In light of Sunday's crushing trial by combat, HBO.com connected with Pedro Pascal, the actor behind Oberyn Martell. Pascal shares his analysis of the scene ("cathartic"), what it was like to hold a replica of his own skull, and his take on Oberyn's relationships with the women in his life.

HBO: At what point did you learn Oberyn's fate?

Pedro Pascal: I was told right off the bat. It was in the description of the character arc when I auditioned for the part. I didn't know how he died, until I met [series creators] David Benioff and Dan Weiss in Belfast. They mentioned the crushing of my head in three steps: first the teeth, then the eyes, and finally the entire melon head. My first thought was, "Hopefully I'll be able to compete for a top spot for the most gruesome death on 'Game of Thrones,' " which is saying a lot.

HBO: Have you seen the finished scene?

Pedro Pascal: I haven't, but I can't imagine. [This interview took place before the episode aired.] I have to watch it in time with everyone else. I worry for my family; I really do.

HBO: As gruesome as it is, it looks authentic. Did they make a cast of your head?

Pedro Pascal: They made a cast of my head from the shoulders up and dressed it with facial hair and the expression of violent agony.

HBO: Have you seen it?

Pedro Pascal: Yes! They caught me staring at my head on set. We never get a chance to see ourselves three-dimensionally, and it's totally different. Maybe there was a little narcissism or just the fascination of seeing myself in 360 degrees. I was like, "Holy sh*t. I really look like my dad."

HBO: How much training did you have with the spear?

Pedro Pascal: HBO and 'Game of Thrones' put me in training with a master of wushu, an acrobatic martial arts. People train their entire lives to master this skill, so in a couple of weeks Master Hu could only show me the basics.

HBO: What was the most challenging thing about it?

Pedro Pascal: Everything. Mostly working with a spear that was a foot taller than me. There was sort of a helicopter-propeller move with the spear that I wanted to achieve the "woosh woosh woosh" of. I bought a curtain rod from Home Depot and practiced in my apartment because I was too shy to do it in public.

HBO: What was it like to film the combat scene? Can you explain Oberyn's decisions?

Pedro Pascal: It was very challenging because there was a physical aspect of it – which was the most demanding work that I've ever done – but also Oberyn is climaxing emotionally. Those two things synchronize themselves really beautifully.

I had a fascinating conversation with Lena Headey on set where we discussed the entire arc of the character. Oberyn is desperate to hear the Mountain make his confession. Although it's a violently tragic end, he does ultimately hear the words. There is this bittersweet ecstasy in the idea of delivering oneself to one's own end. It's a very cathartic moment.

HBO: In a previous episode, Oberyn is writing a poem for his daughter. Have you thought through his life in Dorne?

Pedro Pascal: I see him as an extremely contemporary, progressive and loving father. I think it's so suitable that he had nothing but daughters to raise. He doesn't shape ideas based on old conventions so his daughters are not limited by backwards, medieval morality.

HBO: He's very emotionally intelligent.

Pedro Pascal: I think there's a depth in the way that Oberyn perceives the world and the way he lives in it. I think there's a lot of woman inside of Oberyn, which attributes to his strength.

HBO: Can you explain what you mean by "a lot of woman"?

Pedro Pascal: Perceptiveness. Intelligence. In the world of 'Game of Thrones,' which can harshly reflect some of the darker elements of our reality, I would argue that women are often forced to be smarter and more in touch with themselves because their circumstances are so ruled by men. Women's survival skills kick in a bit earlier.

HBO: Would you say that Oberyn is a feminist?