Pedro Pascal reflects on shooting his final Game of Thrones episode and what it was like returning to the same location his death scene was shot. First airing in 2011, Game of Thrones had become a popular and well-established series by the time Pascal joined in season 4. Pascal played Oberyn Martell, aka the Red Viper, a character whose combat prowess was matched only by his sexual appetite.
Although proving an interesting and complex character, the Red Viper was ultimately killed off during an intense duel in an episode titled "The Mountain and the Viper." The duel occurs when Oberyn agrees to represent Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) in a trial by combat, which Tyrion demands after being accused of King Joffrey's death. While Oberyn initially gains the upper hand in the fight, the Mountain eventually kills Pascal's character in one of the most memorable deaths in Game of Thrones history by crushing the Red Viper's skull with his bare hands.
In a new interview with GQ, Pascal reflects on his time shooting Game of Thrones, in particular his last episode, after revisiting the set location while shooting his new movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. The actor explains that shooting his final episode on Game of Thrones was "one of the best experiences [he's] ever had," and that his experience on the show, in general, was exceedingly pleasant. Check out Pascal's full comment below:
"Well, what’s insane is that we started shooting [The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent] in the same location, and I hadn’t been back. We shot in Dubrovnik, which is where we shot this big fight scene between The Viper and The Mountain. I was walking distance from that actual arena — it was a sort of stage arena that belonged to a hotel, which had been bombed out during the war, that they had dressed for Game of Thrones.
"It was an incredible reunion for me, personally, because that was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and one of the most beautiful places I’d ever been, on a show I loved, with an exciting ensemble of actors. It was just a dream. So it was an even deeper dream to return. And I walked over there by myself, and just kind of sat there, took it in, and decided it was like — this is where it all began. [Laughs.]"
Pascal goes on to explain that everything from the show's writing, to his costume, to the length of time he was required to be on location was perfect, joking that he may have been the "luckiest human to have passed through that show." While Oberyn has a truly gnarly death in Game of Thrones, it certainly seems like Pascal's experience on set was anything but gnarly. Since appearing in Game of Thrones, Pascal's career has exploded, in many ways, and the star is now headlining Disney+'s The Mandalorian, the upcoming HBO series The Last of Us, and a new movie with Nicolas Cage, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
Although Pascal is now known for his other popular roles, the actor's comments would suggest that his time on Game of Thrones was particularly memorable. The later seasons of Game of Thrones are often criticized for some of the writing decisions that were made but, with season 4, the show was reaching the height of its popularity with both fans and critics and delivered a number of truly memorable episodes. While Oberyn's death was both gruesome and shocking, many fans will likely be happy to find out that Pascal's time on Game of Thrones was an entirely positive experience.
Source: GQ