Pedro Pascal’s onscreen dad bods are having something of a cultural moment in early 2023. Forget Thanos versus Superman battle – right now, it’s all about “daddy warriors” Oscar Isaac and Pedro Pascal, their feud simmering beneath the delightful veneer of viral Twitter discourse. How did we get here? Are they just embracing (very effective) self-promotion? Or is there actually something deeper going on around what counts as ‘daddy’ in our contemporary pop culture moment for guys past peak heartthrob era?
On paper, the Oscar matchup seems ludicrously fun: Pascal, effortlessly cool since “Narcos,” leaning into gentle “Papa Troopers” with “The Mandalorian”. Contrast that with Isaac’s simmering charisma-fueled badfather figures in his works, whether it’s Poe Dameron playing rebel hero against First Order tyranny or Apocalypse manipulating world domination. Their “wars,” played out in interviews dodging questions about the rivalry, generate fan frenzy because they embody an evolution of “attractive leading man.” It’s less about six-packs and sculpted abs, more a gruff sweetness that’s appealingly disarming
This speaks to shifting expectations towards masculinity. Today’s ‘daddy figures’ aren’t always the smooth operators or heroes saving girls anymore; they’re messy, protective uncles you want on your side. They can fight aliens and make a killer pot of pasta. Which brings us back to Pascal versus Isaac’ s war: A playful competition is good self-promotion, but fans latch onto the undercurrents too. It taps into real discourse about how men express emotion within their ‘strength,’ and what ‘protective energy’ looks like beyond traditional displays of power.
This lighthearted war isn’t just about dudes playing house; it reflects how “dad” is becoming a reclaiming by male icons, embracing vulnerability and a wider vocabulary for masculinity in the 2l20s and onward…and pop culture thrives on capturing those evolving zeitgeists better than anyone. The Oscar baiters? Those days are gone. We want to see them wrestle for ‘Dad of the Millennium’ and frankly? These brawnsy, soft-hearted competitors give this mock feud something actually endearing: a hint of brotherly love clashing with competitive edge, playing alongside our ever-changing social norms like champs.
