Ranking the Best Jason Momoa Performances

2 out 5 Momoas: It was nearly unwatchable.

8. Stargate: Atlantis (2005)

Before he burned up Game of Thrones, Jason Momoa was already making fangirls swoon at Comic-Cons when he joined the cast of Syfy’s Stargate: Atlantis as the Satedan warrior Ronon Dex. Leaving the fresh-faced lifeguard look on the Baywatch set, Syfy clearly knew what they were doing when the commercials for Stargate: Atlantis promised a hot, tough new member of the expedition. 

While Ronon’s tragic backstory escaping the creepy Wraith was ripped straight from the pages of Anti-Hero 101, we got to spend much more screen time with the long-haired, knife-fighting bad boy than we did Khal Drogo. 

3 out of 5 Momoas: Vin Diesel in Pitch Black walked so Ronan Dex could… well, competently rip off Vin Diesel in Pitch Black.  

7. The Red Road (2014)

If you follow him on Instagram, you know Jason Momoa proudly shares his Hawaiian culture, educating people about the traditions of his Ohana. Pacific Islander representation is distressingly rare in major media and Momoa’s exploits provide some teachable moments about things like tattoos, traditional dress including the malo, and other Pacific Island traditions like the Maori haka dance, which Momoa famously performed in his audition for Game of Thrones. But the actor also spends a lot of time working on indigenous-created projects. 

The Red Road was a gritty thriller series about an unregistered First Nations tribe living off-the-grid in the Ramapo Mountains region of New Jersey, their conflicts with the local government, and a missing persons case, among other dramas. Momoa stars as Philip, a tribal baddie with a deep love for his people. The cast also features some incredible indigenous actors including Wes Studi (The Last of the Mohicans, Reservation Dogs) as the tribal chief.