TV & Movies
Refresh your memory before watchingThe Matrix Resurrections.
Below, an in-depth primer onThe Matrix,The Matrix Reloaded, andThe Matrix Revolutions.Major spoilers forthe Matrix Trilogyfollow.
Below, all you should probably know about the original Matrix Trilogy.
What Kicks Off The Events OfThe Matrix?
The Matrixis set in a dystopian future where artificially intelligent machines have overpowered their human creators.
This culminated in the establishment of Zero One, an all-Machine nation.
Humanity, however, refused to recognize Zero Ones sovereignty and instead bombed its major settlement, Machine City.
This led to the First Machine War, which took place in the mid-22nd century.
One of these true believers is Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), the captain of the hovercraftNebuchadnezzar.
Who Are The Key Characters?
The Oracle
Not all the figures who appear in the Matrix simulation are plugged-in humans.
Many are programs, who are designed to carry out specific functions.
It was the Oracle who discovered the solution.
Virtually every individual would acquiesce, willingly accepting the simulation.
And so the current Matrix model was born.
The Oracle is also inextricably linked to the Prophecy of The One.
Agent Smith
Another program, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) is the Matrix series primary antagonist.
As an Agent essentially a sentient security program Smith is responsible for keeping Zionites out of the Matrix.
As he tells Morpheus inThe Matrix, he has no desire to continue living inside the simulation.
Believe it or not, the series big bad gets his wish.
Hes later seen talking to a duplicateof himself something that no Agent had done before.
In the sequels, Agent Smith can self-replicate and take over anyone inside the Matrix, including Zionites.
The One is fated to bring up the door to the Source, but at a cost.
InThe Matrix Reloaded, the Architect lays out Neos impossible choice.
What Happens InThe Matrix?
The film begins with theNebuchadnezzarcrews efforts to unplug Neo from the Matrix and the Agents attempts to prevent this.
You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.
has cut a deal with Agent Smith.
He doesnt have to wait long for his chance.
Which one will be up to you.
Having met with the Oracle, theNebuchadnezzarcrew prepares to leave the Matrix, but they dont get far.
In the Matrix, Mouse is killed and Morpheus is captured.
Trinity and Neo narrowly pull off a dangerous mission to rescue Morpheus from the Agents.
Meanwhile, aboard theNebuchadnezzar, the crew face a threat of their own: an attack of deadly Sentinels.
All looks like it’s lost when Agent Smith shoots Neo multiple times in the chest.
As the Sentinels begin to tear the hovercraft apart, Trinity and Morpheus watch Neos vitals flatline.
Under these circumstances, Trinity finally reveals what the Oracle told her:
Trinitys kiss revives Neo.
Now capable of almost anything, Neo jumpsinsideSmiths body, causing the Agent explode.
Neo exits the Matrix, and theNebuchadnezzars emergency EMP goes off, killing the Sentinels.
Morpheus, however, insists on consulting the Oracle before returning to Zion.
Back inside the Matrix, Bane, a member of another hovercraft an unfortunate run-in with Agent Smith.
Smith proceeds to exit the Matrix in Banes body, and the ship returns to Zion with Agent Smith-as-Bane.
The Source, she says, happens to be Where the path of The One ends.
They find the Keymaker easily enough, but are confronted by the Merovingians personal bodyguards on the way out.
A spectacular action sequence ensues, and by the time its over, the good guys have won.
Neo asks Trinity to stay out of the Matrix until hes accomplished his mission.
They manage to fight their way through, but the Keymaker is killed in the process.
When Neo steps through the door, hes greeted by the Architect.
This knowledge pushes Neo to bring up the door to the Matrix, bypassing the Source.
Aboard theNebuchadnezzaragain, Neo must explain to Morpheus, Trinity, and Link that the Prophecy was not accurate.
Zion is still in grave danger.
And, with the Machines at their door, so is theNebuchadnezzar.
The crew escape just before the hovercraft is destroyed, but are forced to make their way on foot.
He stops the Machines in their tracks, but falls comatose from the effort.
What Happens InThe Matrix Revolutions?
The Matrix Revolutionspicks up immediately following the events of the previous film.
With less than 24 hours to save Zion, the hovercraft crew looks for Niobe and her ship.
And he is, sort of.
There, he meets Sati (Tanveer K. Atwal), a childlike program who knows who he is.
Essentially, hes stuck.
Rama-Kandra may be a program, but hes also Satis father, for all intents and purposes.
As Sati predicted, the Trainman prevents Neo from leaving Mobil Ave with her and her family.
Instead, Neos friends must convince the Merovingian to allow Neo to return to the Matrix.
It isnt easy, but they make it happen, and Neo boards the train to the Matrix.
Shortly thereafter, Neo insists on seeing the Oracle.
Back in the real world, the hovercraft crew manages to track down Niobe.
Trinity insists on accompanying him.
The other hovercraft crews travel back to Zion, just in time for the Machine assault.
Aboard the ship theyve borrowed from Niobe, Neo and Trinity discover that Agent Smith-as-Bane has snuck aboard.
He takes Trinity hostage and reveals his true identity to Neo.
A fight ensues, and Neo comes out victorious but not before Smith blinds him.
Regardless, Neo and Trinity continue on to Machine City.
A badly wounded Trinity dies soon after the impact, leaving Neo to proceed to the Source alone.
There, he meets the Deus Ex Machina, the Machine that controls the entire city.
Neo enters the Matrix once more, bent on destroying Smith.
There, he finds the streets lined with Agents Smith.
A lengthy battle ensues, only ending once Neo lets Smith turn him into a duplicate.
One after another, the duplicate Agents explode as well, signaling Smiths final defeat.
After Neo completes his half of the bargain, the Machines make good on theirs.
Back inside the Matrix, the damage brought on by Neo and Smiths last battle is repaired.
At the conclusion of the film, the Oracle is asked if she knew how things would turn out.
Oh no, she says.
This article was originally published onDec.
