Pedro Pascal Will Give The Best Performance Of His Career So Far In Just A Few Months

Pedro Pascal's performance as Joel in The Last of Us season 2 looks to be even better than in season 1, which was already hailed as one of his best roles. Pascal had mostly had single-episode parts in TV shows before getting his career break in Game of Thrones as the charming but overconfident Oberyn Martell. Since then, while he has significantly branched out, Pedro Pascal's best movies and TV shows were very action-driven. The Last of Us took his talent to a new place, showing his more serious range while playing to his strengths.

Thanks to Mando and Grogu, Pedro Pascal also became known for playing dads, and The Last of Us uses his skill at playing fatherly roles as the basis for some truly harrowing scenes. His character, Joel, loses a daughter early in the show before reluctantly gaining another one in Ellie. The role would likely be a challenge for any actor given how popular the games are, but Pedro Pascal was the perfect Joel. The Last of Us season 2 looks set to build on his success in season 1, with Pascal likely giving his best performance yet.

Joel's First Scenes In The Last Of Us Season 2 Will Give Pedro Pascal A Lot To Work With

The Last Of Us Part II Gives Joel Some Powerful Scenes

As Joel has been keeping a large secret from Ellie while trying to keep her safe, the moment when the truth is exposed provokes a range of emotions from both main characters in The Last of Us Part II. This mix of guilt, fear, pain, and helplessness will give Pedro Pascal a lot to work with in this scene alone. That's not to mention the scene where Joel tells Tommy what happened, which is how Part II opens. Additionally, Joel will certainly be in many The Last of Us flashbacks set between seasons 1 and 2.

Joel might even have a larger role in The Last of Us season 2 than he does in the game. The potential flashbacks in The Last of Us season 2 can allow Pedro Pascal to have an even bigger presence and build Joel's relationships with the other characters. The trailer has implied that he may only have a few scenes, but each will be significant, with two heartbreaking discussions certain to feature. When Ellie discovers Joel's secret, their emotional discussion is a key point in the story, just like his confession to Tommy. These are all moments that will allow Pascal to shine.

Pedro Pascal Will Show Even More Of His Range As Joel In The Last Of Us Season 2

The Last Of Us Season 2 Might Top Pedro Pascal's Best Episode In Season 1

Joel is a character that has the fate of humanity under his control and makes the "egoistic" choice, which gives Pascal several opportunities to show his range. The Last of Us season 2 sees Joel fighting his guilt over potentially depriving humanity of a cure for the virus just to save Ellie. The Last of Us season 2 may be different from the game, but the trailer shows that one major scene will appear in both. Joel tells Tommy, "I saved her," while confessing what he did, which could be one of the most emotional scenes of Pedro Pascal's career.

Pedro Pascal's best Joel scene in The Last of Us season 1 displays his talent for showing conflicting emotions. Pascal's Joel is more vulnerable than the video game character, making him more relatable. Freezing when afraid, as Joel sometimes does, is a natural response, and Joel's more vulnerable scenes were some of season 1's best. When Joel tells Tommy about his massacre, this could be an even more intense moment for Pascal, topping season 1's powerful scenes and potentially making The Last of Us season 2 his best performance yet.