Summary
Pedro Pascalhas very quickly become one of Hollywood’s most reliable names in the film industry, but the actor actually provided some of his most underrated work long before he was a movie star in the TV show,Narcos. The Netflix series follows a DEA agent who is sent to Colombia on an undercover mission to capture the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. AlthoughNarcoschanged a lot from real life, the show is bothan entertaining and informative insight into this part of history, bolstered by Pascal’s lead performance.
While there are manypopular shows about drug lords,Narcosmanaged to go even further than its competition by interweaving real-life figures and historically accurate narratives into the story that gave it a whole new level of realism. This contributed strongly to the show’s initial success, but as the seasons progressed, it wasPascal’s commanding screen presencethat had me coming back for more.Narcosmay be his most underrated role, but it’s the one that told me he was going to be a real star.
Narcos Mexico S3 Cast Guide: All New & Returning Characters
Narcos: Mexico season 3 sees the drug war escalate as Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo’s empire splinters. Who are the new players in the game?
Pedro Pascal’s Javier Was One Of The Best Things About Narcos
His Character Quickly Became A Fan-Favorite
The decision to haveNarcostake place through the lens of a DEA agent in Colombia is such a fascinating one, and that’s what sets it apart from the crowd. Shows likeBreaking BadorOzarkare excellent in their own right, but having the main characters so involved in the criminal world keeps the audience at a certain distance from them.Javier’s unique situation inNarcosalways had me rooting for him, with the show constantly putting him in dangerous situations that make you question how he’s going to make it out alive.
Javier is a perfect example of how to make a likable protagonist effectively. While he’s certainly flawed, these flaws make him so relatable and enjoyable to watch - buthis mission is almost always noble. It’s impossible to ascertain whether he’s a typical “good guy” or “bad guy”, and that’s because he isn’t truly either. Pascal’s performance walks the line between these two ends of morality with expert precision, stealing the show every time he appears.Javier’s departure fromNarcosin season 3was a huge loss, solidifying Pascal as a staple of the show.
Pedro Pascal’s Narcos Character Was Even More Important In Season 3
Javier Got More Important As The Show Progressed
Although he left the show soon afterward, season 3 was undoubtedlyNarcos’ best exploration of Javier as a character. He had always been the protagonist, but the show’s third season removed many of the distractions that were pulling attention away from his storyline and made him the clear focus of the narrative, revealing the story almost exclusively from his perspective. From here, I only connected with the character even more, as the show explored more of his backstory and gave his unique perspective on the ongoing conflicts.
Without…subplots to distract from Javier’s story, the show felt much more focused and linear […]
The main reason for this increase in Javier’s importance was the absence of Wagner Moura and Boyd Holbrook from the show, who had previously played Pablo Escobar and Steve Murphy respectively. Without their subplots to distract from Javier’s story, the show felt much more focused and linear, with a clear purpose to develop this character and make him even more complex than he already was. This is whenNarcosreally started to feel like Pedro Pascal’s own show, andthe actor’s true potential became clear.
Oberyn Martell Was Awesome, But Narcos Showed Pascal Was A Star
Game Of Thrones Was Just A Stepping Stone
WhileNarcoswas Pascal’s first major leading role, many audiences may creditGame of Throneswith being the project that first proved the actor’s superstar potential. In HBO’s fantasy drama, Pascal played the character of Oberyn Martell, a prince from the southern kingdom of Dorne who sought revenge on the King’s family for the murder of his sister and her children. Clearly,Game of Thronesis among Pascal’s best shows, but Oberyn was only a supporting character. It wasn’t untilNarcosthat he was given the chance to prove that he could lead a major project.
Oberyn Martell appeared in season 4 ofGame of Thrones.
SinceNarcos,Pascal’s career has taken a new trajectory altogether, with the actor appearing in some of the biggest movie franchises of all time.The Mandalorianwas an enormous success, then he entered the DCEU as Maxwell Lord inWonder Woman 1984, and later he became the face of HBO’sThe Last of Usseries.Pedro Pascal will even make his MCU debutas Reed Richards inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. The actor has clearly become one of Hollywood’s biggest names since his departure fromNarcos,and none of it would’ve been possible without that show.
Narcos
Cast
Narcos is a crime drama series that chronicles the war against Colombia’s notorious drug cartels. Released in 2015, it explores the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar and other key figures in the drug trade, delving into the complex operations and intense law enforcement efforts to dismantle their empires.
