The Last of Us Season 2: Everything About Jeffrey Wright’s Isaac Dixon Explained

The Last of Us season two has introduced a new force of nature — one not infected, but every bit as terrifying. Episode four, titled “Day One,” reveals the backstory and brutal methods of Isaac Dixon, played with chilling precision by Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright. Returning to the role he originated in The Last of Us Part II game (2020), Wright brings to life a man shaped by betrayal, war, and a dark idea of justice.

The Path to Power: Isaac’s Origin Story

As foreshadowed in last week’s episode “The Path,” Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) journey into Seattle places her directly in the crosshairs of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), the militarized faction ruling the city with an iron grip. And at the top of that hierarchy sits Isaac.

In a gripping 2018 flashback, viewers see Isaac as a FEDRA sergeant — disillusioned and seething under the surface. He’s introduced on patrol alongside a rookie (Ben Ahlers) and a soldier played by Josh Peck. The scene is quiet, deceptively mundane, until Isaac turns on his squad, locking them in a truck with live grenades and siding with the civilian resistance.

To the stunned rookie beside him, Isaac delivers a clear ultimatum: “Join or die.” The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann on the show’s official podcast (via EW): "A truck that you find that has been blown up with the people still inside as part of this uprising." Craig Mazin elaborated on this and explained:

"You understood that in Seattle, there was a moment where FEDRA officers started turning on FEDRA because it was not working well and that there was, in fact, a kind of internecine warfare."

"And you also do find a FEDRA truck at one point that you can climb into. And so all those things were bopping around my head,” Druckmann added. 

This prologue doesn’t just show Isaac’s break from FEDRA — it marks the symbolic “day one” of the WLF. The title of the episode is no accident. As director Kate Herron revealed, “You are seeing him at the beginning of our episode...He’s like, ‘This is your choice. Make it.’”

Isaac in the Present: A Leader Without Mercy

The Isaac we meet in the present is colder and far more dangerous. In a haunting scene, he tortures a nude Seraphite prisoner, calmly chatting about cookware as he prepares to burn the captive alive. The same rookie from 2018 now serves loyally at his side, suggesting that Isaac’s ideology is as persuasive as it is terrifying. Neil Druckmann talked about this version of Isaac and explained (via EW):

"This is how he would attract women. He would cook for them. But it becomes pretty clear that this is not the first time he's told this story and that there's a purpose behind it. And the purpose is to intimidate, is to intimidate somebody because Isaac gets to relax and tell a story while somebody else is in chains, bleeding."

The brutality of the WLF-Seraphite war is also made clear — dead children hang from trees, WLF bodies rot in towers. Even the Seraphites are internally splintered. As Mazin said, “There’s a schism inside the Seraphites themselves.” After all, when Isaac tells the little girl that the prophet was no fairy, it is the broken and beaten says, "Heretics."

Isaac’s Expanded game lore

In the game, Isaac's background is pieced together through scattered documents and dialogue. He joined the WLF under original leaders Emma and Jason Patterson and gained influence through his skills in propaganda and logistics. When the leadership crumbled, Isaac was voted in — and launched a vicious campaign that expelled FEDRA and secured WLF dominance in Seattle.

Civilians were relocated to SoundView Stadium (modeled after Lumen Field), and while many fear him, others regard him as a protector. The show’s timeline deviates slightly but preserves the spirit of Isaac’s rise. His actions show a man who values control above all, and who believes peace is only achievable through absolute dominance.

Isaac and Abby: A Storm yet to Break

Though we haven’t seen Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) yet, her story will further intertwine with Isaac’s. In the game, he’s her commander — and their relationship reveals a more layered picture of life under WLF rule. Through Abby’s lens, the show's future episodes are poised to explore Isaac’s impact on those closest to him.

As The Last of Us continues to manipulate perspective and time, more revelations are sure to come. Mazin said (via EW): “These questions about this war may not be fully answered this season. There will be some mysteries.” Druckmann chimed in and said, “Now that we’re renewed for season 3...you will definitely get those."

A Chilling Performance by Jeffrey Wright

Casting Jeffrey Wright was no coincidence. With roles in Westworld, The Batman, and Angels in America, Wright brings unmatched gravity to Isaac. He radiates quiet menace, his every word laced with intent — a performance that commands attention even in silence.

With Isaac now revealed, Ellie’s path grows darker. Her mission for revenge will put her face-to-face with this remorseless warlord, and the choices she makes next will define who she becomes. In the world of The Last of Us, there are no heroes — only survivors, and Isaac Dixon is proof of how far survival can go when morality is left behind.

Where can you Stream The Last of Us Season 2?

The Last of Us season two is now streaming on HBO and Max, with new episodes airing weekly on Sundays. The fifth episode will premiere on May 11, 2025. If you want to refresh your memory, we have a recap of Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, and Episode 4.