Pedro Pascal's 10 Most Underrated Movie & TV Show Roles

Before Pedro Pascal was a Disney, HBO, and Marvel superstar, he paid his dues by building an impressive resume with a mix of interesting supporting roles. They may have been much less splashy and high-profile than Gladiator II or The Last of Us, but the quality of his work has always been visible. The actor has worked on many interesting projects since his on-screen debut in 1996, so when he finally became a household name, he'd had plenty of experience in both TV and film, in a variety of genres.

Some may consider his memorable role on Game of Thrones his breakout performance, but it took a few more years until Pascal was to lead big franchises. He joined established shows in smaller recurring parts, made cameos in big blockbusters, and took roles in projects that were well-reviewed but flew slightly under the radar. Narcos certainly helped show his ability to lead, and once The Mandalorian came around, his trajectory continued to grow. But, it's always great to be able to discover an actor;s back catalog, and Pedro Pascal has a great list of past roles to explore.

10Nurse Jackie (2009-2015)

As Steve

Pascal did his fair share of guest spots on well-known TV shows. From Nikita to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, he was prolific in gaining experience and exposure at the same time. Nurse Jackie was a big critical success when it came out, and medical dramas were certainly having a moment at the time, so appearing in its second season was a big deal. With Edie Falco sweeping the awards circuit, having scenes with such an actor was a great way to learn more about the craft.

As a concerned father of a sick child, Pascal crammed a lot of emotion into a very short space of time. Sometimes the roles of patients and their families don't stand out among the other drama happening at the hospital, but in this case, that very drama was brought into the consultation room as well. It was a short and sweet, but earnest role that required a lot of reactive performance, especially in the scene with Falco and Peter Fascinelli.

9Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

As Maxwell Lord

Pascal's connection to the Wonder Woman universe is quite interesting. He was originally cast in the doomed reboot of the TV show which was set to be released in the 2010s, but was never aired and got scrapped before it even got off the ground properly. The cast featured some well-known talent, including Cary Elwes, Elizabeth Hurley, and Edward Herrman, but despite these names, audiences never got to see the final result. That's why it seemed serendipitous for Pascal to rejoin the franchise in the sequel to the DC film from 2017.

In Wonder Woman 1984, he plays one of the main antagonists of the film, pitting him against Gal Gadot's Diana Prince, and allowing him to showcase a slightly darker side. The film failed to replicate the success of its predecessor, and massively underperformed at the box office as well as with critics, but it's Pascal's role that is one of the best parts of the chaotic movie. It's clear that he is comfortable in the bad guy role, and it would be great to see more of that in the future.

8Graceland (2013-2015)

As Agent Juan Badillo

This underrated crime drama centers around a group of FBI agents at differing levels of experience, running undercover operations. Graceland starred Daniel Sunjata, Aaron Tveit, and Vanessa Ferlito, and though not a huge hit worldwide, it managed to tell some compelling and complicated stories over its three seasons. Pascal's role was to investigate a potentially corrupt agent which, unfortunately, did not end well for him.

It's worth revisiting the whole series, as the consequences of what happens to Agent Juan Badillo last more than the one season that he graced the screens for. The role, no doubt, prepared him for Narcos and future projects like Triple Frontier. It's very interesting to see the actor work seemingly in the background but then be given one of the more important moments of the show that leaves the viewers stunned.

7Prospect (2018)

As Ezra

Before he took on the spore-infected people in a post-apocalyptic world, aided by a precocious teen in The Last of Us, Pascal took on a group of mercenaries in a spore-infected world, assisted by a precocious teen in Prospect. While there may be some similarities in tone and themes, the story follows a very different trajectory. But, it also shows the paternal instincts that the actor conveys so well, and, alongside Sophie Thatcher, creates a dysfunctional yet genuinely compelling duo.

The premise of the film feels very original, and though it's complicated, it rewards viewers for sticking with it. As the characters switch allegiances and never fully trust each other, the danger of their surroundings brings them closer together to create a bond of reliance that is very important in the last act. While Pascal's role is prominent in the film, it didn't receive wide recognition or box office success, but still holds 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.

6Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

As Eddie

This role only lasted one episode but has remained a very popular character among Buffy fans. Pascal joined the show in season 4, as the Scooby Gang starts their college adventure. With Angel gone, and most of the other characters thriving in their new lives, Buffy herself feels lonely and left out as she meets the sweet and equally lost, Eddie. The two share a lengthy scene that, in typical Whedon fashion, is packed with funny dialogue and a genuine emotional connection.

Pascal's chemistry with Sarah Michelle Gellar was evident, he would have been a great addition to the Scoobies, and even in his vampire form, could have proven to be an interesting antagonist. But, it was not to be. Along with Sunday, another interesting character in the season 4 opener, Eddie only stuck around for one outing before he bit the dust. Yet it's a true testament to Pascal's presence on-screen that the memory of the character lasted long before the world got to experience more of the actor behind it.

5Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

As Whiskey

With the massive success of the first Kingsman film, it stood to reason that a sequel would be made. The violence and coarse language of Kingsman: The Secret Service was a shock to many audiences, but even though that element of surprise may have been gone, this second installment brought on a lot of exciting new characters, as well as a few familiar faces. Critics weren't quite as kind to the film, but the consensus was that Pascal is one of the best parts of it.

When viewers are introduced to the American version of the Secret Service agency, called Statesmen, there is a lot of fun to be had with leaning into stereotypes. The agents are named after alcoholic drinks, including Whiskey and Tequila, and their weapons of choice match the humor that had Colin Firth fight a pub full of thugs with an umbrella. Pascal, for example, has an electric lasso. There's a lot going on with this role, and it seems strange now that Pascal didn't even make the front of the promotional poster at the time.

4The Good Wife (2009-2016)

As Nathan Landry

In its heyday, The Good Wife was winning Emmys, Golden Globes, and various other awards, as well as having a dedicated viewership and critical success. The show was known for bringing back characters multiple times, across various seasons, and Pascal's role lasted throughout the first two seasons of the show. In perhaps one of his less likable roles, the actor was tasked with going against the main character but still managed to remain competent and respectable, despite viewers rooting for him to fail.

The courtroom scenes were always a highlight of this legal drama, and Nathan Landry has his fair share of scenes set around depositions and cross-examining. It's worth watching the show from the beginning because of the quality of its writing and great performances, and seeing a young Pedro Pascal in a suit is just a bonus.

3If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

As Pietro Alvarez

This role is only one scene, but it has so much impact on the whole story. Pascal was aware of the gravity of the interaction with Regina King's Sharon Rivers and delivered a powerful and layered performance in the three minutes he was given. Seeing as the film was directed by Barry Jenkins, who had just come off the incredible success of Moonlight, he was able to assemble a cast of very talented and established actors for this project.

That cast included Pascal, who was able to share an emotional scene with a future Academy Award winner King. The beauty of If Beale Street Could Talk lies in each scene creating a compelling story of its own, like almost self-contained vignettes that tie in together to show a broader picture. Because of that, there are no throwaway moments, and the acting is on point at all times.

2The Mentalist (2008-2015)

As Agent Marcus Pike

With so many criminal dramas around, The Mentalist was able to stand out with an original concept, season-spanning story arcs, and some very elaborate mysteries. Simon Baker is a very charismatic lead, and the Red John conundrum is deeply compelling. The show was a big success and featured many memorable guests and recurring characters who helped shape each season.

Pascal joined in season 6, playing a love interest to Robin Tunney's Teresa Lisbon, and with that, a romantic foil to her and Patrick Jane's relationship. It is a very important component that helps move along the romance between the two leads, that viewers had been cheering on since the very beginning. Pascal was able to cover quite a bit of ground in his seven-episode stint and cemented himself in the lasting lore of the show.

1The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

As Javi Gutierrez

When a film is as difficult to summarize as this one, it shows just how lucky audiences are to have access to original material that subverts expectations. The story surprises and entertains in equal measure while requiring undivided attention to be able to appreciate all the references and in-jokes. Nicolas Cage plays a fictionalized version of himself, who meets his number 1 fan, who also happens to be a billionaire and a suspected arms dealer. Pascal is stellar in this role.

The concept includes a lot of twists and many allusions to the film-within-a-film trope. It's a clear homage to the magic of making movies and lets Cage showcase his self-deprecating yet intense sense of humor. Pedro Pascal keeps up with him at every turn and navigates the layers of his own character well. While not a massive success, this film is truly fantastic to watch, and it's surprising how underrated it was at a time when both stars were riding a wave of popularity.