7 Times Pedro Pascal Was The Zaddy Of Our Dreams
There are few people on this Earth who can do no wrong. In the Era of Very Online Armchair Critics, even the most likeable celebrities have been subjected to criticism one time for another — for not lingering long enough at a meet and greet; for embarking on one of the most profligate and performative space flights in history.
Wait, nevermind, that second thing has never happened to a likeable celebrity. Anyway, I would venture that only two celebrities in the world are fully immune to the layperson critiques of armchair cultural critics. One of those celebrities is already dead: Mother Theresa. The other is Pedro Pascal.
Pedro Pascal, a.k.a. The Internet’s Zaddy, is one of the greatest treasures that the human race has ever produced. He’s modest, charming, relatable, and compassionate, and he’s about to star in one of the summer’s biggest movies: The Fantastic 4: First Steps. In celebration of his unattainable perfection, let’s revisit his zaddiest pop culture moments.
1. Viper Zaddy
Pascal became an immediate sensation when he burst onto the Game of Thrones scene as Oberyn Martell. As the charismatic, deadly, and unapologetically queer Red Viper, he commanded every scene he was in while oozing sex appeal, driving even the straightest of men into bicurious panics. Later, when he met one of the show’s most brutal and graphic demises at the hands of The Mountain, fans were so upset that they threatened to boycott the show. Clearly, Pascal had won people’s hearts, and would have a very bright future.
2. Mandalorian Zaddy
Even though he was hidden behind a helmet on The Mandalorian, Pascal still radiated zaddy energy as the fiercely protective guardian of Baby Yoda. Pascal’s voice alone sent viewers into a tizzy, spawning numerous memes, TikToks, and thirst tweets. Pascal knew it, too, and flirted with every journalist and cameraperson that he encountered during the show’s press tours. When he later moved on to more visible roles, he had already solidified his role as a sex symbol.
3. Lying Zaddy
Vanity Fair lie detector tests have produced some of the most chaotic pop culture moments in history. You can safely assume that any celebrity taking one will reveal something delightfully absurd about themselves, often in the form of a clickbait headline. Needless to say, Pascal’s 2022 lie detector test did not disappoint. When the actor was asked if he thought that he was a heartthrob, he modestly said, “I don’t think I am.” The lie detector then said otherwise, catching the actor redhanded in the most adorable way.
4. Caffeinated Zaddy
In many cases, Very Online People might express concern if they were to see a celebrity cradling a venti coffee with six shots of espresso. But when paparazzi caught Pedro Pascal with the aforementioned order — an order that armchair scientists claimed contained 384 milligrams, an amount that could fuel an entire softball team — Pascalites fell in love with their idol even more. Imagine if someone saw Britney Spears with six shots of espresso! They’d take away all her knives.
5. Wonder Zaddy
As Max Lord, the wish-granting zaddy of Wonder Woman 1984, Pascal injected much-needed energy into an otherwise inconsequential movie. Pascal’s exchange with Gal Gadot as she bellows at him semi-frantically from atop his car has become infamous. He somehow sensed that her performance would be read as camp and met her halfway. Whether she realized this at the time is up for debate.
6. Ally Zaddy
Pascal is among that rarefied group of A-List Hollywood actors who doesn’t engage in performative allyship. His support of queer people, and especially his trans sister, is deeply personal and fully sincere. We’ll never forget the Instagram caption he shared after his younger sister Lux came out as trans in 2021: “Mi hermana, mi corazón, nuestra Lux.” (“My sister, my heart, our Lux.”) Since then, he has continued to casually boost trans voices and practice effective allyship while standing up to homophobes and transphobes around the world. Y’all, I dare you to find a better man.
7. The Last of Us Part Zaddy Part Two
There isn’t much to say about Pascal’s work in The Last of Us that hasn’t already been said. Though initially gruff and reticent as Joel, Pascal ultimately captured the hearts of viewers as his character slowly evolved into a father figure for young Ellie. Once it was time for him to leave the show, it became such a major gut punch that many fans claimed they would never recover. That’s just the power of Pascal. That’s just the power of Zaddy. Surely, more great things are to come — and Fantastic 4 is just the … sorry in advance … first step.
