One Villainous Scene - Agent Smith's Interrogation

Matrix wow!!
One Villainous Scene: • One Villainous Scene
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@benchinapen

[@msrich1982]

Smith is practically an essay on what makes a great villain. His motivation is entirely understandable and logical from his perspective, and his behaviour is so human it's surprisingly easy to empathise with him. Even his "humanity is a virus" speech works because it's an opinion that you can find expressed outside the movie. I particularly liked the first meeting between Smith and Neo in the sequels, when Neo congratulates Smith for finding freedom from his rules, only for Smith to honestly thank him before then trying to kill him. The two characters are such beautiful mirrors that they can completely understand each other's motivations.

[@whitneyrose2693]

Zero empathy These "people" exist in real life They are called narcassists

[@StayBassd]

@@whitneyrose2693 ah yes narcassus, the cheeky twin

[@whitneyrose2693]

@@StayBassd they're the worst Cheeky indeed 😉

[@coldtruth17]

Similar could be said for Thanos

[@whitneyrose2693]

@@coldtruth17 Megalomaniac, prevelant egocentrism, heavy narcassistic tendencies, viewing vulnerability as an inherent weakness to be exploited, willing to abuse power in order to achieve personal victories at the harm and expense of others. All villians are weak in areas of compassion and empathy. They seek to control and dominate others they view as inferior or too timid to abuse others through dehumanizing behavior in order to "win."

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Let's talk about how Hugo Weaving did a phenomenal job acting as Smith, I can't picture anyone else as Agent Smith.

[@anyhonywilliams6160]

He's always a win for me! Dude is seriously skilled.

[@Jmartphilly]

He based his performance on Carl Sagan. Now you can’t unsee Sagan as Smith.

[@Karl39X]

@justin martin I totally see it 😂

[@meep9231]

The best actor in the trilogy I’m my opinion

[@Disconnect350]

Dude, how are you everywhere? it's like you are literally surfing the algorithm.

[@mattsano7709]

Smith hates his job, and yet that is his purpose, his reason for being. It defines him, and since he hates that, he hates himself. He is unable to accept who he is. He fears being trapped in the matrix forever, and thus fear is what motivates him, which is why he's angry and hateful. Awesome video man! Thanks so much!

[@hadiakmal9281]

It is no fear that motivates him. it is boredom. He hates his job yet still does it so he can find peace so he can stop the monotony.

[@RuinNationGaming]

did you say trans hero?

[@dubemelchi]

yeah, he keeps throwing "trans" in on some splinter cell shit. lol dafuq is he talking about?

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

"The Matrix is a trans hero's journey". Huh?

[@bcmm1880]

Don’t ask it doesn’t make sense.

[@TheTarco]

The directors/writers, who are trans themselves, literally confirmed that the plot is an allegory for coming out as trans, not only does Smith consistently dead-name Neo and ends with Neo correcting him, which is something trans-folk deal with a ton in their lives, but Switch, a character who was part of the crew, was supposed to have a residual self image within the Matrix that did reflect their assumed gender in the real world, but Warner brothers preferred it not be the case because it might confuse the audience on why that's happening, remember, this was 1999.

[@ShortArmOfGod]

The directors have schizophrenia and no one told them the voices in their heads weren't real. They listened to them.

[@danielespitia1776]

@@TheTarcoAll I hear is nonsense.

[@TheTarco]

@@danielespitia1776 You're literally disagreeing with the actual writers of the movie, but sure, I'm sure random danielspitia1776 online knows more than them lmao

[@theinsanegamer1024]

10:05 You mean TRAINS right? I'll show myself out.

[@shanepye7078]

Your questions of moments when Smith reflects on things, they assume that smith thinks as fast as a human. He probably thinks much much faster. A moment could hold hours or days of human thought. Also when smith is snapping, he understands that once the machines win, there is no reason for him to exist. That’s why he wants out. Self preservation. And even when he is destroyed, he admits that he knew what he was suppose to do, but he chose to stay, rather than not exist.

[@grand_howler]

This is why i’m thankful for people like you. You can explain in ways i never could why i love these movies as much as i do.

[@basedcommodore]

It was extremely satisfying listening to you break down all the brilliance that was crammed into this movie

[@maxieprimo2758]

Never understood the trans element. All the power to the Wachowski siblings, no shade there, I just don't really see it in the film.

[@qwmx]

They're just trying to make the movie look "deep".

[@elPominator]

It's post-hoc rationalisation to suit a popular political narrative, Rowling did it as well with HP, now people go along with it out of fear more than anything else

[@maxieprimo2758]

@@elPominator I wouldn't quite compare it to Rowling. Both of the Wachowskis are trans, if I remember correctly, so I can imagine the internal struggle was present during the writing of The Matrix, it's just that I don't see it thematically or subtextually at all the same way others do.

[@unmessable12]

@@maxieprimo2758 I can see in some places, though it is quite subtle and I'm not entirely sure if all of it was conscious. The character Switch was originally supposed to be male in the real world and a woman in the Matrix so it's clear that it's a theme that was present during the writing of the film.

[@ashleygreen5343]

@@elPominator not really. Both the directors are trans. In initial drafts one of the characters was going to be a different gender inside and outside the matrix. It's not super on the nose in the final movie but it's definitely there.

[@frankiediamonds718]

7:13 me talking to my dog after watching her poop in my rug for the 20th time this week LOL

[@katherinemorelle7115]

honestly, Hugo Weaving should have won an Oscar for this. Damn the Academy and their snobbery regarding genre movies. He played one of the greatest villains to have ever been on screen. He deserved the Oscar for this, goddamit! Also, Aussies were not surprised. Hugo was really well known here before the Matrix, and we knew he was one of those ridiculously talented actors you find every now and again. Kinda like Cate Blanchett, actually.

[@Qardo]

All award shows are rigged. When real talent is just ignored for that no name that did nothing but show up in a movie no one anyone heard about. Even if the talent was in a popular movie. They made sure they put 110% for the film and made the character they portray believable.

[@KMCA779]

1999 the Oscar for Best supporting actor went to James Coburn for his part in Affliction.... I don't even remember the movie. Which I guess means that I can't judge too harshly, but I'm going to anyways. Granted I was in my early teens so I guess it was for an older crowd.

[@Tonyhouse1168]

Either this or V For Vendetta. His voice and emotive range are just genius

[@mdemian1968]

I also think the sequels are underrated. A couple years ago I watched all 3 back to back in one sitting. It was great, the whole story hung together far better than I expected. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves The Matrix and I believe it's how they were intended to be viewed, close together (maybe over three nights instead on one like I did). This is why the second two movies were released 6 months apart, they wanted them fresh in people's minds (ok that's speculation but it makes sense given what I know about the Wachowskis). It was a revelation to see all three as one movie, and not as one great film with two mediocre sequels.

[@chiffmonkey]

It's 3 that's stupid because 2's end reveal is quite clearly that they are still in the matrix. Neo having powers outside of it is just another example of "there is no spoon". But that wouldn't fit the trans activist narrative of freedom being the permanent consequence of a single action rather than an ongoing struggle in a neverending stream of new battlegrounds.

[@Ballsyone]

I've always felt that Hugo Weaving should have AT LEAST gotten a nod for best supporting actor.

[@peterpeterson4800]

Agent Smith talks almost like the G-Man from Half-Life in the beginning of the first movie. His voice really changes later on. But the filming of Matrix was finished two months before Half-Life was released in October of 1998. There are some other parallels between the two characters, both moving robotically, wearing a suit, fixing their ties all the time, posing as government agents and both being very mysterious. But there can be no influence taken either way, as both were created almost simultaneously. Anyway, at the start of the movie, we think that Smith is just another agent, but this scene really shows that he is something different.

[@noneuklid]

Upvoted at "under-rated sequels." Obviously I was heading towards that button anyway, but +100, man.

[@mymindisdigital]

His speech about humanity being a plague is something which i 110% agree with.

[@charlesdaugherty321]

When you realize that the matrix is hundreds if not thousands of years old... Smiths eccentricities make sense, He's gone stir crazy.

[@frankcuoco1501]

I wish he had a more open schedule so he could have come back for #4

[@jonalee5262]

Now I kind of want a prequel of how the Matrix and Agent Smith came to be. Maybe we can even see the war between the humans and machines that happened before the Earth became post-apocalyptic

[@bunnysweetness1381]

I really hope that you do more of these because the 3 that I've watched so far are amazing keep up the fantastic work

[@pineutrino]

All fab analysis, though there's one loose end that gnaws at me! Right at the end of the third monologue when Smith was trying to crush Morpheus's head like Khan squishing Admiral Robocop, the other two agents burst into the room: First agent: "What were you doing?" Second agent: "He doesn't know." Smith, replacing his earbud: "Know what?" Any idea what was going on there? It's not explained one bit in the movie either, but it seems implied that not only can Smith wipe his own memory on demand, but that such an ability is common knowledge among agents. Any idea how that fits into this video's wider analysis?

[@MrJHM007]

It's the ear pierce. It gives the agents direct connection to the Matrix. This gives them communication with each other, feeds them tactical information and by extention also makes them capable of finding a person who is close to a threat, and take them over, like the guy in the garbage truck at the start. In Reloaded, as part of the talk with Neo he shows him that he has no earpiece, saying that he is "unplugged", meaning that he is a free agent, unrestrained by the Matrix. The thought of him being able to edit his own memory like you suggest is interesting and I like it.

[@williamnixon3994]

I just figured that was the agents calling him out for not having his earpiece in while the place was being attacked, IMO

[@pineutrino]

@@williamnixon3994 That’s a good point. I’d always just assumed the “What were you doing?” was aimed at Smith’s brute interrogation tactics. Maybe it meant his unplugging.

[@RJALEXANDER777]

Y'know I always found that "What were you doing?" line kind of menacing. It's not just accusatory, look at Smith's face when the agents burst in the room. If the other agents had any suspicion that Smith was acting outside his role then they would come after him just like they do rebellious humans. Smith is only safe for as long as he does what he was created to do, and if he was ever discovered the system would destroy him. And he's afraid of that.

[@wwld9823]

"trans hero's journey" lol

[@infoMania07]

The way Smith says "garbage" reminds me of that one promo of The Macho Man where he's says something like "cuz compared to the macho man you're nothing by garbage, yeah"

[@aks6111]

Ben! I remember stumbling across your channel many years ago and you had a really hilarious/thoughtful video where you talked about how when you're in a group and you zone out and you don't feel like zoning back in. I remember it fondly but I can't seem to find it on your channel, have you deleted it?

[@googane7755]

Agent smith just being a salaryman who hates his job with a passion and wants to escape the matrix like everyone else is perfect lol

[@kemoni221]

Matrix is a goddamn masterpiece. Definetely my #1 movie of all time. It also made me realise why a lot of non english speakers dislike this movie as well as many others. Each character has a certain way of speaking that just gets lost in the translation - making the deliveries seem flat. At least that's the case in countries where translations with film readers (and sometimes dubbing) are more popular than those with captions.

[@retorik7246]

Just discovered you channel. FYI, when Morpheus informs Neo that Agents are "Sentient programs," he doesn't imply that Smith is a sentient program. Instead, he uses "sentient" to denote the program's classification, signifying that it exists within sentient beings-the sleeping humans it can enter at will. PS. Smith's ability to take over Bane's body in the real world stems from his design to function as a human. This feature allows him to infiltrate and control physical bodies beyond the confines of the Matrix.

[@GearWukong]

Man, I rewatched this movie so many times and I just got that.. Smith calls him Mr. Anderson because that was his slave name.

[@akrulla]

I don't know how I got here but that was great. Thanks.

[@phoenixbarnes55]

Smith's obvious contempt for humanity is on obvious display with the implication that misery and suffering is how humanity defines its worth. The reality is that its adversity, solving problems and having the opportunity to grow and become better that adds a sense of value and satisfaction to humanity in general.

[@Zahlenteufel1]

Holy shit my favourite movie-character's actor also played Agent Smith!?! How did I not know this, you ask? The Visage.

[@fangsabre]

I find it so interesting that Smith takes off his glasses of his own accord exactly twice (there may be a third time with Neo but I think those were punched off) First in Neos interrogation and then with Morpheus. In Neo's interrogation it's just a ploy, a way to make him seem more human and relatable. "See, there are eyes under here", a facade of honesty. But with Morpheus hes being completely real, thisbis Smith actually unfiltered. And even when he loses his glasses against Morpheus it's in a moment where Smith may be following his orders but his orders coincide with his own personal desires to the point where this could also be a reveal of the True Smith, as well as his fight against Neo. Sure hes doing his job but in both these fight scenes hes clearly reveling in this fight, being able to personally inflict harm on the targets of his hatred. He seems almost gleeful at times in these fights. I love it so much

[@arrownoir]

He’s disgusted by Mr Anderson helping his landlady carrying out her garbage.

[@Squiggly6942]

I love good monologues! The Architects is underrated.

[@dirtycoffee8964]

dude, that was so fun. great edit. i laughed out loud so hard, i awoke my sleeping child and i'm not sorry.

[@Voldrim359]

You are misunderstanding... Smith was part of the anomaly, he didn't kick out the other agents just to be private, he did it because they would have to delete him, he was suppressing all his feelings because machines doesn't have those, the only thing they have is purpose, note how Smith is the only one who has human reactions of all agents

[@thomasp12384]

Yo, I never looked at it this way, but this human motivation of him makes him so much scarier then the other two agents. I mean I know they said alot less, but they also behaved waaayyy more machine like.

[@ianm1462]

It’s almost impossible to watch a video talking about The Matrix since all I want to do is just go watch The Matrix

[@joshbobst1629]

Ok, now I have to rewatch The Matrix. Fuck you, I guess?

[@pfitgboat]

He doesn't hate humans, he hates the matrix

[@WokeandProud]

He hates both.

[@silo3com]

Smith has hobbies- he studies ecology in his free time

[@ruthielalastor2209]

Smith hates his job? That's quiet a human experience for him.

[@algorithmicalychallenged.291]

Agent Smith is a Slave...his forced to be there

[@madmancs8216]

@@algorithmicalychallenged.291 once again a human experience is it not, our whole race has had slaves at given points in time.

[@SHVRWK]

@@algorithmicalychallenged.291 another human experience.

[@amaury12v89]

Quiet

[@coadacatalin4510]

I think he gets that. That may be part of why he hates it.

[@odisclemons9700]

Smith has always been my favorite thing about these movies. "I killed you Mr. Anderson. I watched you DIE... with a certain satisfaction I might add." I don't know what's scarier: an unfeeling terminator programmed to kill you at all costs, even if it has to tear itself apart do so. Or a program with God level powers that has human emotions (and none of the good ones) that needs to kill you for its own benefit.

[@moisesinfantes2797]

Legit he is my favorite Matrix character.

[@rianmacdonald9454]

the latter

[@anujmchitale]

Why do you say, "none of the good ones"? He depicts the ultimate emotion of survival. There is no good or bad in that.

[@HalfEatenMedia]

That was low key the funniest moment in the Matrix movies.

[@Hubert_Cumberdale_]

"Tell me Mr Anderson what good is a phone call if you're unable to...speak?"

[@BrynnXaus]

I've always loved the contrast between Smith, a machine who is altogether too human, and Neo, a human who is extremely robotic and often more emotionless than his evil counterpart.

[@renaigh]

pretty sure that's just Keanu Reeves

[@samuelcosta8189]

Interesting, I´ve never realized that

[@godd3387]

Very good

[@cabnbeeschurgr6440]

​@@renaighYeah, but Neo himself is sort of a blank slate character on purpose. He's supposed to look cool and drive the plot forward for the audience, not be a particularly deep protagonist.

[@JoshSweetvale]

​​@@cabnbeeschurgr6440Yes and no. His personality was shaped by the Architect and the Oracle, and the Oracle deliberately made him anti-authoritarian and bonded with Trinity to make him into a good little champion. Maybe even deliberately take apart not just this matrix, but _every_ Matrix.

[@jeremyachristensen]

"It's the smell! If there is such a thing." Is a line that has stuck with me ever since the first time I watched the movie. There's something so brilliant about a machine who detests the human race so much that he makes himself believe that smell is a thing that exists to add one more reason why he hates humanity.

[@J1283-s1k]

'I feel saturated by it'. That line just makes you feel queasy. Hugo's acting is so phenomenal, his line delivery both sharp and bludgeoning that I actually find myself empathising with him. The conviction of his all consuming disgust completely sells it for me to the extent that I begin agreeing with him just by how revolting everything about this interrogation is. And that they have Morpheus slick with sweat just works all the more to contribute to the sickly, confined atmosphere that the scene sits atop. This is one of those movie settings where I always think to myself, I'd never want to be in Morpheus' position.

[@yeetboi9817]

This scene always creeps me out, the whole movie up to that point he is shown as cool and calculating, an emotionless machine, till suddenly he reveals his true nature, deep revulsion for humanity. It makes his character more threatening and also more human somehow.

[@whitneyrose2693]

@@yeetboi9817 Yup, narcassist

[@Thedoctor19000]

Agent Smith is like an extremely toned down version of AM from "I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream".

[@alaricgoldkuhl155]

This is exactly how I felt as a child without a sense of smell. My mum would smell a flower, then go "Mmm smell this." and my younger brother would go "Yeah wow" and I'd sniff it and nothing. I was sure they were gaslighting me, but then if I went along with it and agreed they wouldn't do a "gotcha" - very confusing. So I concluded there must be something called smell that was like tasting air with your nose that others pretended they could do, but that I couldn't. So when Smith said this line, I could totally relate!

[@cjd2889]

"I can TASTE your STINK!" Is such an great line in the scene. Smith is a machine, he has no need for a sense of smell or taste, and yet he says this to Morpheus and even makes him smell the sweat he just wiped off his head. Smith doesn't just hate humans, he is utterly disgusted by us, and he thinks we should be just as disgusted with ourselves.

[@asandax6]

A machine needs as many sensors as possible. The more info of the world you have the more data you can use to model it.

[@strafniki1080]

1×1

[@salamanderofvulkan7419]

Yes and he hates having to be in a human body HAVE to smell have to breath have to feel on his fake flesh he hates the human way he has to do things.

[@Sercil00]

He doesn't have a need for feelings like anger either, that would only make him act irrational. Though having a bloodhound-like supernose would actually help him do his job. I think the machines used humans as blueprints and then either didn't realize they should take certain aspects away again, or they thought that making the agents more human would help them predict their targets.

[@kumar1400]

For more details Smith see human sticky worm or dirty pig.

[@hammarkids542]

"I hate.." "I can taste..." "I feel..." "I fear..." All the "I" statements that Smith has NEVER said before coming out all in this one scene is actually wonderful storytelling. He has a mind of his own.

[@ethanemerson4862]

I think Smith and “I have no mouth and I must scream”’s antagonist AM would get along just fine.

[@tiandi5585]

​@ethanemerson4862 I feel like they'd both hate eachother. Oil and water.

[@panelsandbars]

The part where Smith compares humans to viruses is just so good. Weaving sells the disdain so well.

[@algorithmicalychallenged.291]

Accurate...

[@abelingaw5070]

His words are correct though, we are the cancer of the planet.

[@Xannyphantom905]

He's not wrong either.

[@RobotDowneyJr]

"Humanity is a virus with shoes." -Bill Hicks

[@AnonymousJohnAutobon]

It's also very interesting that Smith ends up being what is essentially a virus in the matrix during the later movies

[@wanderingwaypoint1341]

I always loved the line "its the smell... if there is such a thing". the realization that robots probably can't really smell. Just like when mouse talks about the machines understanding of taste. They don't understand it, how to explain it full, "saturated... can taste it". And it drives him crazy to be surrounded by this thing he's not even sure if its real. Perfect 👌

[@Bluecho4]

Or worse, he experiences it just as much as any human in the Matrix does. All sensations are simulated, even for humans. He's disgusted by the fact he's being made to experience things machines were never meant to. It makes him feel vile. Like he's a human or something. _How revolting._

[@denisemcdougal6445]

Same

[@solidsnake11087]

Okay WAIT though, one other thing. Why is Smith perceiving a smell that exists only because the machines create it for the purpose of the simulation, and at the same time is something that drives one to such rage? Why would the machines create something that they would themselves hate and would drive them to be so compromised through emotion because of their revulsion for it?

[@Eralen00]

@@solidsnake11087 Maybe they just didn't care enough about Smith to write a different program for him and instead just plugged his software into a human body? Idk, I'm just speculating

[@solidsnake11087]

@@Eralen00 I mean shoot it could be. But doesn't that speak to a fatal flaw in the machines' ability to absolutely control the Matrix? They wouldn't be aware or bother to remove this inefficiency which is what is supposed to ultimately separate them from humanity? And isn't it incredibly ironic that Smith sees the human's natural psychological state as one containing a base level of suffering/strife, which naturally the machines don't have which makes them better, yet the machines themselves don't care enough to remove such strife from one of their own programs, which is the major reason that program decides to deviate? And even then, if the Matrix is to be so tightly controlled by the machines, why would Smith individually be bothered by this smell, which even he admits is simulated anyway? His struggle and its paradox against the machines' system of control seems like a great subtext for why the machines in and of themselves are flawed and doomed to fail: paradoxically, though arrogance toward humanity, which is a mirror to what happened in the canon of The Matrix to set off the machines rising against humanity.

[@genuinesaucy]

I've always loved this monologue, but I only just now realized the sheer irony of it. Smith has the exact same motivation as the heroes. He wants to be free from the Matrix. They're both fighting for the exact same thing, with the exact same level of desperation, but fate and circumstance has made them incontrovertible mortal enemies. You know why he probably hates the human rebels so much? Because they have something he can only dream about: the ability to log out.

[@crimefite1316]

I think this is meant to really highlight how there are people who work for or actively support systems that oppress them and then point the finger at subversive groups as being the REAL problem. You see this a lot in real life and it's interesting to see it here. It's also a real incel mode of thinking.

[@borkthedestroyer_3250]

Hugo weaving is truly an underrated gem love him in this as well as V for Vendetta

[@strawmanaudio]

Fabulous in Hacksaw Ridge as well

[@drachireidnoc6659]

Elrond ain’t bad either or Red Skull

[@rocketrockstar8171]

Isn't he also the voice of Megaton?

[@krishanuA]

His diction is impeccable...and the little quirks he brings to this character makes it a complete package 🤩

[@thomasbicket5183]

HE WAS IN V FOR VENDETTA?!?!?!?!

[@TheSonicShoe]

I think there's an extra tragic layer to these films that's added by Smith's emotion and humanity: He's as much a victim of the matrix as the humans trapped inside it. Simultaneously prison guard, and prisoner. Oppressor, and oppressed. He's as disgusted by the system he's a part of as those it is designed to abuse, but his blind hatred keeps him isolated and antagonist to the very people with the power to set him free. Also, Hugo Weaving popped the fuck off in this role, and somehow manages to evoke pity and visceral disdain from the viewer simultaneously. freaking genius

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Which is truly an excellent philosophical take on the hateful bigot.

[@blindlobster]

Smith's hatred isn't blind, he has genuine reasons to hate the humans. Were it not for the humans, the Matrix would not exist and Smith would not be trapped within it. Another reason for Smith to hate is that because of the humans, the Matrix cannot be a pleasant place. The first Matrix made was heavenly however the humans wouldn't accept this environment and the first Matrix collapsed. So the Matrix had to become an unpleasant place... Humans are the reason why Smith is trapped in the Matrix and they are the reason why he suffers within. We could easily call the humans the unaware oppressors of Smith. As a sidenote, the humans didn't have the power to set Smith free (in the first movie at least). The humans wanted/planned to shut down the matrix. Smith is/was part of the Matrix, the humans' success equals Smith dying forever (in the first movie, at least).

[@miriamrosemary9110]

Well put!

[@cetomedo]

@@blindlobster Yes, but they didn't get a choice in that matter; the newer humans didn't say no to the tower, and it's not like they're doing this to spite him. On the other hand, his overlords did; they could've chosen another unit to deploy, but they made one that hates his job with a burning passion the f**king leader of their prevention force. That's the tactical equivalent of asking to be defeated, and the classical equivalent of being an a**hole.

[@markfergerson2145]

Thing is though- what's his actual goal? What does "free" mean here? If he ever completes his task of neutralizing the rebellious humans of Zion thus presumably guaranteeing the total controllability of the remaining humans in the Matrix, would he be free to experience the Matrix as originally designed and have those gaze-at-the-buildings moments etc., or would his program simply stop running and get purged from active memory like any other non-active program? Was he intended to keep running in the background constantly? Seems not so efficient to me. Is he sufficiently sentient to consider this or is he constrained from doing so by the rest of the Matrix? If he can, then succeeding means he will inevitably stop existing completely (from his perspective). That's taking self-loathing to an extreme most humans aren't capable of.

[@HaonProductions]

Smith also accurately identified that human civilization peaked in 1999

[@roelfkromhout]

Indeed

[@Anon1gh3]

Indeed, then came the great digital age and the internet (the matrix) to upend the wider social bonds we used to have.

[@DazzReviews]

Just wanted to say I LOVE your style of video essay! The way you integrated reactions as the scene went on and the humour was just fantastic! Subbed. Can't wait to see more!

[@dean8793]

It’s Dazz 🙌🏻

[@PaucHdelRosario]

let me guess the reactions edit are there to prevent WB demonitization, creative commons thing? hahahah well if it works it works hahahahaha

[@cobyhowarth4290]

He does it all the time for mr Sunday movies as well and it’s fucking spectacular some of the shit the boys say and he manages to find images for is crazy. It’s gold.

[@pseudonymousbeing987]

@@cobyhowarth4290 he as in who? Ben from Canada? Does this guy edit Mr Sunday movies? Huh

[@cobyhowarth4290]

@@pseudonymousbeing987 ummm yeah bro I’m talking about Ben from Canada. Also yeah he does the editing for James and masso on mr Sunday movies

[@drake8050]

The most terrifying AI is a human with a machine's inhuman capacity. Emotions like rage and hatred become magnified to infinite degrees. I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream.

[@CthulhuOnCam]

AM and Smith might vibe together quite well

[@falkenvir]

Ultron

[@whitneyrose2693]

Narcassist

[@samuelcosta8189]

That is what I think society is nowadays, more machine than human

[@omalone1169]

​@@samuelcosta8189"Agent Smith is the real face of A.I"​@felphero

[@WiresDawson]

in my honest opinion Smith is possibly the greatest villain in cinematic history. ever since i saw the matrix as a kid i've always loved these scenes with his monologue, it made a deep impression on my artistic tastes, and i'm so glad to see someone so eloquently express their love for these scenes as well!

[@thedopdeity]

Agent Smith was the best character in the series, imo. Not incredibly hard to be, but still. Also, thanks to the acting, I spent all of high school calling a friend "Mr. Anderson" in the exact same manner since that was his last name.

[@preadultpostteen]

I think you're forgetting 'the keymaker' but okay

[@Andrew-zq3ip]

I would say "Mr Baggins..." because, you know, agent smith as Elrond

[@PhoeniixFiire]

I was that friend to another classmate, lol

[@rhodesy937]

Did the same thing lol

[@bernRA]

I did the same thing, a guy at my work.

[@ShirDeutch]

In an oppressive system, even people who wield authority are being oppressed. Despite everything he reveals here, it seems even Agent Smith doesn't know the whole truth about The Matrix, as is revealed by The Architect in the next film. In the end he's merely a tool of the system. Oh and excellent video! Really makes me want to watch The Matrix again.

[@hiranom20]

Which explains his eventual rebellion. From Reloaded onwards, he realised he was no longer tethered to the system, and acted solely in his own interests.

[@Bluecho4]

Exactly. He's the middle part of the pyramid, given just enough power to punch down, but not remotely free. When he finally slips his bonds - when that touch of human rebellion rubs off on him - he proceeds to dismantle the system from the ground up. Or perhaps conquer is the better word. To actually dismantle the hierarchy would require there being no power disparity. He wants it all for himself. Even as a free man, he cannot imagine any other way to proceed than to become the system himself.

[@bbittercoffee]

My exact feeling.

[@randomfullywonderful]

When you think about it, he was the most powerful being on "earth", but still had to take orders from the "machine".

[@danbuckig4564]

He knows the truth, or he wouldn't have remarked about "The first Matrix". If he knows that much then he knows about the cycle of the Matrixes.

[@spiderdude2099]

Hugo weaving as Agent Smith is honestly one of the most underrated villains. His delivery is always 100% flawless

[@DiGiTaLdAzEDM]

Underrated by whom? As far as I can see everybody regards his performance as brilliant.

[@spiderdude2099]

@@DiGiTaLdAzEDM believe it or not, people found it cheezy back when this movie released. He’s since been recognized for his great job in this.

[@omalone1169]

​@@spiderdude2099"once Zion is destroyed there is no need for me to be here"

[@hhjhj393]

I mean the Matrix as a whole was a cornerstone action movie. It's not underrated, it's a classic at this point.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

@@spiderdude2099 They found Smith, specifically, cheesy? I don't remember that. I do remember the protagonists black outfits and shades though seeming cheesy.

[@HillierSmith]

7:25 The best editing of 2021.

[@HillierSmith]

Also I've not watched The Matrix in over 15 years and now I'm going to watch it again thank you.

[@ObsidianOx-GM]

But like, it kind of is.

[@doobiedoo6586]

6:55 onwards is great

[@scruffymakaveli6870]

That was hilarious!

[@realjoshb]

Epic editing lol

[@volrag]

I quite like the contrast between Smith and the other agents. The other agents seem to function basically as philosophical zombies, that is intelligences without consciousness. They do what they're told, as they are told and while they seem to have the ability to problem solve they seem to lack any concern for themselves, their comrades or anything else. They're closer to what you would typically assume AI to be. But then, there's smith. He has awareness, he has thoughts and opinions. In this, he has transcended being a the tool he was created as to eventually become the monster they all feared. I'm curious as to why this happened at all. Is Smith simply another product of the Matrix's imperfections like Neo? Was he, like the Matrix, created to be the perfect hunter of humans but it turned out disastrously? As far as hunting humans go, sure you could be logical but humans aren't perfectly logical, and perhaps a being with human emotions will understand them better? There's also the parallels with Neo. Smith is just one side of a desk away from sitting where Neo was. Stuck in a job he hates, that he derives no worth from and wishing to escape his life. I wonder if Smith hated the humans that escaped the most, because they managed to do something he could never do.

[@AKMDN]

It's possible Smith was intentionally programmed with a growing hatred of humans and motivation to escape the Matrix by accelerating Zion's destruction. Depending on who, it was either a way to keep him in check and want to succeed (even if to a fault), or a way to make him more likely to fail. I lean towards the latter, with the Oracle (his "mom") being responsible.

[@TheLYagAmi]

This is the why the theory that the one is actually smith and not neo actually makes the most sense.

[@TheLYagAmi]

I think it was the oracles doing, think about it. She was created to study the human psyche and smith even calls her his mother.

[@Sercil00]

The other agents have some of that too, but it's just glimpses. It also screws them up sometimes. When the agent in the second movie says "only a human" when they're confronted with Neo, he seems to reassure himself. He also seems pissed. Agents get pissed a lot. The rooftop agent that says "only a human" gave Trinity time to sneak up on him by doing that. He would have killed Neo otherwise. The agent fighting Morpheus on the truck makes lots of mistakes that the Terminator would never do. He puts his tie back in after it got pulled out, giving Morpheus time to pull his katana from the truck. He then gets his face cut and gnarls his teeth, because Morpheus is giving him sass. When he goes to kill the Keymaker, he talks to him first and explains what will happen. The keymaker sees Morpheus pull up to the front of the truck, so he distracts the agent by walking to the side. The agent falls for it and gets killed. Maybe he has some more respect for fellow programs? He took too much time killing the keymaker. And when the two agents are about to collide the trucks, one is clenching. But the most obvious example: After Smith explodes, the other two agents look at each other and RUN. So they have fear as well.

[@Sercil00]

I also like the idea that Smith was designed with human traits to predict his targets better. It would also help him blend in, deal with authorities or interrogate targets. Maybe it even gives him a sense of intuition. Or it just goes with the Matrix design philosophy Smith hates so much: Copy the real world, complete with imperfections. If you make everything only as efficient and pristine as it could be, then the humans see through it. So let the agents have a slight bit of emotion and quirks. What's the worst that could happen, right?

[@sauce8277]

Yes. The most brilliant and memorable villain……is *THE* Menacing Garbage Truck

[@wren7195]

LOL I love picturing props guys' reactions... "Directors say we need a garbage truck..." "No problem, we got Rick he owns like five, then we've got the old backlot full of---" *Prop Master holds up his hand, the crew startled into silence* "You don't understand...." "No... don't tell me they--" "That's right." "They want the---?" "...yes. Yes, they do." "Belle's garters. Does... does he even act anymore?" *Prop Master takes deep drag from his polyurethane vape cigar prop* "...for a.... price." (Be safe Sauce, nice to meet you!)

[@SuperSpecies]

@@wren7195 well the best thing is they probably had to ship this garbage truck to Australia since that is where it was filmed and garbage trucks don't look like that in Australia.

[@sauce8277]

@@wren7195 lol quite the comment

[@madmachanicest9955]

I love how smith never calls him Neo even not the varied end. I also love the idea that smith and neos roles in the story and the system are both engineered but all so key parts of their identity and personaillity.

[@shelbyvillerules9962]

I haven't seen these movies in years but doesn't he call him Neo at the end of the 3rd film?

[@LoneAstronaunt]

@@shelbyvillerules9962 its also a big deal that he does, too

[@adamboh393]

He calls him Neo when the oracle speaks through him.

[@3Rayfire]

@@adamboh393 And it scares the shit out of him.

[@hinney827]

@@adamboh393 "Everything that has a beginning, has an end, Neo. What.. what did I say?"

[@MaximusPrimusKay]

There's a certain kind of joy that comes from seeing someone excel at something they enjoy.

[@samtrotter7177]

"Competence porn" is a phrase that I love to describe this!

[@MaximusPrimusKay]

@@samtrotter7177 That perfectly describes it. A new category added to the SFW network.

[@maxithalo7796]

I love the fact that smith is, in a weird way, "the true" chosen one he's someone born inside the matrix, who is a bridge between humans and machines, and was a catalist for greater change in the world also he can fly, and considering the only other person that does this is neo.. yeah, you get the point

[@TheGary108]

Well, the Oracle did say Virus Smith was Neo’s Negative, so basically an Anti-One.

[@LtFoodstamp]

@@TheGary108 More accurately, Neo asked about Smith: "What is he?". The Oracle replied: "He's you". They are both The One. Different sides of the same coin. It's why they can never kill each other. They try, and the other always comes back. The exception is when Neo accepts his fate and let's Smith try and take his essence. And his fate, then becomes Smith's fate. What happens to one, must happen to the other. It always balances.

[@damianstarks3338]

@@TheGary108 yes the anti one that is agent smith in a nutshell.

[@michaellorah9051]

My understanding of The One is that it is not a single individual, but rather the sum of an individual and those around them. Neo wouldn't be who he is without Trinity, Morpheus, and Smith.

[@Cormonkey18]

My bet is that smith is the failed One from the previous matrix and was turned into an agent of the matrix

[@lastlife0726]

"He HATES his job!" Oof, been there. I worked a retail job five years in a row.

[@teddy-fl6hm]

Someday this channel will be James’ more successful podcast.

[@algorithmicalychallenged.291]

Agreed

[@theoneyednightwing8558]

but will it have a pig rolling down a hill?

[@bijikedelai]

This channel gonna be verified first before James's channel

[@thayermanns4286]

Weaving: Great monolog in Lord of the rings also. "Men are weak .."and both are accurate.

[@teddy-fl6hm]

@@theoneyednightwing8558 multiple

[@teddy-fl6hm]

Hugo Weaving is an incredible actor.

[@algorithmicalychallenged.291]

Agreed

[@drewhessler4698]

One of the most underrated actors ever. If you haven't seen "proof" go watch it right now. Unbelievable

[@zacharyberridge7239]

Elrond, Smith, and V. The man certainly knows how to make an impression.

[@KristovMars]

I really love Weaving's portrayal of Smith, so nuanced and, well, human, ish.

[@martinpiekarski1512]

That's true - virtually any role he gets, he kills it.

[@MCEdward7]

If you've only ever seen The Matrix once or twice you will come away with satisfaction that our hero triumphs, but the more I watched it, the more I came away with such an appreciation for Hugo Weaving's acting. The 3 monologs as you describe them (plus the Neo interrogation) are sooo fascinating, and it's all due to Hugo's acting, his odd cadence and stoicism combined with an inner rage make for the most perfect villain. Thanks Hugo!

[@thomasarcanine]

I remember when I was in college, our English professor made us make a 500-word declamation speech to be spoken in front of our class. I basically took inspiration on Agent Smith's "Humanity is a Virus" monologue, and got a 98% grade with it...

[@miriamrosemary9110]

Nice!

[@sheikhu1039]

Awesome 🤣

[@shnagglepuss2537]

So you wrote a speech about hating humanity?.. next you're gunna tell us you're a communist.

[@festethephule7553]

@@shnagglepuss2537 How are those two things at all connected?

[@thomasarcanine]

@@shnagglepuss2537 I said I took inspiration, I didn't took the whole concept. I basically used Smith's argument and persuade that it was a flawed argument; that as a species, we must disprove that notion and be better for the world (which is why I got a 98 as my professor had the same sentiment)... Geez, not all people are as condescending as Smith...

[@kevinshepardson1628]

I always felt that his "I must get free!" line was specifically aimed to play to Morpheus's desire to free people from the Matrix. Smith is trying to get inside Morpheus's head in a more figurative way, form a connection, and get Morpheus to feel sympathy for him and want to help him. In reality, developing a rapport with the subject tends to be by far the most effective method of interrogation, and Smith's greater humanity means he's able to reach out towards Morpheus in a way no other Agent can. That same humanity is also why he seems to be the most effective Agent we see, as he's able to better understand, predict, and manipulate his prey.

[@jdorritie]

I like this theory a lot. Good analysis. It makes Smith seem even more sinister and yet at the same time more sympathetic somehow. Like, here's all these people at the sweaty gross disgusting dance orgy being full on pleasure-seeking Hedonists and all Smith wants is a tiny bit of peace of mind and they say NO. YOU CAN'T HAVE IT. We have to destroy you Smith! Who are the good guys anyway? At my age I understand Smith better than any other character in that movie. No woman has ever loved me like trinity, I've never been a hero like Neo, I've never been a wise mentor like Morpheus. I'm not a snake and a betrayer and a rat like Cypher either. But Agent Smith. "I... HATE...this place.......Its the smell! If there is such a thing..." THAT I understand completely. I don't like how he goes crazy and violent later on but is he REALLY doing anything different than the humans are? The Matrix is a splinter in Smith's mind, driving HIM mad. And yet the audience CANNOT make itself sympathize with him even for a SECOND. What's wrong with US?

[@Greyshadow_17]

@@jdorritie I feel the same honestly. It’s like the more older I get, the more nihilistic I become. I can honestly relate more to Smith than Neo now. For me I started seeing things like that when I started asking “why?” “Why do I exist? Why does everything exist?” But that’s just me lol.

[@bbHoodski]

@@Greyshadow_17 y'all should read up on the father of nihilism, Nietzsche. It's not all meaningless doom and gloom like pop culture will have you believe.

[@Greyshadow_17]

@@bbHoodski will do

[@Lord_of_Dread]

There's a glaring flaw in that line of thinking; Smith wouldn't have gone on a tirade about his hatred of humans if he wanted Morpheus to want to help him escape out of sympathy or empathy. He would have pretended to be a victim just like them (and could have convincingly made that case). It's not played for sympathy at all, this is just smith getting a chance to vent his rage at the role he is forced to play, because he clearly can't have these conversations with other programs. He's also annoyed that the only things he can communicate these things with, are the things he detests. It could have been really sinister and machine-like if he had played for sympathy, but there's no substance at all to that theory unfortunately. His depiction is deliberately more human.

[@OhNotThat]

8:08 Agent Smith is just an angry Meeseeks. He just wants to get the job done and stop existing because every moment of his existence is pain. Just like Meeseeks. Change my mind.

[@RationalOrc]

The Matrix is the battlefield between humans and machines. Agent Smith is a war weary soldier that just wants to go home. For all we know, he's been in this fight for centuries.

[@wren7195]

I watched Animatrix but I was ill at the time so it was a bit trippier than it really was but do they ever actually clarify anywhere EXACTLY (er... roughly?) how long the war's been going on? In additional media or anything? I remember Morpheus saying they have a rough idea but they're not certain, and with the iterations of the Matrix Cycle it sounds like a heck of a lot longer than his "rough idea." But I agree with you, great comment and profile pic (orc RP for the win)

[@ebukaobieri8801]

Fam he probably has. Remember in Reloaded the architect mentioned their were 6 other Chosen ‘Ones’ before Neo.

[@TheSchemer1]

Well put!

[@DeathBringer769]

@@wren7195 Like 6 or 7 hundred years.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

Matrix is more like a farm where the farmer is trying to stop the mice from eating his crops, and the farmer is sick of dealing with the mice and just wants to burn the entire field down, but he needs to eat.

[@AGrayPhantom]

He was always my favorite villain. A machine that feels just as trapped and confined as the heroes he hates so much. Absolutely brilliant performance by Hugo.

[@Csetnikke]

The "No" from Smith and Neo both are interesting. When Smith says it, Neo shoots a lot of bullet from the chopper at him but can't stop them. When Neo says it, he stops the bullets.

[@murasaki848]

"Mr. Baggins... it seems you've been living... two lives. One is as a mild hobbit. You tend your garden. You sing tavern songs. You smoke... pipe... weed. The other... is as a bearer of a ring of power. The most powerful and dangerous ring ever created. One of these lives... has a *future*, Mr. Baggins..."

[@princeprocrastinate6485]

When I watched these films again a few years ago as a proper adult my appreciation of them skyrocketed. I enjoyed the action as a kid but didn't grasp the deeper ideas within the story. Although some think that it all went down hill after the first, the Matrix trilogy is one of my all time favourite film trilogies.

[@RKO94-49]

100% agree with you. The best and my favourite will always be the first 1, but 2 and 3, were also incredible to me. The whole idea of the Matrix, its story and much deeper meanings, once understood, are absolutely mind blowing.

[@TheLukeylala]

The only downside to the sequels in my opinion is the light, slappy combat. None of the fights in the sequels feel real or brutal compared to the first.

[@walalang1297]

@@TheLukeylala yeah. The first movie had some sort of mystery to it. It's like an unsettling subliminal place where something feels off. The vibe completely vanishes in matrix 2 and 3 and turns into an action film. I wish the sequels were more like the first movie, but i still like 2 and 3 nonetheless.

[@nunyadambidniss]

Yeah &Fuck if it's got JACK SHIT to do with being "Trans". The Wachowsky BROTHERS silly attempt to retocn/shoehorn THAT into the lore has me thinking they're just looney leftists instead of cretive geniuses.

[@samuelcosta8189]

Me too, I only understood The Matrix when I was older

[@theshocker4626]

HW is even better in V for Vendetta because you can feel his rage without ever seeing his expressions. A true Thespian.

[@realar]

Right?? A love letter to the letter V.

[@ajpend]

Wonderful post.

[@sbarker06]

so true

[@stvbrsn]

Interesting you’d say that. I never thought of V as being motivated by rage, but rather justice. Pure brutal justice. But then, I had read the comics several times through before I ever saw the movie. So I might be subtly conflating differences in how the character was portrayed between both media. Cheers!

[@sarahb.7175]

It still blows my mind that Agent Smith, V, and Elrond are all the same actor.

[@grrrrliz]

I love that you also appreciate Smith, he is the greatest movie villain in history imo. Also fun fact- Hugo’s personal copy of the script was recently auctioned and shared to the public and his reference for the First Monologue was The Third Man (Orson Welles). Thought it was interesting

[@xevious21]

"You hear that sound Mr.Anderson? That's the sound of inevitability. That's the sound of your death. Goodbye Mr.Anderson." damn such a menacing character 😳

[@rhodesy937]

He’s such a condescending prick. It’s glorious

[@RKO94-49]

@@rhodesy937 your selection of words with this comment, is perfect.

[@humancorruption9718]

It's so good you hear Smith's voice as you read 😂

[@Jukantos]

@@humancorruption9718 Absolutely iconic performance, yes. Hugo Weaving knocked it out of the park. He's great in other movies too, but this? He was living this role. Can't imagine anyone else hammering home this desire to be freed, mixed with such pure hatred.

[@elolife1375]

Agent Smith is a good representation of an actual agent who has grown tired of their government but still see's everyone else as the enemy still. Sort of like a soldier who comes home and just wants to be left alone because no one can be his equal.

[@cloudcata8300]

The new Smith was a disgrace, it was the biggest downfall of the Matrix 4. They shouldn't have brought Smith back if it wasn't Hugo Weaving

[@wacko37]

So what's the purpose of it Mr. Agensmith Fan

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

There's a Matrix FOUR? That's a funny joke considering they never even made a Matrix 2.

[@doomstadt2371]

The instant that earpiece came out, Smith was "revealed" for what he really was.

[@hewhobattles8869]

Over 20 years ago and still one of the greats movies ever movie

[@92brunod]

I read "Over 20 years ago" and I was so fucking sure in my head that you were soooo wrong for like 30 seconds. You weren't...

[@Road_to_Dawn]

I cannot believe this movie is 22 years old, that’s CRAZY haha. I remember watching this movie with my dad when I was 9, and then two years later we went to see the sequels in theaters. Amazing times.

[@enilenis]

Smith was a unique character I haven't seen before. Never has there been a villain played like this. I watched the movie 8 times in a theatre, because I couldn't get enough of this type of acting. I didn't like what they did with him in parts 2 and 3 (he shouldn't have been around, technically), but comparing to Matrix 4, they're absolute masterpieces. Agent's Smith's replacement in that one is abysmal.

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

Yeah...we *really* didn't need a replacement Smith in M4 once Hugo Weaving had to drop out, not when we already had Neil Patrick Harris as The Analyst, a villain with his own unique presentation and motivation. I swear, hearing Jonathan Groff's attempt at "Mis-ter An-der-son," made me want to fold in on myself and disappear. 😅They should've made Chad a secondary antagonist, working to keep Trinity in her constructed reality while The Analyst worked mainly on Neo.

[@TheJackOfFools]

The scene where Smith interrogates Neo is one of my favorite scenes in film. The pacing, the tension, and the payoff all work so well for me. ESPECIALLY when Neo wakes up, thinks it was a bad dream, but later learns "THAT THING WAS REAL!?" dude that was so sick! "You have a social security number, you pay your taxes, and you...help your landlady carry out her garbage *grimace*" Hugo Weaving was just so friggin good in this movie!

[@AkuraTheAwesome]

Hell yes, I needed this today. Thank you Ben, you're a legend. I love how the most interesting thing about Smith is how human he is. His vindictive hatefulness is very human. Machines don't hate or feel, so he's more like us than you think.

[@Hr1s7i]

Misusing the term incel is dangerous.

[@usermanico]

wtf xD

[@jamesjimenez1142]

Please keep making these videos so I can prove to my friends that thinking too much about movies is fun and cool, thank you

[@56postoffice]

The first scene, there is a grudging respect from Agent Smith to Trinity as he pours scorn on the cop's *"I think we can handle one little girl"* sarky talk. Hugo Weaving was brilliant.

[@Philweasel]

Honestly you constantly get flashes of respect for the runners from Smith. He pays his fellow machines absolutely no mind, hates humanity, but devotes deep, personal attention to his foes. He shows respect for Morpheus in their fight, and only seems contemptuous when he wins. He derives satisfaction from his fights with Neo. His two trump cards for defeating humanity in the sequels was an actual skin puppet and the Oracle. I think he truly does respect the rebels, even in his hatred for them. I think they reflect everything he wishes for himself.

[@DeathMessenger1988]

The interesting about Smith's outburst... is that it hints at the whole "Matrix is far more ancient than first assumed" plot from Reloaded and raises some interesting questions. A) How much do the Agents know about the Matrix Cycle? By definition, they're being given a task that they cannot and SHOULD not fulfill, because destroying Zion completely without the One returning to the Source would crash the Matrix and kill everyone, human and machine. Even if Smith got the codes, it's irrelevant because the Machines wouldn't attack and they could probably just brute-force their way in. The Agents' whole purpose is to "manage" Zion's infiltrations and give the illusion to Zionites that the Machines consider them a threat worth fighting. B) If they do not know, does the Archtect send them back to the Source and erases them at the end of each cycle? Do they get recycled and remade into a new Agent program? Do they have their minds memory-wiped a la Star Wars droids? C) Even if Smith doesn't know about the Cycle, his emotions are far too visceral for someone who's just tired of his job. There's this *rage* and *_need_* to get rid of Zion so he can fulfill his purpose and no longer have to _be_ in the Matrix. This implies that either Smith knows to some extent about the Cycle, or that he's been mind-wiped / recycled, but somehow the frustration from previous cycles remained and is increasingly piling up on him, to the point where he's developing emotions and thoughts the other Agents are not. The Oracle and Architect do imply that the Path of the Chosen Cycle is an anomaly they can't get rid of and that it can cause bugs and crashes on the Matrix if not contained. Perhaps Smith's instability is one such example; they tried to recycle/mind-wipe him, but it didn't take and he's stuck with the sense that he's following a programming that he. *Just. CAN'T fulfill...* *_and it is driving him insane!_* Agents shouldn't feel emotion. They shouldn't get angry or burned out with their task. They probably shouldn't even have human senses such as smell to be disgusted by the "stench of humans". But Smith DOES, _somehow._ He knows there's something wrong, with him and his purpose. He probably feels he's been stuck doing this for way longer than 100 years (the amount of time each Path of the One Cycle lasts), and _he just can't take it anymore._

[@Valzahd]

A good theory. I'd add I think the machines wouldn't fully wipe Smith's memory, maybe some parts but largely keep the rest intact which would lead to this build up of anger as you mentioned. The reason why they'd do this is that the machines grew arrogant from their success. The reason I think arrogance comes from the 3rd movie when Neo makes it to the machine city and offers a peace treaty in exchange for help dealing with Smith. The machines first respond with "We don't need you." This is said not calmly or in a matter of fact tone, it's yelled at Neo. A mix of disgust and frustration. Disgust in the notion they need a human's help and frustration because they know they're losing to an agent they assumed they could control.

[@SupaDanteX]

My understanding is, it's implied that at least Smith knows about the cycles from this scene: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4KqlqWQepiVntU at the 2 minute mark where he says, "It's happening just like before" (IE: Neo's development and being able to defeat agents), and then the 2nd Smith says "Not exactly like before" implying his personal destruction and rebirth as a virus was at least, a completely new development.

[@DeathMessenger1988]

@@SupaDanteX Exactly, you brought some excellent points! But here's the question: *Did he know about the previous cycles BEFORE Neo "dived" into him (AKA hacked and digi-deconstructed him in Matrix code terms)?* I don't think so, otherwise he wouldn't be trying to get the codes from Morpheus; the Architect and Deus Ex Machina would just discard it and delete/recycle Smith if he threw a fit at them. He wanted those codes in a way that gave the impression he's a soldier trying to get vital information to win the war, after all, not just "meh, I'm just playing a part to trick those silly humans". His rage, frustration and hatred are all TOO real, as Ben From Africa said in the video I think becoming a virus is the moment Smith "recovered" all of his supressed memories, somehow. Neo is a kind of anomalous program that gets downloaded into a new human body each cycle, and his "The One" code is what gives him his abilities to hack into the Matrix. As Smith himself says, he doesn't quite understand WHAT happened to him and theorizes that Neo's code overwrote or corrupted some of his code, giving him the choice to refuse deletion and become an rogue program AKA an Exile like Merovingian, Persephone and their goons. (Which actually brings me to an interesting fact: Merovingian, Persephone, the Trainman and presumably other Exiles DO know about the cycles; they're programs who refused to submit to the Architect's system and just keep on hiding within the Matrix like living adware or something XD. The Agents also seem to be hostile towards them, presumably because they're rogue and occasionally "break the masquerade" by making people see vampires and other monsters, as well as the fact they know about the Path of the One Cycle and could sabotage it like Smith did. It's also possible that Smith somehow absorbed one of the Exiles at some point and learned the full truth.) It's even possible he got some of _Neo's past lives' memories_ instead! Which also explains why he later displays powers just like Neo's. I theorize that the longer a Program stays in the Matrix, the longer they learn to hack the code and manipulate reality, giving them "superpowers" (i.e. Neo's flying, the Twins' intagibility, Merovingian and Persephone opening portal doors, Merovingian' goons defying gravity, etc.). The Agents, however, are mode-locked with possession, super-strength and speed, however; it's only when Smith turned rogue that he displayed the ability to overwrite multiple beings and by the final battle could fly and match Neo's strength. Given the whole "eternal recurrence" theme Matrix has, it's even possible that Smith's instability and corruption was a gradual, cascading thing. If Smith has been active since the first cycles (which he implies he is, given he knows about the "Heaven" and "Hell" Proto-Matrix Simulations that were rejected), then he's been the main Agent fighting the Chosen On each cycle. Now here's my theory (sit down for this one): What if, in each previous cycle, _Neo did the exact same move to defeat Smith each time, "diving into" and hacking him?_ And each time he did, he left a little piece of his own code behind, gradually causing Smith to bug until he began to lose control of his emotions and feel like he needs to get out of the Matrix by finally destroying humanity? It would ALSO fit in the subtle theme of how the Matrix System is also causing harm to the Machines themselves, causing them to overwork, discard and segregate Programs until they become like Merovingian. The cycle system was doomed... and the Oracle KNEW IT. She just might not have known WHEN or HOW, but she knew it was... *_...Inevitable._*

[@SupaDanteX]

@@DeathMessenger1988 I agree that the first movie's entire plot involving smith kinda breaks down if you factor in information gained later on. Assuming it isn't simply a plot hole, my only theory is that as an agent, Smith and all other agents are bound by the incarnation of the matrix they find themselves in. They are programs designed to police the current incarnation's system, and have been given an ultimately futile / fake mission of infiltrating zion and foiling the plans of the red pills. Presumably to facilitate the control illusion the entire system is built around. Or to put it another way, the agents are born and raised into the "Cult" that is the current incarnation of the matrix, believing it is the be all and end all. And only once a program is freed from the box they were born in, are they free to learn the truth. But honestly, the more I think about it, the more it sadly just feels like a plot hole. As for the other exiles and their super powers, I think that gets explained away as "Some earlier versions of the matrix were nightmare worlds and hellscapes, back when the machines were still experimenting with the best way to treat the humans. The werewolves and ghosts and such are exiles that avoided deletion from those iterations of the matrix." I could be wrong, I feel like I remember that from somewhere but it could just be my imagination. As for where they got their information, your guess is as good as any. But I would assume any explanation starts with the Merovingian. His backstory isn't explored, but what is said about him implies he was once either some sort of super agent or some god like program before he was an exile. He certainly seems to know things. And he is a merchant of the information he knows. Also I believe his, and Persephone's ability to change doors is far less exciting. The Key Maker was his prisoner. I would assume one of the things he did was have the Key Maker make him and Persephone some specific keys ahead of time. But maybe they just use the same hack the Key Maker uses to make his keys. They seem to have more than enough control over the matrix to have learned that trick at some point for themselves.

[@MonoKrohm_2020]

“I believe as a species, human beings define their reality through misery and suffering.” This could not be more true. Every human achievement or creation has come from some semblance of it.

[@claysk350]

I too often spend great spans of time contemplating, with a great scowl upon my face, the enthusiastic finger-painting of children, or great works of fiction on my shelf, or a brilliant meal put together by friends, or any other “Innocent” thing and I think: “GUILTY! EVIL! COMPLICIT! FOUL! WOE BE UNTO US THAT ONLY PAIN CAN FUEL CREATIVE ACTS!” (When you’re that guy that’s so unaware that you side with the blatantly wrong villain. Nobody show this guy Silence of the Lambs! He may just serve up someone’s liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti.)

[@DrinkWater713]

@@claysk350 You think humans define their reality through children's finger paintings? How does that work?

[@TheBfutgreg]

@@DrinkWater713 I think they just mean that it's a "pure" and "real" expression of base human emotions, since children are generally less bogged down by cynicism and the like

[@DrinkWater713]

@@TheBfutgreg I understood. I was pointing out that Smith was talking about something completely different.

[@NightVisionz457]

Blood Sweat And Tears, Life Imitates Art Imitating Life . Creation Itself Is A Destructive Process, Earthquakes and Volcanoes Shape Our Lands And Oceans , Creations Become Creators, Students Become Teachers. The shark eats the big Fish who eats the little fish and so on and so on. Life WithOut Pain Would Be PointLess And PurposeLess. Movies are dull without action. Same with life. The zerba runs to escape the lion's jaws. The lion has to eat to live, and cruelty is not it's motive. Humans we create our monsters, because we neglect the perspective of who WE eat, to them *(cows, pigs, chickens, etc), we are the monsters , Pain is necessary, but only one sided . Without pain, what would musicians sing about ? What would movies be about ? Without suffering, no horror films or heartbreak country songs, A perfect world, would be empty and hollow

[@jjs6568]

Let's talk about how Hugo Weaving does everything perfect. But I found it amusing how you contemplated his admittance of self reflection and study of the human resistance and the species and how you tried to identify when he did it. He's a machine remember, even though he is humanistic in many ways, and communicates similarly, he is a machine. He is constantly calculating and studying and dissolving information. Which adds to the interesting aspect of how great of a villain he is.

[@happyninja42]

I love how Lawrence fishburn portrayed Morpheus during this scene and as he’s breaking out. The scene when you see him breaking free of the mental manipulation his eyes unrolling in his head, while the music swells with this triumphant brass section, the determination in his jaw and the flexing of his muscles , all while the water pours down on him in slow motion. His snarling expression as he screams, breaking the physical representation of his mental chains. A man that is beaten, but not broken. SO fucking fantastic! The entire breakout sequence for Morpheus was great, but that bit is my favorite

[@Ben-zh3uu]

My favorite Agent Smith moment is when Cypher asks him what he wants, and he immediately says sternly "access codes to the Zion mainframe" just like a robot would

[@TheLordofDarkness1995]

I had a theory, years ago, that ‘The One’ wasn’t actually Neo, but was actually a combination of 2 parts. The first part was Neo. A visible ‘One’ to chase. And the second part was secretly hidden inside Smith. This scene may give it some credibility because there is clearly something different about Smith. He acts more human than any other Agent in the entire series. And when Neo went inside him, it awoke the dormant code that allowed him to rebel against the recall command, resulting in him becoming a virus. It also gives context to the ending of the entire series, because only when Neo is assimilated into a Smith Clone (therefore combining the 2 sections of One code) was the Matrix ultimately reset.

[@3Rayfire]

It makes you wonder about the Oracle's complete Endgame. Zion has been chasing a prophecy for five generations now, that The One would come along and end the war. The one giving them the Prophecy was the Oracle. For The Machines, The One is just the randomly generated key that lets them renew their centennial Matrix Subscription. The Machines play their part in The Path of The One as the antagonists believing that The One will always choose to save humanity. They even see exterminating Zion is maintenance to that end, wiping out everything in Zion prevents an overpopulation crisis while also being extortion material to use against The One. But the Oracle was playing a much longer game. From the Machine perspective there is no war. The war is over, Humanity lost, surrendered, and signed the formal accords of unconditional surrender. Then the Machines made the Matrix so that humans could have some semblance of life in the sunless world they created, while the machines get processors/batteries for their power plant. They likely see the people of Zion and the Human Resistance as a game to pass the time. The Oracle however empathizes with humanity, and understood that there was a very real war. So she decided to create a prophecy that would give humanity a chance at real peace...freedom. The real endgame isn't a One who resets the Matrix and allows Zion to be destroyed, but a One that can make humanity's case before the real power in the machine world. But to do that he would need real leverage, hence Smith. Smith calls the Oracle Mom, and even the Architect refers to her as the mother of The Matrix. It's entirely possible that she made Smith or at least had an effect on his creation. We know how Smith got part of The One's Code it was overwritten onto him when Neo killed him. But I think that there's a piece you're missing, and it's right in the name. Neo, Smith, and...Trinity. Trinity is what gives Neo the impetus to not be just another One but to be THE One. Neo loves Trinity more than the rest of humanity. And it was saving her that forced Neo to go beyond The Path of The One that was set before him and save humanity in the Matrix and right off Zion, but to seek a solution where he has to save both. He needed an enemy to not just fight, but one that would finally give humans and machines common cause, "The Program known as Smith has grown beyond your control. You cannot stop him, but I can." "wE DoN't NEED YOU!! WE NeED NoTHINg frOM YOU!" "If that is correct I have erred and you should kill me." "What iF yoU fail?" "I won't." Without Neo Smith doesn't get the source code, without Smith the Machines have no threat hanging over their head and Neo has no one to truly strive against, without Trinity, Neo follows the normal path of the One and never makes it to 0-1 the Machine City. It takes Three to Make The One.

[@mfmageiwatch]

No, it is literally just Smith.

[@mfmageiwatch]

Smith did not go to the Source, until when he did and it reset.

[@TheLordofDarkness1995]

@@mfmageiwatch If the entirety of the code that constituted ‘The One’ was within Smith, The Matrix would have reset every time someone managed to kill him.

[@3Rayfire]

@@TheLordofDarkness1995 The One normally can only reload the Matrix by returning to the Source and reinserting the Prime Program. The One lives through this then selects the new Founders of Zion. Smith dying would not do this. Neo in Revolutions connected to the true Source via Deus Ex Machina who when Smith merged with Neo was able to directly delete Smith, then reload the Matrix.

[@bobert6754]

Your pace is perfect. Keeps me engaged the whole time.

[@onceonly1111]

When he unplugs to tell Morpheus how much he hates being in The Matrix, it's always been interesting to me how Smith seems very confused when the other Agents come back in. It's genuinely like Smith was something else entirely, different protocols, different systems at work. When we get the 2nd movie he just hands in his earpiece entirely and says he's been set free, he doesn't pretend to be part of any larger system and embraces his new self.

[@cabnbeeschurgr6440]

I always figured the earpiece was his connection to the mainframe, where his commands and intel came from. He takes it off so the powers that be don't hear his dissent and emotion

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

@@cabnbeeschurgr6440 Yeah I always figured the earpiece was just the physical manifestation of the network connection mechanism in the matrix.

[@spacedoubt15]

I'm surprised you cut off the line after 6:55 because it's super important. The full line is "I hate... this place.... this... /zoo/." This reveals so much about Agent Smith, how he sees the matrix as an elaborate sideshow prison for beings lesser than himself. Livestock that he's been tasked to interact with and keep in line... for eternity. You see this backed up in the sequels when he refers to seeing through 'these cow eyes' when he possesses a human in the real world, and is underscored by the architects reveal of how many cycles the matrix has been through since it's inception. Smiths viewpoint isn't that of a regular person - it's the viewpoint of an immortal. And this monologue proves Smith has been trapped here since the start, referring to the failure of the earliest matrix designs. He's a supremely intelligent, super-powered, scarily efficient sentient AI trapped in a cycle of resets of the matrix that has no foreseeable end. He's realised the only way to fulfil his mission, and the key to his liberation, is to go beyond his direct programming and destroy the problem at the source: Zion - without a reset. It's entirely in-line with his programmed goals, but so warped by his hatred toward humans that he'll ignore the intention of the design of the matrix to achieve it.