What's the Big Deal About Pedro Pascal?

Right now, as a person of the internet/pop culture world, you might be wondering "Who the heck is Pedro Pascal, and why is he absolutely everywhere?"

Or you might be one of us *cough*.

The Pedro underground. The stans. The grown women (and men, and all of us, don't get it twisted) making TikToks for their imaginary internet boyfriend. 

The teenagers coming into their hormones going scorched earth across all social media with endless inventive, addictive Pedro devotional content. Their obsession and desire knows no bounds. It starts out fun, it's like a little club. There's enough Pedro for everybody!

But before you know it you might find yourself exchanging Pedro messages with your only true confidantes in this illicit addiction, your fellow Pedro worshippers. I have mine, and we joke about it but also we worry. Is Pedro going to be ok with the pressures of this level of fame? Is it all too much?

You think you are alone, but you are not. Why is this admittedly adorable Chilean-born American so suddenly bringing all the heat for so many of us?

Why does a video of him joyously twerk-dancing with a "Clicker" (the infected mushroom zombie things from The Last Of Us!) make you wonder about all of your life choices?

Why is he so…Peeeeehdro? Paydro? Peeeeyghdro? you whisper over and over again, trying and failing to get the pronunciation right because it matters, you never know!...

SNL's recent sketch when Pascal hosted captured the absurdity and borderline hysteria of the moment perfectly.

The generations(s) after Pedro Pascal speak what sounds like a foreign language online to older generations (like me, I'm Gen X like Pedro!) at times, and they have claimed him in a way that can seem creepy and strange when looked at with an outside lens.

But this is how kids today worship their celebrity crushes, as a pack, online, in a frenzy. I think this attempt to deflect it but also call it out was an attempt to joke about but also maybe try to get a handle on this over-the- top situation that being the internet's number one crush entails.

I knew who Pedro Pascal was before The Last Of Us. He was the impish, daring Oberyn Martell from Game of Thrones. He was good guy DEA agent Javier Pena in Narcos Mexico . He was always an attractive and talented actor. 

There is a pretty obvious appeal in his humble, self-deprecating, seemingly decent guy charms. He is a self-assured presence with no need to prove himself as your masculine fantasy or your "zaddy" or whatever else it is you attribute to him. He's a proud LGBTQIA ally, a vocal supporter of women's rights, and seems like an all-around good egg.

He just has "it", in a very modern, seemingly un-publicist-dictated way. You believe he has the integrity to save a little girl when all hope is lost in a mushroom zombie apocalypse. I admit I have not seen The Mandalorian but I am sure he is wonderful, face hidden and all in it (seriously why would they hide his perfect face?!). 

Pedro Pascal has dramatic chops, comic timing and seems to be grateful for the ride. It's disarming and makes him stand apart from many others in Hollywood, for sure. 

So please, let's not spoil it for him. Let him have some air. Especially for journalists trying to capitalize on the phenomenon, it's likely starting to be a bit much for him, all of this awkward salivating.

It's easy to get swept up in fandom hysteria, online culture is plain weird sometimes. As an older fan, I would just hope that it eases off eventually and doesn't turn toxic.

Think of the joy he brings and respect him and maybe take a reality check from time to time. It's surely what Pedro would want for us all, to live our best lives, and not only focus on his.

I say that humbly as his 3,768,000th internet admirer. But also, José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal, I am here if you need me.