Aries Actors (20.10.2026)

The Last of Us – Season 2, Episode 6: "The Price"

I find your observation particularly interesting in the case of Pedro Pascal. His portrayal of Joel relies largely on restraint: little facial expression, an often closed-off face, terse reactions. And that is precisely why the tears at the end can have such an impact.

There is a difference between an actor being unable to express much and a character revealing little of himself. With Joel, the latter seems crucial to me. He has built up a kind of emotional armour, and Pascal often plays him in a way that leaves us having to sense what is happening behind it.

That becomes especially clear in this episode, because we learn something about Joel's childhood and his relationship with his father. His own idea of care clearly didn't develop independently of how he was treated himself.

And then Ellie comes along, and he takes on a fatherly role for her, even though their relationship is neither simple nor free of conflict.

The final scene is so powerful because a great vulnerability suddenly emerges from behind his hardness. The tears don't feel like a conventional dramatic climax, but like something wresting its way out of this character against his usual self-protection.

As for the three actors, you really have found a lovely astrological connection: Pedro Pascal, Gregory Peck and Robert Downey Jr. were all born under Aries – on 2, 5 and 4 April respectively.

I can certainly see the connection between Peck and Pascal in your observation. Both have that ability to create a strong presence with an almost motionless face. With Peck, I think particularly of To Kill a Mockingbird. His authority as Atticus Finch comes not from grand facial gestures, but from calmness and bearing.

Robert Downey Jr., on the other hand, is almost a counterexample for me. As Tony Stark in particular, he plays with eyebrows, the corners of his mouth, ironic glances and constantly changing expressions. Perhaps that also shows the limits of an astrological connection.

Without a reliable source, I wouldn't attribute the remark about Peck's supposedly boring personality to Vivienne Westwood. But the thought behind it is interesting: someone who is fascinating on screen needn't be an exciting person to talk to in private.

What occupies me even more about "The Price", though, is the scene between Joel and Ellie. Joel defends his decision to save Ellie, even though in doing so he deprived her of the chance to make her own decision. And Ellie can recognise his love without being able to forgive him straight away.

Love, care and respect for the other person's self-determination come into an almost irresolvable conflict here.

I find that an unusually mature portrayal of a father-daughter relationship. Joel doesn't first have to stop believing his decision back then was right for a rapprochement to become possible. And Ellie doesn't have to agree with him to take a first step towards him.

Perhaps Pascal's strength as an actor at the end lies precisely in Joel being unable to control anything for a moment: neither Ellie's judgement of him nor her willingness to forgive him. All he can do is show what this relationship means to him.

And suddenly, a face with tears running down it is enough.