Half-Life Character Index
Player Characters | Supporting Characters | Xen Aliens | The Combine | Other Antagonists
Player Characters | Supporting Characters | Xen Aliens | The Combine | Other Antagonists
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The Resistance
In General
Voice Actors: John Patrick Lowrie and Mary Kae Irvin (English) note
"You smell that? It's freedom."
A loose group of humans and Vortigaunts working against the Combine that serve as the main heroic force of Half-Life 2 and the episodes, aiding Gordon in his journey. Initially working as an underground force covertly sabotaging the Combine and smuggling citizens out of City 17, the arrival of Gordon Freeman and his subsequent actions leads to them engaging the Combine in a much more overt manner."You smell that? It's freedom."
- All Your Base Are Belong to Us: Prior to Half-Life 2, the rebel base of Ravenholm is bombarded to hell with Headcrab Shells. This results in the utter destruction of the base, turning it into a largely zombie-infested area. Things only get worse when the Combine is alerted to Gordon's presence. The entire underground canal network that was designed to help smuggle refugees to Black Mesa East is quickly destroyed, the well-fortified main base of Black Mesa East is overrun shortly after Gordon's arrival and several outposts along the Coast are taken over by the Combine. Only the coastal New Little Odessa, Shorepoint Base and Lighthouse Point are left in Rebel hands. The Combine also try to attack the White Forest base in Episode Two, but Gordon is there to repel their attack.
- All There in the Manual: Most rebels Gordon encounters go unnamed, but looking into the game files will reveal that they do have names.
- Decapitated Army: Thankfully subverted. Eli Vance's capture doesn't affect The Resistance at all thanks to the its nonexistent command structure. Not even Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance going missing for a long amount of time.
- La Résistance: Obviously. They're a heroic group of rebels that desire to overthrow the Combine and end their dystopian rule over Earth.
- The Medic: Rebel Medics are encountered during the Uprising in Half-Life 2. They're able to heal Gordon and other rebels, but not themselves, making their protection a priority.
- Punny Name: The rebel in Sandtraps who warns you to stay off the sand, as stepping on it attracts Antlions? According to the game files, he's named Sandy.
- Uncertain Doom: There are a few instances in Half-Life 2 where Gordon has to leave resistance fighters behind to uncertain fates.
- Underground Railroad: A loose network of Rebel-controlled stations and safehouses in the Canals of City 17 served as the only way refugees could safely escape to Black Mesa East prior to Kleiner setting up a teleporter system between his lab and Eli's. Gordon's arrival and Breen being alerted to his presence leads to said railroad being flooded with Manhacks and Civil Protection Officers, resulting in it being completely destroyed.
Leadership
Dr. Eli Vance
Dr. Eli Vance
Appearances: Half-Life | Half-Life 2 | Half-Life 2: Episode One | Half-Life 2: Episode Two | Half-Life: Alyx
"I should've aborted that test, but... I didn't. The whole world went to hell that day."
Voice Actor: Robert Guillaume (Half-Life 2, Episodes One and Two), James Moses Black (Half-Life: Alyx) (English)note
"I knew if you both stayed together you could get through anything."
A major character in Half-Life 2, Eli Vance is one of the survivors of the Resonance Cascade incident, a lead member of the Resistance, and Alyx's father. Also known to be a Harvard graduate."I knew if you both stayed together you could get through anything."
- Ascended Extra: Remember that scientist in the first Half-Life that sent you up for help after the Resonance Cascade and opened the door for you? That's Eli. Made more obvious in Black Mesa, the Source Fan Remake that was endorsed by Valve.
- Artificial Limbs: Eli apparently lost his left leg during an incident involving a Bullsquid. He has a makeshift prosthetic now.
- Back from the Dead: In Alyx, through a combination of a Deal with the Devil and Reality Warping by the G-Man, Alyx saves his life from the Advisor that kills him at the end of Episode Two.
- Cassandra Truth: Was very uneasy about the Anti-Mass Spectrometer running at high levels in Half-Life 1, and says as much in the immediate aftermath of the Resonance Cascade.Eli: We tried to warn them!
- Distressed Dude: One of the major goals driving the plot is Alyx's quest to rescue her father, twice. This isn't exactly a new thing, as Half-Life: Alyx shows.
- I See Them, Too: So far, he has been one of the few characters who has acknowledged the G-Man, a.k.a. "our mutual friend's" existence to Gordon.
- It's All My Fault: The quote above from Episode Two implies that Eli at least partially blames himself for the Resonance Cascade and the subsequent Combine invasion.
- I Want Grandkids: Not so subtly tells Gordon and Alyx to hook up and make some grandkids after the supression field is down. Hey, you can't blame him, considering the Combine's anti-reproduction suppression field in the past twenty years.
- Like a Son to Me: Shortly before he's killed by an Advisor, he tells Gordon that he couldn't be more proud of him if Gordon were his own son.
- My God, What Have I Done?: The personal cutscene between Gordon and him in Episode Two pretty much made him admit he was doing oversight for the test leading up to the Resonance Cascade."When he came in, I knew I should have aborted that damn test. But I didn't. The whole world went to hell that day."
- Precious Photo: He constantly keeps a framed photo of himself, his late wife Azian, and an infant Alyx close by. Examining the photo while in Black Mesa East prompts him to comment on how it's the only thing aside from Alyx he managed to bring out of Black Mesa.
- Prophetic Name: Eli seems to share some elements with Prophet Eli. Like Prophet Eli, Eli Vance is haunted by knowledge of future events which he cannot change, and has great love for his daughter like Prophet Eli had for his sons. Also, Prophet Eli snaps his neck after learning of his sons' death, while Eli dies of a neck injury after he tries to save his own daughter.
- Rebel Leader: Is the de facto leader of the Resistance, seeing as Black Mesa's remnants became the foundation of the movement.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Swears such on the G-Man after the end of Alyx once brought back to life and realizes he abducted his daughter as the cost.Eli: She's gone, Gordon... she's gone... SON OF A BITCH AND HIS UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES! I knew it! When I get my hands on him, I'm gonna... I'm gonna kill him.
- Sacrificial Lion: At the end of Episode Two, right before Gordon and Alyx were to board the helicopter to find the Borealis, he is killed by a Combine Advisor by having his brain sucked out right in front of Gordon and Alyx.
- Shipper on Deck: He's obviously quite fond of the idea of Gordon and Alyx hooking up.
- Small Role, Big Impact: He only appears two times in Half-Life 1, but him sending Gordon to the surface to radio for help ends up putting Gordon on his arduous journey through the Black Mesa facility.
- So Proud of You: Says this to both Alyx and Gordon mere minutes before he's gruesomely killed by an Advisor. It's heavily implied he knew his end was coming and took the chance to secretly say farewell.
Dr. Isaac Kleiner
Dr. Isaac Kleiner
Appearances: Half-Life 2 | Half-Life 2: Episode One | Half-Life 2: Episode Two |
"We place our firmest hope in the human spirit, even knowing how easily it may be shattered."
Voice Actor: Harry S. Robins (English)note
"That's right, Barney. This is a red letter day. We'll inaugurate the new teleport with a double transmission!"
A major character in Half-Life 2, Isaac was the man who recommended Gordon Freeman to Black Mesa Research Facility's Civilian Recruitment Division. Also a survivor of the Resonance Cascade incident at Black Mesa. Was also Gordon's theoretical physics teacher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."That's right, Barney. This is a red letter day. We'll inaugurate the new teleport with a double transmission!"
- Absent-Minded Professor: Fits the stereotype perfectly, though he's not quite as absent-minded as some. In fact, more of the problems that come from interacting with him tend to be Lamarr's fault, rather than his.
- Admiring the Abomination: He's implied to be the scientist who finds headcrabs fascinating in the first game, leading to him keeping one as a pet in the second.
- Ambiguously Jewish: Has a Hebrew given name (though admittedly, Hebrew given names are nothing of an oddity in Europe) and a German surname, and named his pet headcrab after a Jewish actress.
- Ascended Extra: Like Barney, he's a stock scientist from the original game turned into a main character in the sequel.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: The badass is hidden pretty deep down, but, he did manage to escape from Black Mesa alive and stay alive for years afterwards as a rebel. There are a few subtle demonstrations of this competence throughout Half-Life 2:
- Despite struggling to keep Lamarr out of trouble, there's something to be said about how he managed to catch a headcrab alive and surgically remove its zombifying fangs without getting turned into a zombie himself.
- When Gordon and Alyx teleport from Nova Prospekt right outside Kleiner's lab, Kleiner greets them with a shotgun, clearly not expecting them and very ready to blow away any Combine intruders. Thankfully, he instantly eases up when he realizes who has just returned. Additionally, inside the lab, Gordon can find the wreckage of a Manhack, most definitely destroyed by Kleiner himself.
- Fluffy Tamer: He keeps a "de-beaked" headcrab as a pet. Her name is Lamarr.
- Honorary Uncle: On a corkboard in his lab, there's an arts-and-crafts collage of him made by a younger Alyx with "Uncle Kleiner" written beneath.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: It really wouldn't be inaccurate to lay the entire mess of the second game and its expansion packs on him. It was Lamarr who disrupted the teleporter, causing Breen to become aware of Freeman's restoration, which resulted in the Transhuman Forces being rallied, which led to... well, all of the death and destruction the player sees sweep before them over the course of the game. All because he had to keep a frigging untameable brain-sucking alien monster as a pet.
- Noodle Incident: It has something to do with the cat and the teleporter in his lab. Barney mentions the cat twice.
- Omnidisciplinary Scientist: His expertise seems to be physics, but he is apparently responsible for the creation of the Mark V HEV suit, suggesting knowledge of mechanics as well. Somewhat justified as he did have 20 years to get aquainted with the field.
- Performance Anxiety: Downplayed, but present. In Episode One, he's put in charge of delivering evacuation broadcasts and valuable exposition on the state of the war the Resistance is in, and is obviously nervous through his tone and breathing when he begins. He gradually begins to hit his stride to the point of delivering an inspiring speech to give hope to the rebels.
- Pet's Homage Name: His "de-beaked" headcrab is named after Hedy Lamarr.note It's both a bad Stealth Pun and a Shout-Out to a classic actress—one who helped pioneer early wi-fi and cordless technologies.
- Refuge in Audacity: Setting up a resistance research lab in the Combine's capitol city certainly took some chutzpah. No less, a research lab located right down the block from a major train station crawling with metrocops.
- Rousing Speech: Delivers one to the people of City 17 during Episode One. Kleiner urges the remaining citizens to hold on to hope and fight back against the Combine, even when the odds seem stacked against them.Dr. Kleiner: For what the Combine fear the most is not any tangible human weapon, but our will. Our intellect. Our ability to respond selectively and rationally to every terror they turn against us.
- The Smart Guy: He creates a short-ranged teleportation system that allows for transportation on the same planet. Something that the Combine haven't figured out themselves yet.
- Voice of the Resistance: Becomes one temporarily in Episode One when the Resistance hijacks Breen's public broadcast system. It's mostly to give instructions on how to evacuate City 17, but he does take some time to give an inspirational speech about finally taking back the planet which is pretty impressive for someone who admits he's not very good at public speaking. He also notes that the suppression field is down and now would be a good time contribute to "the revival of the species".
Dr. Judith Mossman
Dr. Judith Mossman
Appearances: Half-Life 2 | Half-Life 2: Episode One note | Half-Life 2: Episode Two note
Voice Actor: Michelle Forbes (English)note
"The Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator is not a toy, Alyx!"
A scientist who assists Eli Vance at Black Mesa East. She happened to apply for a position at the original Black Mesa facility that was ultimately given to Gordon."The Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator is not a toy, Alyx!"
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Comes off as friendly and professional in her initial appearance, even if she doesn't get along with Alyx, but she's secretly working for the Combine.
- Double Agent: Assists Eli in developing scientific advancements to help the Resistance, but is also a spy for the Combine.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Works for and against the Resistance so she can get close enough to Breen to kill him.
- Meaningful Name: Judith's is a cognate with Juda/Judas. Consider that Gordon Freeman is hailed as a Messianic Archetype by the Vortigaunts, and it becomes clear that she cannot be trusted.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Her hair and beige color scheme allude to Gina from Decay.
- The Mole: Initially, but pulls a Heel–Face Turn later on. It's not clear if she's an example of a Fake Defector or Welcome Back, Traitor.
- My God, What Have I Done?: When Breen attempts to send Eli off-world at the game's climax, betraying his promise to Judith that he wouldn't harm him, she instantly regrets having sold him out to the Combine and pulls a Heel–Face Turn to save him.
- The Resenter: According to Alyx, despite ostensibly not holding any grudges towards Gordon, Judith likes to talk about how "it should have been her in the test chamber that day" which implies that she's still jealous about being passed over for Gordon's job (and robbed of the opportunity to become The Hero in the process) all that time ago. Given her later betrayal, it's possible that Judith still holds a grudge towards Gordon.
- Temporary Party Member to Villain: Subverted. During the assault on Nova Prospekt, it's revealed that she's been in league with the Combine all along, and she takes Eli straight to Dr. Breen. However, when Gordon finally meets Breen in person in the climax, Mossman is horrified at Breen's intention to essentially execute Eli and Alyx, so she changes allegiances and rescues Gordon, Eli, and Alyx all at once.
Dr. Arne Magnusson
Dr. Arne Magnusson
Appearances: Half-Life 2: Episode Two
"The last thing on my mind was submitting it for the Kleiner certificate of approval."
Voice Actor: John Aylward (English)note
"Oh, and Freeman! If you pull this off, I might just forgive you for that debacle at Black Mesa. You know the one I mean – involving a certain microwave casserole."
The manager of White Forest Base. Has a very distrustful relationship with Isaac Kleiner (well, they fought between each other for grant money). Later revealed to be the owner of a certain microwave casserole in the lounge of the Sector C Personnel Facilities in Black Mesa."Oh, and Freeman! If you pull this off, I might just forgive you for that debacle at Black Mesa. You know the one I mean – involving a certain microwave casserole."
- Brick Joke: Remember the microwave casserole you had the option to blow up in the beginning of the first game? According to canon, that just so happened to be Arne's casserole, and Gordon did in fact blow it up, something Arne still hasn't forgiven.
- Good Is Not Nice: Well, he's definitely not nice.
- It's All About Me: Magnusson is an incredibly egocentric asshole. Listening to him alone, it's very easy to get the impression that he does everything there is to do while everyone else exists solely to annoy him or hinder his great accomplishments. During the final sequence of Episode Two he explicitly takes full credit for the success of the entire operation (including the brutal defence of White Forest against a dozen friggin' Striders plus their Hunter escorts), completely ignoring the fact that he would've gotten nowhere without the invaluable support of scores of brave people, the player character among them, naturally.
- Jerkass: Specifically created to be this to contrast with Eli and Isaac.
- Miles Gloriosus: For all his pompousness, he can't even be bothered to secure his own base, dismissing any alarms as "crows". And his anti-strider bombs don't even have any propelling or detonating mechanisms, forcing Gordon to launch and detonate them manually.
- Narcissist: To the point where he names anti-strider bombs after himself. Of course, he claims this wasn't his idea, though "it seemed to please the base personnel". (However, a cut line of dialogue provides some context for this — they think "Magnusson" is a good name for the bombs because it doesn't take much to set them off.)
- Pet the Dog: He is grateful for Gordon's part in the rocket launch, although he really seems to have difficulty expressing it (and even then he manages to mostly praise himself).
- Remember the New Guy?: He just appears during Episode Two. Sure, it's implied he hadn't seen Gordon in a long time, but it still appears as though they know each other.
- Skewed Priorities: When he talks to Freeman about the debacle at Black Mesa, he's actually referring to his lunch that he ruined, not the resonance cascade that completely changed the face of Earth.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Given that his name is never even mentioned until the action shifts to White Forest, it is implied that he has no prominence outside of White Forest whatsoever.
- Stock Foreign Name: Arne Magnusson is a typical Scandinavian name.
Colonel Odessa Cubbage
Colonel Odessa Cubbage
Appearances: Half-Life 2
Voice Actor: John Patrick Lowrie (English)note
"Ah! Gordon Freeman! I couldn't have asked for a finer volunteer!"
A somewhat suspicious and supposedly British Resistance colonel, leading the New Little Odessa base along the coast. He only appears briefly in the 7th chapter of Half-Life 2, granting Gordon a rocket launcher."Ah! Gordon Freeman! I couldn't have asked for a finer volunteer!"
- Call-Back: After playing out his minor role in Half-Life 2, he disappears from the plot, and there is no mention of him again. Then, late in Episode One, three independent mentions suddenly turns up concerning him, first Alyx sarcastically claiming he is her father, then two rebels coming to the conclusion that he is an idiot, and finally a rebel who reveals that he had taken the credit for Gordon's work, and who turns out to be an admirer of him.
- Cower Power: When the base he has responsibility to lead comes under an attack threatening its very existence, no less, Cubbage sends Freeman to dispatch the gunship, while he safely hides to send a warning to another base, that mysteriously never reaches its destination despite taking so long.
- Dirty Coward: Once a gunship invades his base, he chooses to hide inside the basement throughout the whole fight, despite promising to "lend a hand".
- Miles Gloriosus: While there is no explicit mentions of his great military exploits, he does by no means seem like someone deserving a colonel title. Better yet, a passing comment in Episode One reveals that he took the credit for shooting down the aforementioned gunship.
- Mysterious Past: The Prima Guide to Half-Life 2 states that virtually nothing is known of Cubbage's past, his name may even be taken from the outpost, the only thing sure is his cowardice. If Gordon uses the Combine binoculars overlooking New Little Odessa, he can be seen talking to the G-Man, making Cubbage that much more mysterious.
- Rebel Leader: Although how significant he is doubtable.
- Small Name, Big Ego: It is staggeringly clear that he believes himself to be one of the great heroes of the La Résistance, although he appears to be the only one with this view, apart from one rebel in Episode One speaking somewhat highly of him.
Non-human allies
D0G
Appearances: Half-Life 2 | Half-Life 2: Episode One | Half-Life 2: Episode Two | Half-Life: Alyx note
A walking junkpile that moves like a robotic gorilla, but has an effective mindset of a dog, hence his name. Fiercely loyal to and protective of Alyx, and her friends by extension.
- Badass Adorable: Has quite the endearing attitude when he's happy, but when he's on the warpath, he'll smash the utter shit out of anything that isn't a Strider, where the only difference is that he'll take it apart with his bare hands instead.
- Big Damn Heroes: Ambushes the Combine Advisors at the end of Episode Two, saving Gordon and Alyx from their clutches while driving them off. Unfortunately, he was too late to save Eli.
- Big Friendly Dog: You play catch with him as part of Alyx's training regime for the gravity gun.
- The Big Guy: He's the size and shape of a very big gorilla.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Him versus any Combine forces short of a Strider. His favored method is to pick up ground vehicles and throw them at the enemy. And when he stays behind to allow Gordon to go to the Citadel, he thrashes the pursuing Combine soldiers so badly that they are flung around like ragdolls before jumping onto a Dropship.
- David Versus Goliath: Him versus a Strider.
- Gentle Giant: Is this towards Alyx and her allies, acting like a giant pet dog for the Resistance. Is anything but this towards the Combine.
- Lightning Bruiser: He's more than capable of wrecking pretty much anything in his path. At the same time he's fast enough to keep up with a car going flat-out. When you race him to White Forest in Episode Two and don't make liberal use of your car's booster, chances are he'll be waiting for you at the gate when you finally get there.
- My Nayme Is: D0G (with a zero) is written on his body shell. The in-game subtitles spell it "Dog" (with a letter o).
- Nice Guy: Just as loyal and friendly as his namesake.
- No-Sell: Because he isn't organic, he is immune to the Advisors' psychic attacks.
- Person of Mass Destruction: Any place D0G fights in tends to be left full of burning wreckage, as he pummels Combine troops with his bare hands, and projectiles so thoughtfully provided by our benefactors.
- Robot Buddy: He's loyal just like a normal dog, but is made from scraps.
- Robot Dog: Fits behavior-wise, if not in appearance. A photo
◊ in Half-Life: Alyx shows the original model built by Eli looked more dog-like before Alyx began upgrading him. - What a Piece of Junk: Consider him a junky old robot at your own peril if you're a Combine. He will thrash you.
Lamarr
Lamarr
Appearances: Half-Life 2 | Half-Life 2: Episode One | Half-Life 2: Episode Two |
Dr. Kleiner's de-beaked pet headcrab.
- All Animals Are Dogs: Kleiner has managed to domesticate it to some extent, comparable to a feral cat. Lamarr still retains much of the predatory behavior of a typical Headcrab and Kleiner doesn't seem to have much control over the creature as it attacks Barney (harmlessly) and aggressively hisses to both him and Kleiner before escaping to the airducts during its first appearance. That being said, and Kleiner can hold and pet it without it struggling. It appears to pant like a dog when resting from hopping around
- Fluffy the Terrible: A formerly dangerous Puppeteer Parasite named for a famous Golden Age actress.
- Named After Somebody Famous: Named after Hedy Lamarr.
- Punny Name: A headcrab named after Hedy Lamarr.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Basically a good portion of the game wouldn't happen without its interference in the teleport incident.
- Team Pet: For The Resistance, though most members don't seem to like it all that much.We're all starving, and Kleiner's Headcrab is probably eating grade-A head!
- Trademark Favorite Food: Watermelons, if a sticky note found in Kleiner's lab is any indication. Must be a good substitute for heads.
- Uncertain Doom: Last seen in the nosecone of a rocket launched into the Combine super-portal. If it's not dead it's in another universe.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Unwitting because it's a dumb animal, but thanks to Lamarr climbing into the teleporter, Gordon gets teleported into Breen's office and alerts the Combine to his presence, leading to many resistance bases being destroyed and rebels getting killed.
Other Rebels
Father Grigori
Father Grigori
Appearances: Half-Life 2
"A shepherd must tend to his flock, especially when they have grown... unruly."
The only surviving resident of Ravenholm and a strange man that Gordon encounters on his journey. Very little is known about him other than that he's an Eastern Orthodox-like preacher of questionable sanity who has taken it upon himself to clear his "flock" from Ravenholm.-
Alternative Character Interpretation: Whether he is truly insane or just devout is up to the player. It should be noted he does break down into seemingly random fits of laughter, but from his point of view, Headcrabs might as well be true demons who take over the minds of his flock. - Ambiguously Christian: His denomination isn't fully addressed, but heavily implied to be Orthodox Christian in the Ravenholm chapter.
- Apologetic Attacker: His Bond One-Liners to the zombies come off less as taunts and more as obituaries.
- Badass Normal: All he has is his old fashioned rifle and plenty of makeshift booby-traps to fend off the zombie hordes, and he's avoided getting caught by any Headcrabs and getting mauled by zombies ever since the initial Combine attack.
- Badass Preacher: While the preacher part may be questionable as his backstory is never expanded on, he is still a badass for being able to survive and remain in the zombie and headcrab-infested Ravenholm.
- According to writer Marc Laidlaw, Grigori was first envisioned as the "preacher with a shotgun" archetype.
- Battle Amongst the Flames: The final time he's seen, he bids farewell and safety to Gordon and rushes into an erupting fire to hold off the incoming zombie horde, laughing maniacally all the while.
- I Call It "Vera": He's armed with a .357 caliber lever action rifle called "Annabelle".
- Crazy Survivalist: Grigori's the nice kind. He may be not be very sane and has set up traps throughout the town, but he helps Gordon through Ravenholm out of the kindness of his heart.
- Creepy Good: Living through what happened in Ravenholm did a number on his mental health, but he's entirely helpful to Gordon. It's implied he also tried his best to help others.
- Evil Laugh: His laugh is pretty evil sounding, even though he's helping you.
- Friendly Sniper: He does all he can to help his flock, and you; the former he does from a long distance with Annabelle.
- Good Samaritan: Grigori is the only NPC in the entire game to help Gordon Freeman without recognizing who he is. He just thinks it's the right thing to do.
- Good Shepherd:
- While there are few people left in Ravenholm for him to help, he gives Gordon a shotgun, some supplies, and has built several traps that Gordon uses on the zombies. It is implied that Grigori has done the same for other rebels.
- It's implied that, with the state that the combine has left his flock in, he sees his role as the one responsible for their "salvation" as having morphed into a duty to give every last one of them a Mercy Kill. For what it's worth, he can still be heard giving conventional sermons to the zombies even while he blasts them to pieces.
- Heroic Sacrifice: He willingly stays behind to slow the zombie hordes down and allow Gordon to escape. Whether he actually dies is never made clear. See below under Uncertain Doom.
- Insane Equals Violent: He went mad after what happened to Ravenholm (though to be fair everyone would have gone insane) and he's technically violent since he lives in a Crapsack World surrounded by zombies (if there were no zombies, he wouldn't be violent, so it's not a result of his insanity), but he's 100% benevolent and helpful towards Gordon.
- Large Ham: He is a mad priest who recites all his psalms on rooftops in a very theatrical manner, often followed by a mad laughter.
- Meaningful Appearance: Just about every NPC in the game is wearing black or brown boots. This guy is wearing red sneakers.
- Meaningful Name: "Grigori" is a term in Biblical apocrypha for a group of angels tasked with watching over humanity as well as the name of a famous Russian preacher who was supposedly very hard to kill.
- Mercy Kill: What he does to the Headcrab Zombies, and is more than likely why he hasn't left town yet. He's perfectly justified.
- Nice Guy: Extremely helpful to Gordon Freeman, he's ready to risk his life for him.
- Sanity Slippage: He's obviously insane, although it's implied that he was driven insane by the whole headcrab infestation in Ravenholm. That being said his insanity doesn't make him dangerous to others, in fact he's actually an extremely brave and decent fellow.
- Shotguns Are Just Better: Briefly wields one before tossing it over to Freeman.Grigori: Here, I have a more suitable gun for you. You'll need it.
- Sole Survivor: The only individual known to still be alive and well after the population of Ravenholm was utterly wiped out in the headcrab infestation.
- Uncertain Doom: The devs have stated Grigori will never appear on-screen again, so whether or not he's still alive is a mystery.
The Fisherman
The Fisherman
Appearances: Half Life 2: Lost Coast
"You're that scientist chap-Friedman, Fishman-am I right?"
Voice Actor: Jim French (English)note
"Not sure what one man can do, but...no other reason to visit St. Olga at a time like this."
A friendly old fisherman who appears in the dubiously canon Lost Coast. He asks for Gordon's help in destroying a nearby Headcrab Shell Launcher that is attacking the town of St. Olga."Not sure what one man can do, but...no other reason to visit St. Olga at a time like this."
- Accidental Misnaming: Doesn't seem to remember Gordon's name, referring to him as "Fishman" or "Friedman".
- Beneath Notice: Presumably the reason why Combine troops do not seem to notice him, since he looks just like a normal fisherman. It's unknown if he's a Resistance member, but he's certainly not afraid to criticize the Combine and hates them as much as everybody else.
- Mr. Exposition: Apart from telling Gordon about the nearby Headcrab Shell Launcher, he also tells him information related to the effects of the Xenian fauna on Earth.
- No Name Given: We never learn his real name.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Downplayed. The fisherman is initially shocked by Gordon becoming "fuzzy around the edges", but reasons that he has other places to go and lets it slide.
- What the Hell, Hero?: He'll call out Gordon if he tries to shoot the seagulls of St. Olga, reasoning that they help keep down the Leech population.
Griggs and Sheckley
Griggs and Sheckley
Appearances: Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Griggs (left) and Sheckley (right)
Voice Actors: John Patrick Lowrie (Griggs); Adam Baldwin (Sheckley) (English)note
A pair of resistance members in an underground base in the outlands. They help Freeman defend the base against an army of Antlions to protect the Vortigaunts while they heal Alyx.
- Combat Medic: Griggs has the unique ability to toss medkits to Freeman, unlike other resistance medics who need to get up close to heal him.
- Deadpan Snarker: Sheckley doesn't even try to humor Griggs at all.Sheckley: Hey, you see a bug on me, how about you try to get it off next time?
Griggs: I didn't see it!
Sheckley: Yeah, they're only like five feet tall!
Griggs (After an Antlion attack): I got... ten!
Sheckley: Yeah well we all got ten, there's hundreds of them! - Properly Paranoid: When Freeman arrives, Griggs thinks it's a bunch of Antlions. Turns out they're not that far behind.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Griggs is the red, Sheckley is the blue, with Griggs being a jittery, paranoid mess who loses his cool while Sheckley is a no-nonsense and reasonable fighter who remains calm even when being swarmed from all angles.
- Hold the Line: Gordon has to help them hold off incoming Antlion swarms until their Vortigaunt reinforcements can arrive, with the help of jury rigged sentry guns, landmines and motion sensors.
- Tempting Fate: After Gordon has spent a long time running around the Antlion nests, shooting workers, disrupting the hive and likely stomping on grubs all the way through, Griggs has this to say when he arrives to their safe haven within that very same nest.Griggs: The Vort says as long as we don't step on their Grubs, they shouldn't hear us this far from the nest.
Sheckley: Yeah well, that's a theory I'd rather not test. - Those Two Guys: They were originally meant to serve as Exposition Red Shirts, but they were developed into actual characters who survive the battle.
Russell
Russell
Appearances: Half-Life: Alyx
Voice Actor: Rhys Darby (Half-Life: Alyx)
"I'm with you every step of the way."
A more older gentleman and one of Alyx's allies in Half-Life: Alyx. He has a secret lab inside of his apartment, where he invented the "Russells", a pair of gravity-manipulating gloves as well as a pistol which serves as Alyx's main tools throughout the game."I'm with you every step of the way."
- Brutal Honesty: Not on purpose mind you, but he has a habit of being a bit blunt.Russell: Now, pretty soon they're going to realize that your dad is not going to talk, and when that happens he's off to have his brain sucked out.
Alyx: Russell.
Russell: Potentially. Maybe not, though. I mean he could- they could just drill into his—
Alyx: Stop. - Cool Old Guy: Russell may be aged and have white hair, but he still managed to hide a laboratory inside his own apartment and create a pair of gravity-manipulating gloves.
- Homemade Inventions: He invented the gravity gloves inside his apartment.
- It Began with a Twist of Fate: He knew Eli from when he interviewed at a job for Black Mesa. They liked him, but declined to hire him, encouraging him to reapply next year. Since the Resonance Cascade happened less than a year after that, he considers himself to have gotten out lucky.
- Mission Control: He serves as one for the duration of Alyx.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Russell hacks the Combine construction cameras mostly to be cheeky at the beginning of the game, only to shortly begin to wonder just what he's seeing; something he later notes to have merely been blurry pictures of a strange structure that turns out to be the Vault. This alone triggers the Combine to react violently, capturing Eli and setting Half-Life: Alyx into motion.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Russell is never seen or mentioned again after Alyx enters the Vault.
Black Mesa Research Facility
In General
Black Mesa
"A reminder to all Black Mesa Personnel: Regular radiation and biohazard screenings are a requirement of continued employment in the Black Mesa Research Facility. Missing a scheduled urinalysis or radiation check-up is grounds for immediate termination. If you feel you have been exposed to radioactive or other hazardous materials in the course of your duties, contact your Radiation Safety Officer immediately. Work safe, work smart. Your future depends on it."
— Black Mesa Announcement System
An American research corporation residing within the desert of New Mexico. It is the main setting of Half-Life and its expansions.
- Acid Pool: Leaks of radioactive and toxic waste are shockingly common. Worse yet, parts of the facility are entirely flooded with electrified toxic waste.
- Area 51: Minus the planes and with less secrecy.
- Covert Group with Mundane Front: Downplayed, since the company does conduct legitimate research. However, even among its own ranks, the nature and purpose of the research is intentionally obfuscated and classified. Gordon had no idea that the crystal he was handling was from another dimension or used for teleportation research.
- Elaborate Underground Base: The facility is a gigantic maze of labs, shafts and corridors stretching vertically and horizontally.
- Lethal Negligence: Overcharging the Anti-Mass Spectrometer causes the resonance cascade which leads to the Combine invasion.
- Meaningful Name: The Black Mesa Research Facility is built into an actual mesa.
- No OSHA Compliance: Just about every single area of the facility has some sort of way to kill you. Between Bottomless Pits, vats of electrified toxic waste, the high amount of improperly stored ordinance, unsecured electrical outlets, the list goes on. Amazingly, the facility is wheelchair-accessible.
- The Rival: To Aperture Science. The two have engaged in all sorts of sabotage and corporate espionage over the years as they competed for government contracts. Writers Faliszek and Wolpaw have described the feud as "snobs versus slobs", with Black Mesa being the snobs.
- Ye Olde Nuclear Silo: The facility was originally a nuclear base built in the 50s before being purchased by the Black Mesa corporation. Silos seem to be the corporation's preferred base, as they have also purchased one in Eastern Europe.
Dr. Rosenberg
Dr. Rosenberg
Appearances: Half-Life: Blue Shift | Half-Life: Decay
"The administrator is a bureaucrat, not a scientist! I did not design this equipment to be run at such intensity!"
"Let those fools try and fight a battle they can't win! I just want to get out of here!"
Voice Actor: Jon St. John
A scientist partly responsible for the Black Mesa incident and the military storming the facility, he attempts to flee the facility unlike his colleagues Gina and Colette. While hatching an escape plan, he gets captured by HECU soldiers and is subsequently rescued by Barney Calhoun, who helps him and a few other scientists escape from the facility.- Ambiguously Jewish: Rosenberg is a Jewish name of German origin. Justified as his name and likeness are likely inspired by the electrical engineer Julius Rosenberg.
- Cassandra Truth: He's a bit concerned with the Anti-Mass Spectrometer being ran at dangerous levels, especially after his colleague Harold warns him of the risks. Dr. Richard Keller dismisses these concerns and states that the administrator (Breen)'s instructions are clear. When the Resonance Cascade happens, he suffers a bit of Heroic BSoD and holds himself the most responsible.
- Dirty Coward: Downplayed. He hatches a plan to escape Black Mesa along with his fellow scientists. He is however willing to involve other Black Mesa personnel such as Barney Calhoun in the plan, thus saving their lives.
- Early-Bird Cameo: He is one of the many scientists overseeing Barney Calhoun during his training. This however, may be an error, given he is known to replace the "Slick" model.
- Last-Name Basis: His colleagues only ever call him "Rosenberg" or "Doctor Rosenberg".
- Plot Armor: While most NPCs can be killed without reproach once they're no longer useful to you, he remains plot-critical at all times and killing him at any point leads to a game over.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Pulls this during the incident, thinking that Gordon Freeman and the Lambda Team can handle it.
- Small Role, Big Impact: He designed the Anti-Mass Spectrometer, but only appears in Blue Shift then Decay and is never seen again. Because of him however, Barney Calhoun managed to escape Black Mesa and return for the sequel.
- Survivor Guilt: He holds himself the most responsible for the incident and the military storming the facility. He attempts to redeem himself by saving other Black Mesa staff.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Just like Gina and Colette, he is nowhere to be seen in Half-Life 2 despite Barney Calhoun appearing alive and well. The other survivors of the Black Mesa incident (including Barney) don't even mention him.
Dr. Keller
Dr. Richard Keller
Appearances: Half-Life: Decay
"My chair is powered, I did not need a push."
Voice Actor: Brice Armstrong
A colleague of Drs Eli and Rosenberg who is partially responsible for the resonance cascade. With much of the science team dead and scattered, he, Dr. Cross and Dr. Green take it upon themselves to deal with the consequences.- Chekhov's Gun: Remember that wheelchair space on the Black Mesa trams? Yeah, here's someone that uses them.
- Decomposite Character: His textures bear the name 'Kleiner', indicating he and Kleiner were originally going to be the same character.
- Foil: To Rosenberg. Keller is boisterous and quite stubborn in spite of his physical disability, whereas Rosenberg is a bit of a coward in spite of being very much qualified to deal with the resonance cascade.
- Ignore the Disability: He seems to take this approach to the situation regarding his legs. Despite (or maybe because of) the fact that his condition is so dire as to require an electric wheelchair, he hates being pushed and reminded of his disability.
- Mission Control: Acts as this for Gina and Colette for the duration of Decay.
- Plot Armor: Like Rosenberg, he's essential to the plot and you absolutely cannot let him die.
- Super Wheelchair: Heavily downplayed. It's an ordinary electric wheelchair, but it seems to have a built-in connection to Black Mesa systems, allowing him to pass through without a retinal scan and access some of the equipment.
- Throwing Off the Disability: Played for Laughs in files left by the developers. An unused animation and sound file has Keller get up from his wheelchair, rub his legs and walk in a circle while shouting "Mein Führer!... I can walk!"
- Uncertain Doom: He is not seen after the events of Decay. Given that Gina is apparently dead and Colette locked away, it's unlikely he survived.
- Uniformity Exception: He is the only scientist not to wear the labcoat and blue shirt, and instead sports a comfy sweater. Possibly perks of his disability, since he is not going to be handling any material with his own hands.
Otis Laurey
Otis Laurey
Appearances: Half-Life: Opposing Force | Half-Life: Blue Shift
"So, do you guys train for alien combat, or is this just a special occasion?"
Voice Actor: Mike Shapiro
An overweight security guard that landed a job at the Black Mesa Research Facility.- All There in the Manual: His name is not mentioned in-game, instead being written in game files and in supplementary material for Decay.
- Basement-Dweller: Lives with his mom.Otis: "My mom is gonna worry when I don't make it home tonight!"
- Big Eater: Fond of donuts specifically.
- Big Fun: In a facility where death is almost certain, Otis manages to keep in high spirits even as he's gunning down headcrabs.
- Comic Relief: Added by Gearbox to ease the tension a little early on in the game.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He's a Fat Slob with a neurotic, childish personality and he's also armed with a Desert Eagle.
- Donut Mess with a Cop: Security guard variant. Humorously, an Otis in the first chapter of Blue Shift can be seen fruitlessly reaching for his gun while holding a donut in his right hand.
- Flanderization: He is this to Barney/generic security guard. A handful of quotes are even parodies of the usual guard ones.Barney: "Heh, that'll look nice in my trophy room."
Otis: "Hmm, I'd love to hang that over my fireplace! Y'know, if I had one." - Hand Cannon: In comparison to the Glock most security guards have equipped, Otis keeps a Desert Eagle on his hip. This high-caliber handgun can make quick work of any alien critters that cross his path.
- I Am Big Boned: It might be Self-Deprecating Humor, but he says it nonetheless.Otis: "Oh no, I'm not fat! I'm just what you call "big boned.""
- Inexplicably Identical Individuals: Like Barney and Walter, there are multiple security guards bearing his appearance and personality. Unlike Barney and Walter however, neither the game nor outside sources give a 'definitive' Otis, meaning it's unclear who the 'real' one is.
- Lethal Joke Character: The one Otis companion in Opposing Force. While he might be Comic Relief, he is armed with a Magnum and scarily precise. Should the player bring him on the short walk to the elevator, they may not even need to shoot, as Otis simply guns down every alien the moment he sees them.
- Must Not Die a Virgin:Otis: "I don't wanna die a virgin."''
- Not What I Signed on For:Otis: "Fighting aliens is not in my job description!"
- Too Dumb to Live: The second Otis you encounter decides to put his hands on an electrified fence, with predictable results.
Dr. Bennet
Dr. Walter Bennet
Appearances: Half-Life: Blue Shift
Voice Actor: Harry S. Robins
"Dr. Rosenberg! Thank God you made it!"
A scientist working at the Black Mesa Research Facility, conducting secret research into Xenobiology.- Ascended Extra: Joined the ranks of other generic scientists who got their own name and identity.
-
Ascended Fanon: Walter was originally the protagonist of a Half-Life fanfiction called 'Walter's World', which was incredibly popular in the late 90s. Come Opposing Force and Blue Shift, Gearbox added him as a character, canonizing him in Half-Life lore. - Decomposite Character: The character of Kleiner is partly based on him, and some of his textures are still named 'Walter'.
- More than Meets the Eye: As Opposing Force reveals, he is very familiar with aliens from Xen, and seemingly worked at the Sector E Biodome Complex, where he and other scientists studied Xen's flora and fauna.
- Omnidisciplinary Scientist: It's not quite clear what his expertise is. The manual mentions him being briefed by Gina on workings of the Anti-Mass Spectromerer, suggesting that, like Kleiner, his main field is physics. However, he is also apparently studying Xenian fauna in the Sector E Biodome complex, which means he is also a biologist to some extent.
- Stronger Than They Look: Despite appearing quite old, he's strong enough to pry open the gate at the Black Mesa parking lot.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Like Rosenberg and Simmons, their whereabouts are unknown despite escaping the facility with Barney.
Other
The G-Man
??? / "The G-Man"
Appearances: Half-Life | Half-Life: Opposing Force | Half-Life: Blue Shift | Half-Life: Decay | Half-Life 2 | Half-Life 2: Episode One | Half-Life 2: Episode Two | Half-Life: Alyx
Voice Actor: Mike Shapiro (English)note
"Some believe the fate of our worlds is - inflexible. My... employers... disagree."
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So, wake up, Mr. Freeman. Wake up and... smell the ashes."
An eldritch and enigmatic being, looking like a blend between a government worker and a businessman, who possesses a degree of control over space and time. Who or what he is as well as what are his motives are entirely unknown, aside from the fact that he's been observing the events of the entire Half-Life series. And that he is possibly not entirely human. He apparently answers to some higher authority which he simply refers to as his "employers". He has, however, on a couple of occasions hinted that he does not necessarily obey these "employers".- Accent Upon The Wrong Syllable: Although sometimes he accents the right syllable just with far too much emphasis.
- Action Survivor: Implied to be the case in one of the few allusions to his history:G-Man: I admit I have a fascination with those who adapt and survive against all odds. They rather remind me of myself.
- Affably Evil: We actually don't know how much "evil" he is. But if he is, he's pretty damn proper about it.
- All-Powerful Bystander: Downplayed because of his occasional interference, but it's implied that he's capable of doing a lot more than popping in randomly and giving cryptic speeches. Notably, when he refuses to remove the Combine from Earth at the end of Alyx he doesn't say that such a drastic move would be outside of his capabilities, he simply implies that it would be an act that goes beyond the current interests of his Employers. Could he? Could he not? We may never know.G-Man: I wish I could do more than keep an eye on you, but I have agreed to abide by certain... restrictions.
- Ambiguously Evil: On one hand, his chessmaster antics, creepy dialogue, and mysterious powers make him easy to see as a villain of some sort. Plus, the Vortigaunts seem to oppose him and Eli suggests he's the one who gave Black Mesa the crystal that caused the resonance cascade in the first Half-Life. On the other hand, we know absolutely nothing about who he actually is and what his motivations are, and he seems to oppose the Combine, who definitely are villains, and he has saved Freeman and Shephard's lives on several occasions.
- Ambiguously Human: He obviously isn't, but we don't know what he actually is. Even he doesn't consider himself human, referring to himself as "what" when talking to Alyx. Presumably he just took A Form You Are Comfortable With.
- Animal Motifs: Sort of. Half-Life: Alyx seems to give him a virus motif, likely playing into his modus operandi of subverting worlds from the inside. Crows also frequently appear in his vicinity.
- Badass in Distress: At some point prior to Half-Life: Alyx, the Combine actually managed to capture and imprison him. How they managed to do so is never explained. Though one should consider the possibility that he allowed himself to be captured, in order to trick Alyx into making the deal which effectively replaces Gordon with her.
- Big Bad: He's definitely the big... something. However, there's just as much to suggest that he's this (his employers are unknown; the Vortigaunts don't support him; and as noted above, Eli suggests that he's the one from whom Black Mesa got the crystal that caused the Resonance cascade, and by extension, the events of the entire series; and claiming Alyx as his new agent, stealing her away from her father and friends while throwing Freeman aside) as there is to suggest he's the Big Good.
- Big Good: He's definitely the big... something. However, there's just as much to suggest that he's this (saving Freeman and Shepard from their doom; seems to oppose the definite villains, the Combine; saving Alyx Vance despite his employers objecting; and letting Alyx Vance save her father from the Combine) as there is to suggest he's the Big Bad.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing:
- While he remains a source of ambiguity and it's hard to tell his loyalties, at the end of Alyx, he does at least show a malicious shade of his true colors by cruelly abducting Alyx and abandoning Gordon to fend for himself after the end of Episode Two.
- He always appears to be supportive (albeit with no small amount of dry wit) when talking to Gordon, but his conversation with Alyx reveals that he's extremely dismissive of his performance. As soon as he finds a suitable replacement, he lets go of Gordon without a word.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: For whom does he play? No one knows but him. Given his actions in Alyx, it's very likely that he's playing both sides of the war for his and his employers' benefit.
- The Chessmaster: He's either this, or the reigning world champion of Xanatos Speed Chess. Best exemplified by the ending of Alyx.
- Children Are a Waste: The G-Man seems to disagree, as he saved Alyx Vance despite objections from his employers, presumably because he anticipated the role she'd play in the future. They didn't want him to, because "she was a mere child, and of no practical use to anyone." Well... how about now?G-Man: When I -plucked- her from Black Mesa... I acted in the face of objections that she was a mere child and of no practical use to anyone. I have learned to ignore such -naysayers- when... quelling... them, hm, was out of the question.
- Consummate Liar: If the Nihilanth is to be trusted (which is a dubious condition, to be sure), he's far from your true ally.Nihilanth: Deceive you... he will deceive you...
- Creepy Blue Eyes: In Half Life 1. In Half Life 2, his eyes have a more greenish color.
- Creepy Monotone: He rarely ever emotes verbally, preferring to talk in the same low tone with unnatural stresses on certain syllables.
- Creepy Shadowed Undereyes: Which only serve to highlight how odd the man looks.
- Deadpan Snarker: He has some moments displaying a very dry sense of humor.G-Man: The biggest embarrassment has been Black Mesa facility, but I think that's finally taken care of itself...[Black Mesa explodes in a nuclear blast in the background.] Quite so.
- Deal with the Devil: Invokes this on Alyx at the end of her game after she rescues him from the Combine prison, allowing her to save Eli Vance's life at the end of Episode Two—at the cost of being hired herself like Gordon before her, removing her from the timeline.
- Dissonant Serenity: Always remains cool and businesslike no matter what chaos is occurring around him. He does periodically express irritation, such as if Gordon refuses to work with him in Half-Life, and even anger, such as when Vortigaunts disrupt his influence in Episode One.
- The Dreaded: While a bane to them on Earth, the Combine see Gordon as little more than a nuisance in the grand scope of things, but the G-Man apparently terrifies them so much - or at least poses enough of a threat to them - that they built a vault ship designed to specifically contain him and only him in a position outside space-time and would go to any lengths to prevent anyone of knowing about him and his containment, even executing passerbys and any unauthorized personnel for even passing a glance at the ship's exterior.
- Early Installment Character-Design Difference: His general character design, specifically his face, changes from game to game.
- Half-Life and its expansions didn't give him any official character art, so all players could go off of was his primitive, low-poly model. Gearbox would later give him a higher-poly model with the expansions. Here, his eyebrows are noticeably thicker than in later iterations, his eyes are blue, and his briefcase bears a Black Mesa emblem unlike in subsequent titles.
- Half-Life 2 gave him a proper high-poly design (for 2004), complete with bright-green eyes and a streamlined sunken-in face. Here, he is perpetually wall-eyed and doesn't appear to emote very often, if at all.
- Half-Life 2: Episode One made his green eyes slightly darker, his eyes properly in-line, and made him emote more often. Episode Two added more detail to his face and changed his eyes to be glowing white.
- Alyx is his most detailed iteration to-date. Wrinkles and aged skin were added to make him look more like a skinny middle-aged businessman and he emotes at almost-Large Ham levels, though this may be due to having a different audience. His eyes returned to being green again, but much darker, and he now has a noticeable lazy eye.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: The first game strongly implies that he's affiliated with the U.S. government (he removes Gordon's weapons because they are government properties, implying that he's part of said government). Subsequent games, however, make it very clear that he's actually working for something else.
- Expy:
- Marc Laidlaw, one of the series' main writers, admitted in an email that that the G-Man was "weirdly/interdimensionally related" to the character Theodore Slowslop from the Gadget game series, the tie-in novel for which Laidlaw wrote before joining Valve. Both characters are cold, Ambiguously Human suited characters who act as the handler of their respective games' protagonists at the behest of their employers, while at the same time having their own ambiguous motives for doing certain things, such as G-Man saving Alyx Vance from Black Mesa at his own initiative, and Slowslop possibly working with the very scientists he was supposed to be hunting down.
- Both his characterization and role in the plot resemble that of the Cigarette-Smoking Man from The X-Files, being the embodiment of a vast conspiracy who shows up seemingly at random to speak cryptically about larger plans. According to Word of God, studio head Gabe Newell specifically asked for a character similar to the CSM to be included in the game.
- Marc Laidlaw, one of the series' main writers, admitted in an email
- Glowing Eyes: From Half-Life 2 onwards, though in Alyx his eyes only glow when he's being particularly emotive.
- Graceful Loser: Not necessarily a villain, but when the Vortigaunts foil some plan he has for Gordon, he is annoyed but doesn't retaliate; he simply waits for another opportunity to make contact, and does not seem to hold any kind of grudge against them for their interference.
- Greater-Scope Villain: While we're not sure if he's actually a villain or not (see the entries for Big Bad and Big Good above), if he is he falls under this.
- The Handler: After the end of the first game, he becomes this to Freeman, apparently keeping him as a kind of private mercenary to drop into conflicts in different periods of Earth's future for some unknown ends. He may also still have Adrian Shepherd on lock and takes Alyx into his 'employment' as a result of the events of Alyx as a sort of payment for his meddling with her father's original death in Episode Two.
- Hidden Disdain Reveal: He maintains a professional if somewhat snarky relationship with Gordon, even expressing regrets for not being able to help him more, but his conversation with Alyx reveals that he's very dissatisfied with the man and wants to replace him as quickly as possible.
- Human Alien: It's made quite clear he is from a different world, since he possesses reality-altering powers and speaks in a way that is described by the developers as "something trying and failing to act human".
- Humanoid Abomination: Maybe. Standing still and not talking, he looks human. When he talks and moves — and where he appears — it becomes disconcertingly obvious that he cannot possibly be human.
- Inexplicably Awesome: One of the most intriguing parts of the G-Man is how little we know about anything about him, including how he does what he does, what he is, who he works for, and what he wants.
- Invisible to Normals: He can apparently choose which persons are able to see him, and it is hinted that he also has some power over if they remember him or not afterwards.
- I See Them, Too: The G-Man appears to be invisible to everyone but Freeman and Shephard at times (excluding cameos in Blue Shift and Decay). However, the Nihilanth, Eli Vance, and the Vortigaunts are all also aware of his existence. Dr. Breen has also implied that he's aware of his employers, what the G-Man did to Gordon in the interim between the first and second games, and that Breen and/or the Combine may have also been involved in a bidding war for Gordon's 'services'. Breen was also implied to be among the "naysayers" who objected to the G-Man saving Alyx Vance's life.
- Kick the Dog: It's very subtle, but he seems to take an inordinate amount of pleasure in both "firing" Freeman and putting Alyx Vance in stasis after the events of Alyx.
- Kubrick Stare: Has a particularly nasty one in Alyx aside from a Psychotic Smirk as seen in the trailer (pictured above).
- Lack of Empathy: Debatable. He saves Gordon's life quite a few times and later he admits he saved Alyx during the Black Mesa disaster suggesting that maybe he's capable of mercy. He also mentions to Shephard that he saved his life specifically because he sees him as a kindred spirit. Considering that he only seems to save people that he sees potential for exploitation in, it's debatable how much emotion is involved. His sequence in Alyx also sees him refer to Eli and an Advisor as "This entity", implying he sees both as being equally beneath him.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: In Alyx, he comments on Gordon's unreliability, specifically commenting on his lack of progress as of late as a deciding factor to seek a replacement, in an almost tongue-in-cheek nod to the long Development Hell that Half-Life has experienced between Episode Two and Alyx, implying that he actually has a measure of Medium Awareness as part of his Reality Warper nature.
- Malicious Misnaming: Always addresses Gordon as Mr. Freeman, putting extra emphasis on the "Mr." just to rub it in that he doesn't respect Gordon enough to use his proper title. This changes once Gordon defeats Dr. Breen.
- Manipulative Bastard: From locking out Gordon and Adrian from certain doors, to shoving them in deep-freeze, yeah.
- The Men in Black: Doesn't quite fit the trope, but sure as hell evokes the basic concept, probably deliberately.
- Mysterious Employer: Claims he works for someone, or something, else. Given he seems to have the power to teleport at will and even stop time itself, the fact he is employed by a being presumably of greater power than himself is either reassuring or disturbing, depending on his real allegiances.
- Mysterious Past: In the ending of Opposing Force, the G-Man admits to Adrian that he has a "fascination to those who adapt and survive against all odds" (referring to Adrian) and also states that it reminds him of himself. This could imply that the G-Man himself had experienced what Gordon and Adrian had gone through and took the mantles of the G-Man later on.
- Noble Demon: If we believe what he says, then he saved both Alyx and Shephard when it would have been easier to let them die, and against the direct orders of his employers. Given that Alyx winds up playing an integral role in his long-term plans, however, it's arguable whether this counts as Pet the Dog or not.
- No Name Given: While he is called "G-Man" in terms of both the credits and his associated character models, he is never actually referred to as this in-story. The only direct reference to him in-game is Eli's label of "our mutual friend." As such, the G-Man is not his actual name or even an In-Series Nickname. In the manual for Opposing Force, Adrian Shephard does call him "a G-man" in his diary, but this seems to be a reference to how he looks like a stereotypical "government man".
- Not So Omniscient After All: All of the player characters are at his mercy throughout the Half-Life games. It's only Episode One where it's made clear that while powerful, he's not omnipotent; the Vortigaunts demonstrating the ability to somehow suppress the G-Man's influence, something that surprises him.
- Offscreen Teleportation: Though there are two scenes where you get to see him disappear into a portal: Once in Half-Life ("Lambda Core"), and once in Opposing Force ("Foxtrot Uniform"). Played straight several times in Half-Life 2 and its episodes where he can occasionally be spotted in the distance, only to calmly walk away and disappear without a trace when approached. Even more glaring is his habit of appearing to Gordon literally out of thin air without using a visible portal, so...
- The Omnipotent: Subverted. While he appears as such in Half-Life, it is later shown that the G-Man cannot exert full control over everything everywhere at once. The Combine are able to capture and contain him in Alyx, and particularly powerful Vortigaunts can repel him and disrupt his influence when grouped together. The nature of his power and what exactly he does is unclear, but he appears to have his limitations, as do his "employers" (if they even exist at all). Some speculate that he allowed himself to be captured, but this is also unclear.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
- When he shows even a hint of anger in Episode One, it's bone-chilling.
- In Alyx, he shows actual maliciousness for the first time in the ending. Not only cruelly leaving Alyx in confusion and fear as he leaves her in stasis, but tosses Gordon to the wayside once freed from his imprisonment.
- Painting the Medium: In his appearance in Alyx, the G-Man makes a habit of walking around the player, vanishing from sight, making spectral doubles of himself, and often appearing next to Alyx from an angle that he did not previously walk off from. Given that Alyx is a VR game, all of this confusing movement serves to disorient the player as much as it would Alyx, considering that the player would have to quickly turn their head or body to face where G-Man is currently and wouldn't know where to look when he splits off into his dopplegangers.
- Pet the Dog:
- A debatable example. He allowed Alyx the use of his powers to save her father from his death during the events of Episode Two at the end of Alyx, something he didn't really have to do. He also saved Alyx from the Black Mesa Incident in the first place, and even helped her and Eli escape the facility. However, the ending of Alyx leaves it in question whether he did this out of mercy, or whether it was simply a calculated long-term investment.
- Shows a few times to Adrian. He has shown interest in Adrian's safety as early as his initial arrival in Black Mesa when he saved him from the "electrified toxic waste" room. There is also an on-going speculation that the Osprey evacuating the soldiers would not have made it to safety, explaining why he prevented Adrian from boarding it. That said, it is implied the G-Man had an interest in Adrian far before Black Mesa and was responsible for accelerating his training program. While it is plausible that he views Adrian as an "investment" like Alyx, expressing kinship with Adrian over their mutual ability to "adapt and survive" is a praise he afforded nobody else.
- Precision F-Strike: An infamous example. In one of the unused Episode One lines, he literally says "Well, shit."
- Progressively Prettier: Downplayed. G-Man's design has gradually become more "normal" as the games have gone on; he looks almost grey-like in Half-Life (though this was likely more due to graphics limitations of the time), with expansions and the later HD textures making him look more human, 2 and its episodes normalizing his appearance but settling on otherwise odd touches such as his sunken in, skull-like face and almost glowing eyes, with Alyx trading out the skull-like look in favor of looking even more like a mundane businessman.
- Reality Warper: Can casually stop time and plant subliminal orders into people.
- Retcon: He was originally imagined as the administrator of Black Mesa and a literal government agent, but in Half-Life 2 the administrator role was given to Breen.
- Screw Destiny: His employers (and perhaps, by extension, he himself) seem to believe this, judging by what he says about them in Alyx. Of course, this being the G-Man, just what kind of fate they want to fight is unclear.G-Man: Some believe the fate of our worlds is... inflexible. My employers disagree. They authorize me to... nudge... things, hm.... In a particular direction from time to time.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Is revealed to be such at the end of Alyx rather than Gordon by the Combine, somehow. The end of the game sees him set free by Alyx.
- The Spook: All we know is that he's not human. His goals, true allegiances and the extent of his powers remain a mystery throughout the series.
- Sssssnake Talk: In the first game. Averted in the second game and its expansions, although his speech patterns remain quite erratic.
- The Stoic: Has a very emotionless demeanor, though he occasionally expresses slight amusement, and on one occasion the merest hint of anger.
- Sufficiently Advanced Aliens: As far as we can tell, he's some sort of alien and has a plethora of psychic abilities rivaled only by the Vortigaunts.
- Time Master: He seems to be able to stop time for his "employees" at the very least. And as shown in Alyx, he can even rewrite entire timelines, such as him allowing Alyx Vance to save her father from a Combine Advisor at the end of Episode Two.
- Uncanny Valley: Invoked intentionally. Word of God states that he's meant to hint at something only trying to look human, but not bothering to try very hard. It's especially apparent in Alyx, where his eyes glow unnaturally at several points, and his face is the most visually emotive in all his appearances, cycling through a variety of emotions throughout his speech...while still keeping his cold, never-changing monotone, causing a massive, uncomfortable disconnect between the emotion of his voice and the emotion of his face. His prominent lazy eye in this incarnation as well also means he's always feels like he's staring right through Alyx to instead glare at the player.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Whenever he appears he just goes about his business even if there's a huge battle raging around him. Possibly justified as he seems to be invincible.
- Vader Breath: Downplayed. While/before he speaks, the G-Man occasionally inhales dramatically in a way that sounds like someone gasping for air.
- Vocal Evolution: Starting with Half-Life 2 he drops his tendency towards drawing out syllables in favor of a different form of erratic pronunciation, and in the Episodes and Alyx his speech is noticeably slower and more mellow.
- The Worf Effect: He manages to play both sides of this trope straight at the end of Alyx, depending on your interpretation of events.
- On one hand, the mere fact that the Combine managed to temporarily imprison him can serve as a terrifying reminder that the Lambda Resistance is only fighting a token force of the Combine, and the full might of the Combine is far stronger than anyone could possibly imagine. Even he can be beaten by them.
- On the other hand, there are many signs that the Combine were pants-shittingly terrified of him. They went to the trouble of building an enormous, space-bending ship that was larger than a city block, and executing anyone who even glimpsed it - all for the sole purpose of containing the G-man. It still wasn't enough. When Alyx frees him, he's merely... waiting, with the aura of someone who knows he won't be locked up for long. He then proceeds to lend some ability to Alyx that allows her to One-Hit Kill an Advisor, one of the absolute top dogs of the Combine Empire. In summary, he casually demonstrates that he can potentially completely dismantle the strongest efforts the Combine could possibly make, at least on Earth, without even having to dirty his hands personally. When Alyx asks for ‘the Combine off Earth’, he seems merely bemused, but he does describe the notion as a ‘particularly large nudge’. Whether this means it would be a big effort for him, or simply go against the wishes of his Employers, is not clear. In any case, he does not seem to fear the Combine in the slightest.
- You Bastard!: In Episode Two, he brings up that Freeman killed a lot of Vortigaunts during the Black Mesa incident, the same aliens who at that moment are trying to save Alyx's life. Granted, he doesn't care about Vortigaunt lives, and mostly brought it up to be a jerk.G-Man: Hm. There was a time they cared nothing for Miss Vance... When their only experience of humanity was a crowbar coming at them down a steel corridor.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Does this in a nonlethal fashion to Gordon Freeman at the end of Alyx, disappointed with his lack of progress - or lack of willingness to obey him - and deciding to replace him with Alyx instead once she makes a Deal with the Devil to save her father. This leaves Gordon free from his control but isolated from his help and at odds with his goals.
Larry
Larry
Appearances: Half-Life: Alyx
Voice Actor: Rich Sommer (Half-Life: Alyx)
"Whoa whoa whoa what! Jeff is bulletproof!"
An eccentric man Alyx encounters at the distillery. Alyx saves him from a barnacle and in return Larry teaches her how to avoid Jeff.- The Alcoholic: Implied, by the way he slightly stumbles while standing. Also who in their right mind would ever wander into the quarantine zone, let alone the spore filled distillery on a such a frequent basis to start naming the monsters in there? It's quite clear that he is very fond of the "good stuff" that he gathers.
- Casual Danger Dialogue: When he thinks he's about to die from being eaten by a Barnacle, he sounds more annoyed over his dumb mistake than anything as the Barnacle tries to pull him away, and asks Alyx for help without much urgency in his voice.
- Distressed Dude: He seems fully capable of taking care of himself considering his equipment and expertise in navigating the quarantine zone while avoiding Jeff, but he made one mistake and got his leg caught by a Barnacle, forcing him to hold on to a railing for dear life. Alyx happened to be nearby to save him when they first meet.
- Exposition Fairy: He exists mainly to teach Alyx about Jeff's behavior and how she can avoid coughing from spores by covering her mouth.
