Joel may be absent, but fresh characters are emerging in The Last of Us universe.
Season 2, Episode 4 brings in multiple new characters, featuring the initial on-screen introduction of a character who was mentioned briefly earlier in the season.
So, who is Isaac (played by Jeffrey Wright), and what part will he play going forward? Let’s delve into it.
Who is Isaac in The Last of Us Season 2?
Isaac’s name is first noted in the opening sequence of Season 2. As Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her team survey the remnants of a former Firefly base, trying to decide their next step, Owen (Spencer Lord) brings him up.
“Ed has a brother who operates a group in Seattle,” Owen states. “A guy named Isaac. Allegedly, he’d welcome us all.”
Jump ahead five years, and it’s revealed that Abby and her allies are now part of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), a militant organization located in Seattle. Although Isaac’s name has been circulating in the periphery, we don’t formally meet him until Episode 4.
A flashback to 2018 shows that Isaac was previously a sergeant in FEDRA, the authoritarian military regime. Disillusioned with FEDRA’s harsh treatment of civilians, Isaac decides to defect—going so far as to execute his entire platoon. This pivotal moment marks the start of his transformation and eventual rise to leadership within the WLF.
In the current timeline of 2029, Isaac holds a prominent position as a WLF leader, embroiled in a brutal conflict with the Seraphites, a religious group residing in the woodlands surrounding Seattle.
Isaac’s Journey Reflects a Central Theme of The Last of Us
The Last of Us is recognized for its exploration of the cycle of violence, and Isaac’s journey exemplifies this. In the 2018 flashback, Isaac distinguishes himself from his fellow FEDRA soldiers through his moral unease with their actions.
“We took away their right to vote, and someone started calling them ‘voters’ to ridicule them,” he responds to a narrative about civilians being killed.
“I didn’t mean anything by it, Sarge,” one soldier replies.
“Of course you didn’t,” Isaac retorts. “You’re inconsiderate.”
However, by 2029, Isaac has evidently transformed. When we encounter him again, he’s tormenting a naked Seraphite prisoner in a kitchen, repeatedly burning him. When the prisoner declines to speak, Isaac eliminates him without a moment’s pause.
While the events of the 11 years that passed between the flashback and the present remain vague, it’s evident that his principles have been corroded by the brutal circumstances of his environment. He has morphed into the very sort of monster he once fought against.
As a significant figure in the WLF, Isaac is poised to have a bigger part in upcoming episodes. For now, he serves as a haunting reminder of one of the show’s most impactful themes: In The Last of Us, even those who start with noble goals can be overtaken by the darkness they sought to evade.
The Last of Us Season 2 is currently streaming on Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
Interested in the games that inspired the series? Here’s how you can begin playing The Last of Us.