Isaac Dixon

This article is about the character from the HBO series. For his appearance in the video game series, see Isaac Dixon.

Isaac Dixon
Biographical information
Status	Alive
Gender	Male
Occupation(s)	FEDRA sergeant (formerly) W.L.F.'s commander
Affiliation(s)	FEDRA (formerly) Washington Liberation Front
Relationships	Ed Dixon (brother)
Resides	Seattle, Washington
Eye color	Brown
Behind the scenes
Appears in	HBO's The Last of Us (season 2)
Portrayed by	Jeffrey Wright

Isaac Dixon is a supporting character and antagonist in the second season of HBO's The Last of Us. He is the leader of the Washington Liberation Front and is described as "the quietly powerful leader of a large militia group who sought liberty but instead has become mired in an endless war against a surprisingly resourceful enemy."

Biography

Background and early life

Isaac Dixon grew up and had a brother, Ed. He was shy around women and struggled talking to them but was able to use his cooking skills to impress them. He cultivated his craft, taking an interest in French utensils that he wanted to use, deciding when he could retire in around thirty years that he would be able to afford a Mauviel.

However, the Cordyceps brain infection outbreak occurred, leading him to join FEDRA and eventually rise to the rank of sergeant in command of a platoon in the Seattle quarantine zone. By 2018, his unit included Burton, Janowicz, Martinez and Patel. He had grown to resent FEDRA, his fellow soldiers and commanding officer, hating how they abused and mistreated civilians and took away the citizens' right to vote, among the other rights they have deprived them of. He decided to defect and join a growing resistance group called the WLF led by Hanrahan. To do so, he arranged a patrol to drive through a WLF-controlled suburb to meet Hanrahan.

Events of HBO's The Last of Us

Season 2

On patrol within an armored truck in 2018, Isaac listened as Janowicz told a story about how he enjoyed watching how his former sergeant Greenberg abused a group of religious people on patrol. He joined the conversation to answer Burton's question about why Greenberg called them "voters", calling Janowicz "thoughtless" for not knowing that FEDRA took their rights away.

The truck driver then stopped as the path was blocked by a school bus. Recognizing WLF dissenters approaching, Isaac left the vehicle to talk with them, ordering his men to not engage and let him and Burton confront them. Outside, Isaac approached and met Hanrahan. He then returned to the truck, tossing in two frag grenades and locking Janowicz and the others inside, the blast killing them. The wounded driver fell from the car, Isaac executing him with his assault rifle. He then returned and shook Hanrahan's hand, officially joining their resistance. He then offered Burton the choice to join him.

Over the years, Isaac and Burton rose through the ranks of the WLF and successfully defeated FEDRA. However, they now faced problems from the Seraphites. Isaac viewed them as animals and deluded religious zealots. His position involved torturing captured Seraphites to learn information from them. It was also his responsibility to provide decisions on executing traitors or defectors within the WLF and also arranging meetings at the FOB, typically when the Seraphites broke truces they made with them.

Isaac also learned that Ed had joined the Fireflies. While not a part of the Fireflies with him, Isaac did offer his brother and other members a safe haven within his group in Seattle if he and the Fireflies ever needed help. By 2024, this had happened with Abby Anderson and her friends taking up his offer to join. He learned of her intention to kill Joel Miller and fully supported her cause, letting her briefly leave in the winter of 2028 in order to do so.

By April 2029, Isaac tortured the Seraphite soldier Malcolm for information on an upcoming attack. He beat the man and then took a Mauviel pan and used it to burn the Seraphite's skin. He then briefly argued with the man over how the war even started, with Isaac insisting the WLF would win, which the Seraphite denied, citing many WLF members were defecting to the Seraphites while the same was not true for his people. Isaac prepared to continue torturing him but realized the man's faith to his group wouldn't break. Frustrated, he drew his side arm and executed him.

Two days later, Isaac prepared for a massive naval invasion of the Seraphites' island, home to their own community. He wanted Abby to be there for the attack, but she had gone missing. He summoned Elise Park to his officer's tent for an update on her whereabouts. Despite Elise confirming they still had Manny, Isaac dismissed him as but one of many similar soldiers - the same for Owen and Mel - while Abby was more unique than them. Elise then wondered if Isaac might be in love with her (despite him being much older) but Isaac denied this, explaining that he believed many WLF soldiers (himself and Elise included) were going to die in the invasion. However, he believed Abby would survive and that he viewed her as the best option to be his successor. Later that night, he led the attack on the island.

Personality

Issac displayed a stern, serious and brooding demeanor. Discontent with life as a FEDRA sergeant in the Seattle QZ, he reacted harshly to soldiers who took joy in oppressing the citizens, dismissing them as "thoughtless" and unworthy of life. He was consequently xenophobic and brutal towards those he considered to be his enemies, killing soldiers like Janowicz without much expression, hesitation or any second thoughts and tortured Seraphites like Malcolm through cruel, sadistic methods in the pursuit of information.

Conversely, Isaac could be kind to people he trusted, offering his brother Ed and the Fireflies a home in Seattle if they needed it. He also exercised some mercy, providing the FEDRA soldier Burton a chance to join the WLF rather than outright kill him. Isaac also supported Abby and the Fireflies in their pursuit of justice as he allowed them to leave Seattle to seek revenge on Joel. Although Abby expressed that Isaac had taught them a code to honor, this code included not killing people who can't defend themselves. This moral code was not always followed though as Isaac still executed Malcolm despite the man being defenseless.

Behind the scenes

Jeffrey Wright, the actor who portrays Isaac.

• Isaac is portrayed by American actor Jeffrey Wright, who also provided the voice and motion capture for the same character in The Last of Us Part II. This makes him the second actor from the video game series to reprise their character in the television series, the first being Merle Dandridge, who portrayed Marlene in the first season. His casting was officially announced by HBO and Naughty Dog on May 24, 2024.

Gallery

Promotional images

Official profile from HBO's website

Official stills

Other

Appearances

• HBO's The Last of Us
  • Season 2
    • Episode 1: "Future Days" (mentioned only)
    • Episode 4: "Day One" (first appearance)
    • Episode 5: "Feel Her Love" (mentioned only)
    • Episode 7: "Convergence"