role is best for this.
1
Dean Djarin
The Mandalorian (2019-Present)
It is impossible to give the top spot to anyone except Dean Jirin, the titular character of The Mandalorian who dedicated his entire life to keeping his find, a “Bobby Yoda” named Grogo, safe. As a bounty hunter, Dean is originally tasked with capturing Grogu, but his heart begins to change when he realizes that Grogu is just a child. Dean, who lost his parents at a young age before being taken in by the Mandalorians, decides to go against the bounty hunter guild and go on the run with Grogo – an act that very quickly changes his entire life.
Now, three seasons of The Mandalorian later, Dean has proven time and time again that there is nothing he won’t do for Gragu. Dean breaks his Mandalorian Creed, which promised him never to remove his helmet in front of other living things, on two separate occasions just to protect Grogu. Right after that, Dean lets Grogu go with the Jedi Luke Skywalker, enduring the heartbreak to ensure Grogu’s needs are met. Fortunately, the pair have since reunited, and Dean has officially adopted Grogu as his own – cementing his place as Pedro PascalS best dad role.