TENET Ending Fan Theory: Is Neil Really Kat's Son ??? | His True Origins Explained

[@heavyspoilers]

Thanks for checking out the video. Let us know your thoughts on the theory.

[@rufarojunior]

Heavy Spoilers I knew it when I watched tenet

[@garyduggan897]

Okay just back from a second viewing. I think this theory is great and holds water. I'm just suprised Nolan didn't make it more explicit at the end because it's a cool reveal. This second time I watched the film with captions/subtitles which was very helpful, given I couldn't decypher about half of the dialogue in booming Imax. I was able to piece together so much more sense in a second viewing, really watching out for details that were completely obscured by chaotic sound and editing on first view. But there is still two major things that I couldn't grasp even on a second focused view: When Protagonist first goes back into the car chase sequence, what is he doing with the tracker/box and what goes down with the object popping out of it's case? He has a tracker on the case, goes to where the case was dumped and follows the car that dropped it back into the fray. But it looked like his past self through the object into his current silver car? How did he know to do that, or am I miss reading that? When Branagh sets his car on fire, does Branagh retrieve the object from the silver car? Or does this object go some place else? Couldn't make sense of that... Second thing, what the hell is supposed to happen when Branagh's fitbit/deadman's trigger goes off. I took it to mean that the algorythym was supposed to explode/activate ending all time or something?! The bomb they were racing against was only supposed to bury it? Because that bomb went off. Branagh was killed before the object was taken apart, so shouldn't it have exploded/activated when the wife shot him?? Is there something I'm missing here? I was so focused on seeing what was going on with resurrecting Pattison and the door etc that I still couldn't get all of Branagh's monolgue on the phone (even with subtitles). Was he explaining some other way that future tech would go off? Something about gleaming tower in the future?? Can anyone make sense of all that??!

[@HeathenGeek]

Reversing the sound. How many youtube tutorials did that take you? 🙂

[@st.armanini9521]

Do you grow older or younger when you're reversed? Your thoughts move forward, and you breathe normally, so I guess you also grow older. If Max is 8 in 2020 and starts practicing time reversals at age 18 in 2030, he will have a chunk of time-reversed experiences while still growing older, but these experiences have to sum up at least to 10 years, plus any number of regular time spent in non-reversed fashion (if he lived 10 straight reversed years, he'll get to be 28 yrs old in 2020 in this example; if he lived for chunks of 6 reversed months with a one-month pause in between starting from 2030, he would gain 1 additional year every 3 years, i.e. he would be 22 in 2027, 26 in 2024, 30 in 2021... Pattinson's real age is 34, so give or take a few years for the character's age, the theory is plausible, but he should have spent most of his adult life in a reversed state and that requires some dedication...

[@beno_4785]

They did not dye Pattinson's hair cos he look cool.

[@Senseigainz]

Neil is the most interesting character in the film. I have a real respect for Robert as an actor after this.

[@cgt9056]

Just after this??

[@Sam-zw9di]

yes!! definitely the most interesting character

[@karthiiraja17]

He has done more character And u only give credit to this movie just because he is in a big scale movie of nolan. If u follow his work ull know he is best in every role he plays.

[@BigGuns2024]

Yeah I thought he brought the magic to the movie, I thought Kenneth was better then usual too. But he did way better in the dramatic moments then the weird quiet talking. Can't hear his bad accent through mumbling I guess

[@Incredible_Lad]

Id argue both the protagonist and neil are the most interesting!

[@unclesteve8686]

This is basically Neil's movie just in The Protagonist point of view.

[@BradGroux]

This is the most succinct explanation available.

[@1spidog]

I thought neil was the coolest character when you realized what he accomplished and you realize who he is

[@clrae4882]

🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@whodatninja439]

man i want a sequel or part 2 that's the movie from Neil's pov.

[@YoBaMo1]

Who Dat Ninja or you could wait until the Blu Ray comes out and rewind the movie so it goes in chronological order.

[@liamod23]

Just watched for the 3rd time paying close attention for anything that might add to this theory - there was a HUGE suggestion in the scene between Protag, Neil and Kat going backwards in the boat: Protagonist asks Kat what date in the trip Sator flew off/she took Max ashore, she can't recall, Neil immediately chimes in with conviction saying it was the 14th. Is there any other reason he would so surely know this unless he is Max??

[@timothyj.bariteau5181]

Yup! That was the exact line that made me think Neil was actually Max when I saw the movie the 1st time...I had never heard of this theory up to that point, but when "Neil" said that, I suddenly knew, "Wait a minute! WHOA! Neil is MAX!!!"

[@Comakino]

He was just a kid when it happened, seems unlikely he would know what date it was

[@timothyj.bariteau5181]

@@Comakino He would if it was the day his father died!!

[@Cristian_D63]

@@timothyj.bariteau5181 but he didn't die. That was the future inverted Satori Neil didn't know his dad died

[@timothyj.bariteau5181]

@@Cristian_D63 Sure he did, maybe that day, as a child he wasn't aware of it...but at some point in the very near future he would've known his father died and he would've learned the when and how, too! And the adult version of him, "Neil", would DEFINITELY know all of those details!

[@bighan2563]

Neil was probably my Favourite Character, loved Battinsons performance

[@heavyspoilers]

Yeah he was great

[@Yggdrasil42]

I still have a hard time separating him from his Twilight character but he definitely grew on me. Good performance.

[@bighan2563]

@@Yggdrasil42 bruh

[@DebjyotisGaming]

Robert just aged as an Old Wine, I'm sure he will surprise us next year in 'The Batman'

[@Nuggz94]

ahh, a fellow Mr sunday movies fan

[@peacemaker4078]

Just imagine Neil travelling in that shitty container inverted for years and years staying lowkey just to save the protagonist and the world.

[@heavyspoilers]

Loooooool, I love the idea that shipping containers hide the people though so we don’t notice them

[@jbode11]

So he would have to have years worth of oxygen supply ? Can't really wrap my head around that being a plausible theory . Neil is presumably ten years older than Max in the film so he would have to spend 10 years (or so) travelling back? Just seems to stop making sense to me there . Also in the film it isn't directly addressed , but characters who are inverted are still aging in normal time , simply going backwards through it . Otherwise they would literally be getting younger as they travelled backwards , so by the time Neil made it back to the time of the events of the film , he would be looking quite a bit older . What do you guys think? This film has prompted some really interesting discussion and I've very much enjoyed how deep people are going in.

[@faysoufox]

I thought like you hefore but I think that the fact the protagonist has several parts of the algorithm at the end of the movie (6 parts or all parts as he's the boss of Tenet), this could allow Max/Niel to travel faster back in time.

[@harshvardhanjha4611]

But I thought he dies only once.. The protagonist sees the future niel getting shot.. In which for niel it was present and he was seeing everything in reverse... I mean that niel goes in a single path from present then reversing himself and then dying ultimately... The protagonist sees the niel in reverse not getting shot in reverse but in future niel really dies once after which past niel comes and dies again without knowing he will have to die..

[@stealther1401]

@@jbode11 it's not oxygen, it's simply carbon dioxide. You're breathing in CO2 and spitting out O2, which is the reversal of normal breathing.

[@drizzypuffs523]

When Neil goes off, knowing he's going to die - he's the real Protagonist. In order to save someone who saved his mother.

[@cprw10]

To saved someone who he came to see as his friend, and the algorithm, without Neil's sacrifice the world wouldn't had been saved... Neil knows that he has to sacrifice because what is at stake is bigger than him (the preservation of the world) he knows the protagonist needed to survived because he will be the founder of the "Tenet organization" ... Neil was a true friend and ally and a real MVP.... *>• Sorry for my bad english.

[@maulvimuhammad]

wait no, why the protagonist didnt follow him and helped. he didnt have to die really.

[@VonJay]

He doesn't know he's going to die.

[@maulvimuhammad]

@@VonJay The protagonist know. He saw it and deduced it. Don't be that stupid.

[@RTXWill]

@@maulvimuhammad Remember what Neil said. What's happened, happened. Protagonist saw that there wasn't another version of him in there with Neil when he got shot. Which tells the Protagonist later once he realized it was Neil who got shot, that the he can't tell Neil or help because it has already happened and it can potentially create a paradox or an unknown if Protagonist tries to change it.

[@alienbenz]

Think about this: Through the movie Neil and the Protagonist at least two times discuss the "Grandfather paradox" (a person travels to the past and kills their own grandfather before the conception of their father, which prevents the time traveller's existence). Andrej Sator's (father/grandfather) ultimate goal was to destroy the World. Niel's (son/grandson) goal was to save the world. It's a reversed grandfather paradox - TENET at it's best. Makes complete sens to me that Max is indeed Niel.

[@daigoumehara3266]

*inverted grandfather paradox

[@bamusalako]

watched the film 3 times now and know a lot more, and yes youre right, niel has to be Max and everyone is in a big loop must not be interrupted or the paradoxon will happen and nobody knows what happens then, could be the end of time itself

[@tommasoneri84]

But to be a grandfather paradox max should not be exist at that time when Sator dies. This Is not a full grandfather paradox

[@Incredible_Lad]

@@tommasoneri84 Perhaps sator himself is inverted and because kat has been inverted to keep sator alive until the mission is complete then it avoids the max/neil from dying

[@Incredible_Lad]

@@tommasoneri84 But niel still dies sacrificing himself at the gate for the protagonist who I reckon raised him so that he can complete the mission. It is literally an ongoing loop

[@HarishVangara]

Nolan should change his name to NOLON

[@dcold]

No, Convoluted Man!!!!

[@nillson7580]

lol

[@mrsam683]

or nalan

[@ethanbaggoo1513]

Harish Vangara underrated comment

[@waaaaantube]

Hahaha! Good one!

[@badbijan]

To me it had the complexity of Inception, the science of Interstellar and the action of the dark knight. I need to rewatch it a couple times to fully catch everything but it's could become one Nolan's best imo

[@badbijan]

I think some people critique it because they don't understand or catch half the things, to me all the 4 main characters were interesting so not sure what some people want to see

[@TimelesslyModern]

That's interesting! For me, I think it had the action of the Dark Knight trilogy, the look and feel of Inception, and the writing/complexity of Memento (primarily with the two timelines notion meeting).

[@hawkeye13_46]

I totally agree

[@Snacks079]

Funny, i think it was his worsed movie. The plot is really not that difficult, if you pay attention. The characters lacked everything you need to be involved with a movie, they were flat as can be. The villain was so cliché, it was painfull to watch. Also, the whole "reverse fighting" thing was cute the first time, but after that it just felt like a gimmick to me. Also, if you attempt to do something like this, at least make it logical. Think about this, if the flow of air is reversed, why is the flow of light not reversed? Because it would make you blind, and the movie becomes impossible to make. I dont like that "let's just throw logic out the window to make a wannebe smart movie" kind of approach. Either it's all logic, or there is none. I was just waiting for the movie to be done. The ending wasnt surprising at all, when they fight in the vaults it was waaaaaay to obvious Pattinson was fighting one of their inversed selves, making the ending very predictable. This is one of those movies to me where the concept was so strongly put at number 1 it destroyed the movie.

[@neikoortiz7772]

@@Snacks079 dude its a movie sit back and relax calm down

[@cynthiab8603]

Did anyone else notice that Neil orders a vodka tonic and has a lime in his empty glass at the Bombay Yacht Club? Also at Kat's dinner with Protagonist it looks like she's drinking a vodka tonic (or soda) with lime.

[@VonJay]

Good eyes

[@domnel3981]

You are a MVP

[@dypersing]

I thought he ordered a gin and tonic. Not vodka.

[@cynthiab8603]

@@dypersing I watched the scene a few times. I'm fairly certain. Regardless if Kat was drinking a gin and tonic later it's still an interesting connection

[@cynthiab8603]

@Clayton Hutchins great catch. I hadn't made that connection. I was fairly certain about Neil's order, though. Could be inconsequential, but Nolan is pretty precise.

[@travellerinthedark]

As Kat mentioned, Neil left without saying goodbye, a big contrast to how caring he was when she was out of it. He was avoiding her now that she was fine, because he didn't want to risk her noticing that he looks like her son.

[@mobbaddictchannel]

That scene sealed the theory for me. But I think Neil just told Kat about his real identity in the previous scene when he starts explaining her stuff, which is why she seems emotionally moved when she learns Neil left without saying goodbye.

[@GKPB]

@@mobbaddictchannel I think this doesn't prove much

[@HarshaHarshG-tb3pu]

That woman in the white coat is not the scientist who invented the reverse entropy of Bullet.... She is just assigned to that project....that's it....

[@InesAxusAmmarkhodja]

That is SO interesting

[@lad4830]

You are right. She's not. Her child will be the creator of inversion :D @@HarshaHarshG-tb3pu

[@daz200]

Neil mentions how much sleep helps when inverted, so that might suggest when travelling back in time for long periods, he slept a lot of the time.

[@RShadow12]

Damn true that. There’s just too many hints to support the Neil/Max theory, it’s unbelievable

[@wavyremix]

And why he was so damn chipper in all the scenes where he was moving forward with his friend; he just spent years traveling back alone.

[@garrettk7166]

@@wavyremix While getting plenty of sleep!

[@zacharybarrett8536]

For me the biggest and final nail in the coffin for Neil being Max was on the shipping container boat when discussing the plan he is CERTAIN Past Kat will not be on the boat with his father. Even more certain than Kat was. When asked how he knows he says something along the lines of I just do trust me. If he was with her as a child then he would be the only person who could confirm where she would be at that moment. it would be a particularly memorable moment for him as it is the last time he sees his mom freely before his dad starts cutting her off from him.

[@janicewan6880]

yes, way before that point I already suspected that Neil is Max. But with that dialogue, I was more convinced

[@bad72690]

Or maybe the protag just gave him all the necessary info before sending him back...

[@KryptonKr]

@@bad72690 Yes, at this point without any confirmation from Nolan... anyone’s theory can be right.

[@KryptonKr]

@Bayabas Bayabas That’s just your theory, we don’t know if that actually happened. We will never get a sequel and anyone’s theory could be right

[@PermanentHigh]

@Ayam Grut No, Neil is legit from the future. Young neil exists in the timeline where old Neil gets on the chopper to go get killed. He just hasn't been recruited yet.

[@highwayexit]

It’s not a leap at all to link Max’s hair to Neil’s hair. Pattinson’s hair is naturally dark brown. Why else would Nolan have told the hair and makeup department to give ‘Neil’ blonde highlights...

[@SonRio19]

I had a feeing neil was max midway through the movie. Robert getting blonde hair pretty much confirmed it for me. I knew max was so much more than just the woman’s son.

[@maulvimuhammad]

you cant use argument outside the movie to answer a narrative inside the movie. maybe nolan just hate brunette people in general

[@highwayexit]

@@maulvimuhammad Yes you can use an argument outside a movie to answer for a narrative choice. Want to know why lots of indie horrors shoot in the woods and create backstory for said haunted woods? Because it's cheap to shoot in the woods.

[@maulvimuhammad]

@@highwayexit the cheap part wasn't in any of those film narrative. if a film cannot explain itself without you referring something behind the scene, then the film is failed to explain itself as it supposed to be a complete narrative. that's why auteur filmmakers usually doesn't want to explain their film, because all the answer are already in the film, not outside it.

[@maulvimuhammad]

@Josh S nope. nolan is a cold man. he just hate human interaction.

[@chadcognac5626]

In an earlier video, you mentioned, “lack of character development. They literally called the protagonist, ‘the protagonist’” What if thats a huge misdirect, so people dont realize Neil is the protagonist?

[@OMGIGILY]

woah!

[@francis7181]

If only the protagonists parents treated him like Kat did her son, maybe he would have a name

[@Calinks]

Lmao

[@jordanfelt5978]

Lol, good one and at the same time, there's a good reason for him to not have a name. That I'm sure of.

[@ankitdas6620]

His names probably Protag Onist. Some people have wierd names though.

[@thefakesingh]

Hehahaha 😂😂😂

[@FLdancer00]

@@jordanfelt5978 Would you like to share with the rest of the class?

[@Wdomino]

I think I found another hint towards Neil being Max, listen to the soundtracks "Betrayal" which is like theme of Kat in the beginning (at the restaurant) and "Meeting Neil" has the same notes, only on different levels. Both these tracks feel also combined in the last scene when the Protagonist saves Kat where she walks with Max.

[@TheSocks221]

I thought so initially, because of the editing of the very last shot: it shows Max and Kat walking alongside each other, with max´ backpack right in the center of the image. they used the same editing to reveal that neil actually sacrificed himself and that he saved the protagonist at the beginning.

[@TheRajShowOfficial]

i was looking for this comment, thank you

[@luketia]

I believe this theory because of one small shot. Neil carefully and affectionately places the blanket over Kat after she is healing. It struck me when I first saw it and believe it had to have more meaning. This is why.

[@sohanrai7926]

Rewatching right now and almost certain this is true - When she meets Neil for the first time she asks who he was and he replies "let's start with the simpler stuff - - physics"

[@CesareAugustoGiorgini]

I agree very much with this theory. If I remember correctly, the ending shot is Kat walking Max away and there's Neil's voice over it (isn't it?). But damn, what a great character, what he doesn't say has the same importance as what he says, brilliant! Big up to Robert Pattinson as well.

[@mimiandrews9364]

Did anyone else notice in the beginning, when the protagonist is reciveing bullets from the broken wall ( on the shooting range) it's the same bit of wall shot into at the end whilst there performing the pincer minunver.

[@Pytho_n]

mind blown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@sirdavid8752]

Wait what? I don't understand. Which part?

[@mimiandrews9364]

@@sirdavid8752 so in the 1st act, the scientist explains how inversion works with the bullets. She then takes the protagonist to a shooting range. Explaing that he is reciveing the bullets rather then shooting them. Well you can only recive a object that you already touched, ( remeber to the object the entropy is inverted ). in the final act on the battal field the protagonist shoots into a building or at least portion of it when shooting at the enemy. Well this is same bit of wall seen in the 1st act, at the shooting range. Hope I explained that clearly looool

[@khachoangpham726]

@@mimiandrews9364 it's so true

[@sirdavid8752]

@@mimiandrews9364 Wait are you sure? Where are you getting that extreme small detail? Source?

[@SumitKumar-dh3gh]

Unlike other Nolan movie, this movie deserves a Sequel.

[@Aaron-vt6gh]

*prequel

[@lizardry54]

Aaron Hazelton underrated comment lmao

[@hectordelarocha10]

Yep, it needs one. I doubt Nolan would do one though

[@yobunga3985]

Batman Begins?

[@khoaphan8490]

I agree but the way it ended didn’t seem like a sequel is planned

[@beno_4785]

I agree pretty much all around this theory. Max/Neil & The Protagonist's friendship has just begun at the end of the movie.

[@markmonfort29]

I think Neil and the reverse "lien' are also connected. Definition of a lien is ...a right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged.

[@stephytv1953]

Yes "lien" in French literally means "connection" or "link"

[@markmonfort29]

@@stephytv1953 did not know that. Even more connected then. Christopher Nolan did well with all these Easter eggs

[@lekodraws1211]

maybe that’s what the red backpack ribbon is: something future protagonist gave Neil in the future to let past protagonist know about his sacrifice. now past protagonist knows he owes a debt to him and can only discharge it by founding Tenet and saving the world. a bit of a stretch but cool nonetheless

[@markmonfort29]

@@lekodraws1211 I like it!

[@stephytv1953]

@@lekodraws1211 to go even further, red string attached to a coin is a well known lucky charm in Asian culture. Again in Asian culture the red string is a symbol of the connected Fate/Destiny between people. So the fact that we always see this red string when Neil and the Protagonist are together is a symbol that the two have a deeper connection. It's confirmed when we learn at the end that they are long term friends and that one sacrifice his life to save the other.

[@VonJay]

I just love how Neil has a smirk on his face every time he talks about Kat to the Protagonist. “Going to watch her from afar?” Man the final five minute talk was absolutely loaded with subtext.

[@acdnan]

Sator’s sin (having a child) caused his demise

[@aar6538]

Oh shit

[@aurorapaisley7453]

Damn

[@pyronuke03]

Neil knows that the Vietnam trip is on the 14th. When Kat says she doesn't want Vietnam to be Max's last moments, the protagonist looks at Neil and says that it won't be. When Kat asks Neil who he is he says they should start with the simple stuff, then goes on to explain quantum physics to her. I think those are the biggest hints that Neil is actually Max.

[@adamm2787]

Neil knows that the Vietnam trip was on the 14th because he knows that Sator left that day and went to the opera house on the 14th. He knows that because he was also at the opera house on the 14th. The protagonist is surprised that Neil knew that because he doesn't know yet that it was Neil who saved his life that day.

[@pyronuke03]

@adamm2787 I completely forgot about this. Time to watch Tenet again.

[@FIEND1013]

Neil was also pretty pissed when kat got shot and when protagonist responded its “ standard procedure “

[@cmnt.]

I thought he was just amazed about “Standard Procedure” stuff cuz he even smile. I’m not sure tho

[@sen.m7832]

@@cmnt. Nah he was low key pissed and he went "Jesus..." when he saw Kat on the stretcher. The smile was more of a sarcastic one or "I can't believe you just said that" smile. Also I noticed when JDW wasn't looking Neil crouched next to her and looked at her for a few seconds. And later when she's in pain he gives her something to make her sleep then gently takes her arm and puts the blanket over her. Also he kindly says "we're almost there" to her when the van is about to stop. I dunno he just seems awfully nice to her considering she's meant to be a stranger

[@cmnt.]

sen.m Yup, fair enough

[@travellerinthedark]

@@sen.m7832 Yeah, and she brought up how Neil left without saying goodbye to her. If he's her son, that makes sense of why he would avoid her once she's OK, after caring for her while she was out of it.

[@sen.m7832]

@Traveller in the Dark Exactly, maybe he thought she might be able to tell he was her son that’s why he didn’t say goodbye. Or maybe cause he knew it’s the last time he’ll see her and he wouldn’t be able to hide his emotion if he had to say bye

[@Dubldi]

Don’t know if this has been mentioned before, but before the final mission, Neil also leaves without saying goodbye to Kat, which she finds strange as they have been travelling closely together in the shipping container for some time EDIT: thinking about it further... Maybe Kat noticed some kind of distinct feature like a birthmark or something. She may recognize him and suspect he is actually Max. But he leaves before she gets a chance to confront him about it, in order to not to disturb the timeline..

[@metalore]

Good point! It's little things like that that are so easy to dismiss, but it must have a meaning because they took the time in the movie to mention it.

[@Dubldi]

@@metalore Exactly! In such a fast paced movie, where there is so much detail, it has to mean something when they take time to include a scene that doesn't really move the plot forward I'd like to see what else can be seen or noticed on multiple viewings

[@Crystallheard]

Yea I remembered that too. I thought maybe it was because Neil found it too painful to say goodbye to his mother, knowing it might be the last time he'll see her.

[@campkira]

tenet..turning.. tency. trend to... neil dead.. neil is max... it the only reason why he willing to do all that..he been through hell so he will harden to the point that it don't matter to him..

[@baldyoung8066]

Maybe it had to do with the thing he had on his backpack, that probably means something to Kat too, think about it.

[@Lexxir]

Another piece of evidence I think fits: at the end of the movie when Neil is about to invert so that he will save the protagonist’s life (and the world basically), he jokingly asks the protagonist if he’s going to stay far away from the kid and her mother. The protagonist says of course he will and that he won’t interact with them... they go back and forth on this twice to drive it home. However, two reoccurring ideas in the film explain why the protagonist actually does end up watching over them and mentoring Neil from childhood: one being the lines about “lying is the best tactic” (or something similar, I can’t remember verbatim), and the other idea being that those who know the future should not explain it to those in the past for fear of messing up the chain of events. So at the end, Neil is sarcastically saying goodbye to the protagonist when he knows that Max (his younger self) will be meeting him in the future sometime soon, all while he cannot outright explain this to him. Just in awe of all the interweaving plot threads throughout this film, and this theory seems to make perfect sense within the themes I’ve heard discussed. When the protagonist chooses to save something outside of his mission (aka Sator’s wife and relationship with her son Max), it inevitably works toward the mission’s ultimate success. If anyone feels I’m missing something or has something to add, definitely let me know. I’d love to hear what others take out of this incredible movie (in my humble opinion).

[@evajin9027]

"ignorance is our best weapon" - this is the line I could remember

[@waltermontiel4405]

Your theory also holds weight because of the Opera sequence. The Protagonist goes back to save the audience from the bombs, he’s told that’s not their mission, he says something along the lines of “It’s my mission now.” THAT’s when Neil saves him. It furthers this plot of The Protagonist going out of his way to save a life he doesn’t have to, and Neil rewarding him for it.

[@hopemikaelson9223]

Imagine The Protagonist keeping a eye on Kat and Max for years, from a far, only to realize that Max is progressively looking more and more like Neil. Imagine Kat realizing her own son is actually this misterious man she met years before, who cared for her against all odds yet never said goodbye. Imagine the protagonist realizing that ironically he can't stay away from Kat like he was supposed to because he needs to mentor Max. 🤯

[@florincalin3698]

Neil is the son of Kat. I always thought he had a connection with Kat. His attitude, his willingness to help no matter what proved he had a deeper meaning in the grand scheme of things.

[@m35cobol]

Maybe it's because Kat is the one who kills sator and is a vital part of the mission?

[@nburakovsky]

A character isn't just who they are, its what they do. The characters in the movie are perfectly well developed

[@khu834]

I totally agree. Many viewers seem to think that dramatic acting with high emotions and deep backstories are pre-requisites for well-developed characters. This is certainly not the case, I would argue that through their actions, decisions and principles (tenets) in the present moment, the characters are actualized. Neil answered the protagonists question on what 'fate' is, to which he answered 'reality'. This reinforces the main theme throughout this film, that what one does or chooses to do, matters much more than their backgrounds and life stories. Reality is rooted in the present. If you watch Nolan's interview with Geoff Keighley, the lack of backstories and character name is deliberate.

[@Jux925]

Imagine taking a dump while inverted.

[@blazn0]

From your point of view it won't be inverted. Only from some one is in the parallel time line.

[@thecoffeecurator]

@@blazn0 imagine walking in on that

[@timurthelamest5630]

blazn0 what if the turd itself is inverted so like the inverted bullets, it will go back in if you act on it.

[@blazn0]

@@timurthelamest5630 then you probably have to take a shit first, then go through the time machine. Go to the toilet while your poop is still in there and try🤷‍♂️

[@timurthelamest5630]

blazn0 doesn’t have to be your shit, just as long as it’s inverted. Just take a poop in the toilet and take the turd out then just store it in an inverted timeline and the poop will return to a bare butthole if in close vicinity of one just like the bullets being retrieved into the gun.

[@howardruk1]

I think it's just Nolan's way of making the movie ... Keeps you in an open ended debate, let the audience keep thinking ... Happened with inception and interstellar .... And also his love for airplane ✈️ 💥 1. Dark knight( escape in airplane scene) 2. Dark knight rises ( crash the airplan scene) 3. Inception (entire dream is on airoplane) 4. Dunkirk 5. Interstellar (kind of with rockets) 6. Tenet

[@Am3r1Kan0]

Damn Nolan really loves planes

[@themomentalist]

100% this. Nolan planted a few clues that they COULD be the same, but the point is you’re not supposed to know either way. Bit like Dekkard in Blade Runner.

[@misbahchowdhury7887]

I love how Dunkirk is Dunkirk lmao

[@hawkeye13_46]

Love how you just put Dunkirk, cuz look at how many planes there are lol

[@leemcqueen500]

And insomnia.

[@kaspiantannberg7963]

Nice theory, and like someone said good call on him speaking Estonian. I saw the movie with my father who is Estonian and we laughed about how unlikley it was that some british guy would understand that language yet alone speak it. However Andrei is a russian name and you should know that Estonian is not a slavic language. A lot of russian people who are born in Estonia dosent even speak Estonian all that well. On top of that they even stress that he grow up in siberia so unless he is suposed to descend from Estonians deported to the gulags in that region i dont think you could draw any conclusions from it.

[@silviaskull]

We agree with you, this analysis makes Neil's character even more important, deeper and wonderful

[@EndavianiTL]

Pattinson has an impressive charisma that leaves a signature behind his performance in several movies. I think that's been crucial to get more and more important roles.

[@kwameoluwasomi]

Your theory was my theory. I think it's the truth... and it damn near brought a tear to my eye. This film could be watched forever.

[@aker919]

For some reason I was assuming from the beginning that Neil has some Russian connections (Robert Pattinson blonde, wearing the scarf, ordering vodka, the scene where he's explaining the plan to crash the plane in the trailer) and was expecting him to be Sator's spy or something. And I also found it weird that they care so much about Kat, even though she is basically a stranger that they use to get through to her husband. This theory would explain both points.

[@VonJay]

Well the protagonist goes out of his way to save the people at the opera, one of his colleagues says "that's not our mission" to his reply "it's mine now." But then again, Neil seems to know for sure that the protagonist will go to visit Kat (from afar).

[@teddie552]

I'm blonde, wear scarves and drink vodka but I'm not Russian...that's a massive leap there :/

[@DaveRevst4548]

I think I’ve found another little Easter egg which I haven’t seen anyone else point out online. I’ve done a whole lot of Tenet plot digging. Love these explanation videos btw. Easter egg (imo): After the Freeport scene, TP and Neil sat in the hotel room and had the following conversation. TP: ”There’s a cold war.” Neil: ”Nuclear?” TP: ”Temporal.” Notice Neil’s smile here. Great acting btw. TP ment that it, for now, was all about the plutonium for Neil. For now, TP didn’t have much else to disclose since he was on a journey of finding out for himself. So, Neil smiled, almost laughed a bit and replied: Neil: ”Time travel?” An inside joke from Neil without TP knowing it (yet). Temporal Pincer Maneuver might have been the naming scheme before this. Or, the naming was founded in that hotel room. That might be a reach though. Anyways, I really liked that smirk from Neil when he replied ”Time travel”. He knew that he knew something that TP didn’t. He was amused by it, since TP was the one/would be the one teaching him.

[@AlinariPn]

Im going to watch this movie backwards,maybe ill understand it then

[@GamePhysics]

@OMGIDestroyedMatter or just hit reverse when it's digitally released, might be a little easier..

[@RosimInc7]

Then you could reverse the title and proudly say that you've watched... Tenet.

[@t.l3846]

Is it me but the protagonist is more Neil's step dad hence they have a very close bond and friendship. It would explain why he would die for him and add a better impact to it.

[@aliounefaye532]

What if Neil was not the son but actually the grandson?..."grandfather paradox"....

[@hawkeye13_46]

Good point

[@travistowne5601]

That is a valid point!!

[@abubakribnahmed9974]

I thought when you go back in time/inverted you need masks, so how are Neil, Sator and the women able to breathe without it???

[@hawkeye13_46]

Oh yeah, but were they inverted when they were back in time, or did they invert backwards and then were able to not invert so they didn’t need the masks

[@abubakribnahmed9974]

@@hawkeye13_46 I have no idea. The movie made it seem that if you invert, then u need a mask, cause you're breathing in carbon dioxide instead of oxygen. I don't really know if they even explained how they are inverted and still walk around with no mask, even though in other scenes they use masks. I'm so confused lol

[@NoobySteaK]

I really like this theory and do believe it myself. It adds so much more meaning to Neil's actions and eventual sacrifice in the movie. Rarely do you see scenes in sci-fi action movies that make you want to cry and that moment when the Protagonist had his eyes wet mines almost did the same. In my opinion this theory makes Neil's character complete.

[@heavyspoilers]

Yeah, he pretty much has no motivation to go back and die otherwise, makes much more sense if he grew up grateful that the protagonist saved him

[@k.m.lawson7168]

Love this video! Had my 4th screening of Tenet .... I believe Neil/Max is Undeniably The Most Important Character, which is the primary reason Nolan never gives "The Protagonist" an actual name. Which is also why it affirms that Max is Neil & why your theory that J.D. Washington's Protagonist joins them after he "Ties up the loose ends" is accurate. Why does 'The Protagonist' begin to get watery eyed when Neil explains that they are lifelong friends? Cause he realizes, in that moment who/what he has done for him, not only sacrificing himself, but how he looks at him as a father figure and freind, willing to sacrifice himself (just as Protagonist does in the beginning with the Fake Cianide), bringing to fruition why 'The Protagonist' gives the order that to become a part of TENET you Must prove that willingness, not because he did, but because Neil/Max did. Thus ensuring TENET existence in the 1st place. This is specifically why at the end you see Max & Kat together before Prya attempts to take her out, to show the Protagonist is protecting Max as well as Kat. What are Prya's exact words to the Assasin before ordering him to kill Kat: "Quickly, before the son comes out" meaning Neil.... not cause the most obvious reason, (Prya doesn't want a child to see his mother's execution), but because Prya understands his importance/who Neil/Max is as well. There are several other hints throughout also..... but too many to list. The Protagonist dedicated his Life to Neil/Max just as Neil did for the Protagonist in Death.... Poetically a Life/Death palindrome (so to speak). I honestly Love Nolan, but after 1st viewing was left a bit underwhelmed, (Character wise), but each viewing makes it exponentially better and as there are so many levels to the story and specifically to Neil/Max and the Protagonists' story/friendship.... makes for one Amazing puzzle too unlock to truly appreciate what he created. The 1st film I can honestly say gets Far better everytime I see it!

[@ryanfreijzer6589]

Just came back from watching it a 2nd time, absolutely love this film!

[@heavyspoilers]

Yeah, kinda feel like bumping my score to a 9, works so much better second time around

[@PeterKisinga]

Me too!

[@rougewillow]

I got it the first time. The fights were too long. Too much of the same backward stuff and the plot was too abvious. Not sure if I whant to see it again.

[@ryanfreijzer6589]

@@rougewillow I got it the first time as well, some scenes just have a bigger meaning to the viewer a second viewing. I liked the fighting scenes and didn't think it was too long, visually it looks stunning. There some twists here and there for the plot, which I didn't see comming. I really enjoy this film, might go a few more times.

[@LaTiNoDiaz]

I'm going to force my wife to go watch it so I have an excuse to go watch it again ;)

[@RGB_Toast]

I can’t sympathise with the idea that the movie doesn’t have very engaging characters. I think the world building more than makes up for the lack of detail and makes mystery all but necessity as the characters deliberately distance themselves from each other to protect one another

[@Sam-zw9di]

totally agree, well said

[@XDarkBrotherhoodHD]

Plus The Protagonist is not supposed to know who anyone is as that would reveal to much and as Neil mentions, it could mess things up. Thats why the audience cant know certain characters backstory’s

[@anthonyclarke2253]

Agreed.

[@AGD2112]

In retrospect I do thing that all of the characters except Neil were pretty sterile. However the pace of the plot was so rapid that there didn't seem any time to slow down and have any significant character moments. I felt Interstellar suffered a little from this too. TENET was a great film but not an easy watch ... the complexity, pace and quantity of action/barrage of information made this a VERY hard film to simply enjoy ... in fact it was SO complex it made INCEPTION feel like Mary Had A Little Lamb!

[@RGB_Toast]

Tony Davies I agree, I think Tenet could’ve benefitted from 20/30 mins longer runtime with some downtime in between to explore characters. Regardless, I think it still worked well - similar to Inception where other than Kobb most of the crew are just “someone I’ve worked with before”, they’re just pieces in a bigger game

[@heprecs8528]

Maybe after he took the pill, he was incepted, and the entire film is a dream.

[@heprecs8528]

lewisyates_ 1021 When he’s captured at the beginning and beaten in the train yard, he falls forward onto is partners hands and swallows a pill.

[@iammacio]

Total recall remake then?

[@mentallyillgaming6384]

lewisyates_ 1021 a suicide pill but it was fake

[@heprecs8528]

Mentally Ill Gaming or they just told him that in his dream... I know it’s thin. I’m only having some fun. It’s very unlikely that it’s linked to Inception. I think the time inversions is enough...

[@RED01SEA]

nop , because inverted stuff happened before he took the pill , he saw a soldier get hit by a inverted bullet

[@oiukd]

Sator is Russian not Estonian. But now it makes sense that Neil/Max ordered a Vodka while working 😂

[@acevaptsarov8410]

lol

[@dypersing]

I thought Neil ordered gin, not vodka.

[@realityofimagination]

@@yt.be-r why not

[@cprw10]

@@dypersing I watch it several times and paid particular attention to that scene, Neil ordered Vodka tonic.. I don't know if Neil is Max, though.

[@miguelmartins84]

As for the analysis of the Sator’s square I think you missed the relation of the TENET word to the end of the movie ;) at the end the Blue team has exactly ten minutes on the clock going forward and the Red exactly 10 minutes going backwards (or vice versa, can’t recall exactly which) otherwise good analysis ;)

[@thembarasekutuma7112]

Even shows how Neil is at the centre of it all, teNet...the letter N!

[@Isekaiser]

I've been saying the name of the movie is 10 for a while lol its inverted because all of those decisions though they are made in the movie in the future or the past they all meet at one point which would seem like present day to the protagonist

[@SS-mk2yp]

I'm only now realizing...Neil knew he was going to die when he went back, didn't he?

[@heavyspoilers]

Yeah, he knew only person could pick the lock and that that person would die

[@CRJG7]

@@heavyspoilers i.redd.it/mbbte0s4cpj51.png you already seen this image? If that is true, then Max can't be Neil right?

[@wictor1992]

@@CRJG7 Why? The timelines don't interfere with the theory. Max grows up, inverses himself at some point and goes back in time until he arrives at the timelines you see in the picture. Then he dies in the end.

[@CRJG7]

@@wictor1992 ye^^ was awake a long time when i wrote that comment XD realised that aswell, but was to lazy to delete the comment

[@VonJay]

My question is how is Neil and the Protagonist having that conversation if Neil already died?

[@Kriae]

"knows about the grandfather paradox" a lot of people do

[@ElZedLoL]

True - its not like its a secret only those from the future know xd

[@BenjaminB-007]

I think he meant that Neil knows that in this universe, if something happens, it happens and can't be changed. I'm not sure though

[@fireboy1301]

The music is so loud in the cinema in tenet

[@heavyspoilers]

Yeah mega loud, you pretty much have to watch it in IMAX to get the proper mix

[@existential_]

@@heavyspoilers Nah, we watched it in IMAX and had the same experience the dialogue was at the bottom of the mix. Chris Stuckman also had the same experience... It seems to be a new theme with Nolan first noticed in Interstellar.

[@rustcohle6746]

BWAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[@TRVLOVE]

The music makes it hard to catch firm grasp of dialogue process

[@LaTiNoDiaz]

The sound was AMAZING! Very loud but not that loud that it became annoying. 'Luckily' we saw it with subs so there were no issues with catching the dialogue.

[@Giga_Maisuradze]

Remember: Neil also knew the exact date when Sator, Max and Kat will be in Vietnam at Yacht. When protagonist asked how he knew it, Neil didnt answered.

[@bradmoshpitt1275]

How come I've never heard of the Sator Square palindrome before. The whole thing seems to be a focal point of the film. There's also an interesting Wikipedia article on the subject: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sator_Square BTW: 'ROTAS' also means 'to rotate', which reminds me of the revolving door vault they use to invert themselves. And 'SATOR' can refer also to 'founder' or 'progenitor'. Highly interesting stuff.

[@05Rudey]

I had a sneaky suspicion that Ives is also Michael Caine's character. Also, thanks to this film, along with The Lighthouse. I can take Robert Pattinson seriously as a actor (He really did live in a Twilight World).

[@theunconventionalenglishman]

Yea, I'm pretty convinced Max is Neil. What sold it for me was reversing Maximillien, which I hadn't thought about. I also didn't realise it could be spelt that way! Great video

[@jz8112]

Neil also knew the date of the vietnam trip!!

[@filosofee]

Loving reading the comments here. Read the 'Neil could be Kat's son' theory in a comment on KZbin after watching Tenet a second time at the BFI IMAX Waterloo, London on Friday 28th. Needed to see it a second time, because totally did not understand the movie after viewing it first-time on Wed Aug 26th. Today, Aug 31st seen it a third-time, again at the awesome BFI IMAX, largest screen in the UK, and Tenet just gets better with each viewing. The Neil character moves in and out of time-inversion always there at the right time to save the protagonist. He might not be Kat's son, but he knows a hell of a lot because he's jumping between times so frequently. Nolan is teasing us to question the origin of Neil and sets many scenes suggesting he's the son of the villain, like how he knows the date that Sator disappeared. I love this movie and could see it everyday day at the BFI IMAX, alas summer's ended so has annual leave, back to work-from-home tomorrow , before then, will continue reading Tenet fans' theories and comments. 🙂

[@VonJay]

But Neil says “years ago for me, years from now for you.” Meaning that him and Neil meet each other really soon, and if that’s soon Neil would be a lot younger wouldn’t he?

[@wat7546]

Do u really have to keep saying that you watched it at the BFI IMAX? 🤣

[@meewarwoowoo]

Kat and Neil's English accents are not regional, unless "Posh" is a region.

[@Pytho_n]

Neil's accent was very transatlantic. If you want a genuine UK accent watch Tom Hardy in Inception.

[@robertstraw9881]

There’s no such thing as a genuine U.K. accent. The United Kingdom is made of up four different countries. What you’re referring to is “Received Pronunciation”.

[@cprw10]

@@Pytho_n Robert Pattinson is British, if he chose to do a "posh" accent, he did it for the character.

[@FLdancer00]

It's funny because I didn't even remember her having an accent until I came here to figure out what I just watched. I must be used to super thick English accents.

[@joebubb5939]

I think the Protagonist and Neil’s relationship is more than a friendship, it’s a father figure relationship that happens in the future. As we know that the Protagonist starts to care for Kat more throughout the film and even saves her from getting killed. He might want to look after her and Max/Neil for the rest of his life, which then might of developed a father and son relationship between the him and Neil. Therefore, this gives us an actual back story for the Protagonist as he cares so much for Max/Neil and Kat, but it just hasn’t happened yet.

[@arthurwild6563]

If you look at it like that a lot of the "flaws" (lack of backstory, etc.) disappear. Absolutely brilliant.

[@joebubb5939]

Arthur Wild Exactly, Nolan gave us a film that we can unlock ourselves!

[@bastiaannijbroek8685]

I fully agree. It follows Propp's morphology, leading to the fact that the protagonist is actually the mentor in the storyline. However we only see a part of the full storyline. I just posted my reasoning for this as well and one of the biggest leads to it is the character Priya, who tells the audience about Propp's morphology. Classic Nolan to bring the story to a meta level: a film about filmmaking.

[@joebubb5939]

Bastiaan Nijbroek I find it so fascinating to think about 🤯

[@bastiaannijbroek8685]

@@joebubb5939 its nice to nerd around on this indeed ;)

[@deancaldicott8759]

Maximilien can also read both ways as Max I'm (I inverted) Neil. And in reverse Neil I'm (I inverted) Max.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Excellent 👌

[@deancaldicott8759]

@@yt.be-r I'm just commenting on the fact I've read others point out this Maximilien thing and only mentioned the name containing the names Neil and Max backwards. I was simply adding to that I had noticed the name also can read as what I wrote in my comment. This wasn't stating if I felt that this fan theory holds water or not far as my experience of the film was concerned. It's true that the son is only ever mentioned as Max in the movie and I'm sure this fan theory and many others can never truly be answered as Tenet is about as open to interpretation and ambiguous as it gets in a hollywood block buster. Straight answers and people thinking they know what another persons creation truly means removes all fun from experiencing a movie. People wanting to share their experiences, theorys etc of what it may have meant to them when watching is part of that fun. There are no right or wrong answers here it's not an exam it's cinema so let's just all enjoy talking about it.

[@dangiven13]

@@humanbean7559 If you read this thread there are dozens of connections. It makes the movie far more layered and important.

[@garrettk7166]

Except that the English & Russian version of "Maximilian" is spelled with "LIAN". Only the French version is spelled with "LIEN". What Russian oligarch father would spell their only son's name with the French version of that name? Would never happen

[@realityofimagination]

In reverse it would be Neil I'm (I inverted) xam, lol

[@elementalplague]

I was watching the video and thinking to myself 'this is all a stretch'......... Then you dropped the Maximilien/Neil name reverse and I'm 100% on board. That's Nolan to a T.

[@rubyshrimpton4730]

I didn't see it myself in my first viewing, but apparently, at the end of the film, Max is wearing Neil's backpack when Pattinson is doing the voiceover.

[@heavyspoilers]

Oh what? Totally missed that if it’s true

[@KabbalahSherry]

GTFOH NO WAY 🤯🤯🤯

[@mikkeljrgensen181]

I respectfully disagree with that :) imgur.com/gallery/XRcYehK

[@pradeep_sekar]

No, thats a black and white bag

[@Honreony]

yea, i watched it twice, trying to catch something about max, but unfortunately no, guess all of us are expecting abit too much

[@Incolent]

Sato is not Estonian. Its told many times in the movie that he is an RUSSIAN oligarch. Its even told that his secret home town was close to Ukraine. Estonia=/=Russia completely different language. Its like saying Spanish is same as Madarin.

[@BradGroux]

Simple oversight, as a huge portion of the film and story takes place in Estonia (the entire car chase sequences).

[@Incolent]

@@BradGroux Bending the truth to fit your narrative does not make your result true. If it does anything, it will undermine your whole hypothesis.

[@JuhoTunkelo]

Yeah that part doesn’t fit at all, teaching a bit. He knew a few words of Estonian just to get through the job.

[@BradGroux]

@@Incolent It isn't bending the truth, it is called a mistake. He made a mistake in the analysis that takes nothing away from the main points of his analysis.

[@ryeguy2256]

Immediately when Katz’s son was on screen and there was a line saying “it all starts with a boy” I immediately thought wait is Kat’s son Neil?

[@kbonics25]

You've had the most accurate theories on Tenet I've seen from Maxwell's Demon to Max being Neil. Keep doing great observational commentary!

[@JolyonSmith]

I don’t understand how the Maximilien “clue” is picked up on so readily when this relies on a highly unusual, French spelling of the name with no apparent connection to France otherwise involved (though French was the language of Russian aristocracy, so ... maybe ...) yet so few people (with some exceptions) pick up on the very obvious clues in the exchanges between Kat, Neil and the Protagonist while travelling inverted. Kat: “Who are you?” Neil: “Let’s start with the simple stuff - physics” Protag (to Neil, who just revealed he knows the 14th date and that Sator was in Ukraine that day): “How do you know about that?” Neil (pauses, looks like he’s about to say something before changing his mind): “The point is...” (ignores and doesn’t answer the question) Kat (speaking about Max): “I don’t want those moments to be full of anguish if they are to be his last” Protag: “They’re not” (then throws a glance at Neil)

[@SaffariRose]

But those clues are also hints at the fact that Niel has been through the 'loop' several times and already knows what's going to happen. Kat and the protagonist are in their first/present iterations and don't know the grand story yet. The Max/Niel connection is an interesting one but there's a lot of stretching.

[@RandyLutcavich]

Max is short for Maximilien Maximilien backwards is Neilimixam Neil for short.

[@zobayeramin780]

But where the Maximilien was mentioned in TENET? if possible please someone tell me about max full form.

[@GRA5S]

It could also be short for Maximus lol. I don't remember someone ever mentioned that Max real name is Maximilien.

[@maulvimuhammad]

yeah maxwell too. no one said something about maximilien.

[@crohero1000]

@@zobayeramin780 i find the whole theory just stretched out, in the last scene even says the whole operation is The Protagonist's pincer movement. So that means that the protagonist went from the future to the past and recruited neil before the events of the movie

[@abdull1154]

I thought the name maximilien both from this post and erick vos is a reach. I almost never heard the name maximilien but i've come across MAXIMILIAN with an "A" alot

[@IftiAlam1999]

Goddammit. This makes me feel more emotional now. Maybe the lack of character depth of Neil and The Protagonist is to hide crucial things about both of them.

[@TomMcD71]

Using dark mode on your phone while taking notes should be polite to others watching for the first time.

[@bradh6926]

And to maybe to avoid being an entitled prick ignoring the most basic of theater going etiquette, on your brainstorming 2nd/3rd viewing, sit in the furthest back row corner...

[@uniqno4999]

Cool analysis. I think it's another 'Nolan signature' to make the viewer think long after the movie with the whole Neil/Max Theory. Much like the end to inception. It's never stated outright which leaves room for either theory to be right not wrong. 👍🏾. Subscribed.

[@diverbrent]

Great channel! I saw Tenet 5 times. Loved it! Really like your theory about Max being Neil and the palindrome! Keep it up!

[@aeronluna2538]

His performance just gives more hype for The Batman and I can't wait to see it

[@highwayexit]

Neil seemed to me the type of action hero you’d find in Japanese anime. Slender, somewhat feminine yet comfortable with it, but very confident in high pressure situations.

[@77smp]

Should also point out that Neil asks the Protagonist of he is going to check on Kat whilst already knowing that he does, does he have a vested interest that can't be said due to suppression. The Protagonist lies because that's Standard Operating Procedure. Plus it's good that the Protagonist when inverted becomes his own Antagonist.

[@marius2527]

New Rockstars went with the same idea (coincidence?) 9-10 days after you. Congrats for figuring it out. Will be following your channel due to this a long time going forward!

[@louisthompson5781]

Well done on this video dude. A lot of work went into it.

[@mytu8e]

I'm sure when they head out for the final mission, kat asks where's Neil because she never got a chance to say goodbye. JDW says he's already gone. Maybe Neil would have found it too hard to say goodbye to his mother knowing this would be the last time he saw her

[@IftiAlam1999]

This movie was amazing. I love the interesting concept and story which actually keeps making you think of various things. The problem is the sound/dialogue mixing plus the way they explain the concept, feels like throwaway lines.

[@Flanker701]

5:05 "Sator is of course Estonian himself" Where exactly in the movie it is mentioned? Wasn't he born in a Siberian town called Stalask-12?

[@jonathanweihe8732]

Yeah i beliecve your right

[@NdrsOrs]

of course he is not. we don't have billionaires in Estonia LOL

[@Flanker701]

@@NdrsOrs hahaha makes sense

[@allier1867]

i initially didn't want to consider this theory but wow... you make a great argument for this.

[@johnwest5957]

My partner mentioned it wasn't logical for the troops to provide such intense medical care for the wife when she was shot, because she wasn't important to anyone except the main, but taking this theory in to consideration it explains why she received such critical care.

[@CedricJeanMarie]

**SPOILER** I wonder about the significance of the coin tied to a red string on his backpack which is used to connect Neil in multiple scenes including his sacrifice at the end. They kill Sator on his yacht near Vietnam. I suspect the coin is actually Vietnamese and possibly a keepsake from Max's trip to shore with his mom (Kat) while the future Kat kills Sator and thus saves the day. Using this specific tag as an identifier has to mean something in my mind and is a further clue to tie Neil to being Max.

[@dulcemedina2589]

So I was a seller of spiritual items and got to familiarize myself with them and this is exactly the same thing I noticed when I saw it last time. Vietnamese lucky coin coincidence? I think not!

[@bluesilkdesigns]

Coins are related to luck and red threads are connected to fate

[@councellatorio7330]

Taking into account the emotions Neil had during their first conversation in the club, I would assume, that the Protagonist has died in the future (or past), maybe during their mission (he mentioned that they have had some) or saving Neil. Neil looked very moved as if he hadn’t seen the Protagonist for a long time.

[@Notolderthanyou]

My dad right when he saw that final scene he said “wait a minute... is Neil her son?” Even I didn’t catch that being the movie buff that I am

[@AgarioSplitrunner]

Everyone: Nolan is best producer Nolan: It's Nolon now.

[@1984stackhouse]

This theory makes a lot of sense! I’ve seen Tenet twice so far and still feel I need a few more watches to really know what’s going on lol which is exactly what I love about Chris Nolan films!

[@NoMoreNamesAvailabl1]

Also cool detail but did anyone peep that throughout the whole movie there are at least 2 Neil's present in thesame time. 3 momentarily when they save Kat

[@MaxIronsThird]

4 Actually, if Neil is from the future and 5 if he is Max, he had to be inverted to go help PT. 2 inverted on Blue Team, 1 uninverted in the car, 1 inverted going to save PT at the Opera House.

[@NoMoreNamesAvailabl1]

@@MaxIronsThird yh problem is I don't agree with the theory of Neil being Max. It sounds poetic but I don't think it makes sense that Neil would have waited almost 25 years in inversion with an oxygen mask

[@MaxIronsThird]

@@NoMoreNamesAvailabl1 25 years? 10 years is the correct number, he is about 12, 10 years later, 22, 10 years inverted, 32. Also even if he's not Max, he could still be from the future

[@MaxIronsThird]

Also there is plenty of space and inverted air in that Carrier ship Tenet used.

[@angelspills11]

I agree I thought he was Max when Neil knew the exact date of the 14th that Max and Cat took the boat to shore that day. The only problem I have with it is A mother will Always recognize her Son's face no matter the age, Cat would have saw her son face in Neil, having spent time up close and personal after she was shot

[@sen.m7832]

I doubt she would realise “this is my son from the future” because it would seem impossible to her. Also she was unconscious/sleeping most of the time. They didn’t spend much time together. Also Neil left without saying goodbye to her. Maybe because he couldn’t bring himself to, also she might notice who he is.

[@khu834]

Recognizing a son's face no matter the age probably only applies to the younger ages, meaning, if Kat has seen Max from age 0-12, then she can always recognize him for that age range. Ask any mother, I think most won't be able to recognize their son's FUTURE appearance 10-20 years into the future, if their son is still a kid right now.

[@kilo5869]

Imagine growing up to be an adult and going back in time and sacrificing yourself to make sure your younger self survives so you can grow up to go back in time and sacrifice yourself again

[@SC-gh6gd]

So technically you're immortal 🤔 Living for ever in loops.

[@kilo5869]

@@SC-gh6gd yes rip

[@kimi123kimi4]

Always wondered why CN cast Elizabeth as the leading lady. Turns out bcoz she bears a striking resemblance to Robert Pattinson.

[@karyanglee3497]

Omg that name explanation part just gave me the chills

[@unrhu]

He didn't have a master in physics that was a lie to cover how he knew so much about inversion. Some dialogue the characters say are lies. This was hinted at when the Protagonist said to Neil... "lying is standard operating procedure"

[@heavyspoilers]

Ah good catch

[@filiphjelm4471]

@Brian Cairns He's a tenet professional with years of experience. Of course he would be one of the most knowledgeable people on the subject.

[@anthonyclarke2253]

@Brian Cairns 😂

[@VonJay]

Unrhu Sator says multiple times how much Max’s education costs. So only if the theory is true, it would make sense that Neil gets a master in Physics.

[@unrhu]

@@VonJay Even still if the theory holds true , Sator was referring to Max grade school education at a prestigious private school.

[@trevorbloomfield303]

I'm pretty sure that the girl that told him about time inversion is the one that creates the time inversion apparatus in the future. Basically a terminator plot. Like how miles Dyson made the chip from the wreckage from what was recovered in the future. MIND BLOWN!!!!!!

[@sen.m7832]

Didn’t the creator kill herself though?

[@trevorbloomfield303]

@@sen.m7832 After she created it in the future yes.

[@pranchole]

If Neil is Max, that means Protagonist sends him back through time knowing he is going to die, which is pretty cold if like the assumption goes that he goes of with Kat and Max after the events of the film, presumable becoming like a step father to him. We are also looking at similarities between him and his mother, what about his father is there anything that could link Neil to Max via Sator?

[@Am3r1Kan0]

It might be cold, sure. But it's also something completely necessary for the events to unfold in the manner that they do. Also I'd imagine that Neil would decide to go through this journey out of his own free will and knowing that he would eventually need to die in the end.

[@sen.m7832]

He probably just realised and accepted that it had to happen because it technically already happened.

[@GreenBrake]

This is true regardless of who Neil is. The protagonist knows that Neil will die at the end of the mission before recruiting him.

[@btdung]

what happened will have to happen

[@tristanmayer5373]

What happened happens. It’s not cold if it’s necessary

[@YYMBRrecords]

I have seen Tenet twice now and I think your video here really sums it all up quite brilliantly. I don't see any flaws or loopholes as of yet, so cheers, and thank you!

[@johnreynolds7996]

YYMBR Here’s a loophole: regardless of whether it is a future Neil or a future Protagonist who inverts to the past - how did they revert? They need to go through a turnstile to do that, so..... where do they find a turnstile? Tenet won’t have any, because that won’t exist until they travel into the past to create it. Sator has them, but they are heavily guarded. Do they bring one with them?

[@YYMBRrecords]

@@johnreynolds7996 I might be confused but I think Protagonist raises Max aka Neil at the end of the movie and they probably figure that out along the way in more adventures.

[@irwinvasquez9858]

John David Washington began acting late in life. But he sure didn't fall far from the tree. His demeanor and natural ability is a gift from God.