The Matrix has an enormous following of dedicated fans who understand this universe better than most, but one aspect of the plot that always finds itself at the center of debate is whether Keanu Reeves’ protagonist Neo is truly “the One“ that he’s prophesied to be. In the first movie, Neo visits a mysterious character called The Oracle (Gloria Foster) — who’s later revealed to be a sapient part of the Matrix itself — and is subtly inspired to become The One who will have the ability to bring down the Matrix once and for all.
The Oracle actually tells Neo he’s not The One upon their first meeting, seemingly deliberately setting him on course to be so. While this prophecy seems to come true in The Matrix‘s ending, the sequels have something different to say about Neo’s place in this universe. Many audiences take issue with the innate lore changes and apparent retcons that happen in The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix: Revolutions, but there’s no escaping the fact that they exist, and they fundamentally influence the story of the first movie.
Neo Was Not The One In Previous Versions Of The Matrix
He Was Merely Led To Believe He Was Special
At the end of The Matrix: Reloaded, Neo visits another enigmatic character called The Architect (Helmut Bakaiti), who reveals that he’s not The One after all. Rather, he’s just the latest in a long chain of special figures who were chosen to prevent the Matrix’s total system crash when humans inevitably develop free will. He’s given a choice: reboot the Matrix from the source (as his predecessors did) or allow the Matrix to crash and kill everybody within it. Neo chooses the latter, leading to the events of The Matrix: Revolutions.
This plot twist fundamentally changes the idea of The One — Neo isn’t as special as The Oracle led him to believe, as several other people have walked his path before him. Neo’s version of the Matrix isn’t even the original one; the only thing that distinguishes him from those who came before him is his decision not to reboot the Matrix. It’s one of The Matrix: Reloaded‘s most confusing scenes, but it seemingly confirms that Neo isn’t The One, only The One of his era at the most.
Why The Architect Had Multiple Versions Of Neo On His Screen
Was Every Version Of The One The Same As Neo?
When Neo visits the Architect, he finds himself in a room with many other versions of himself appearing on screens that line the walls. While many audiences have taken this to mean that the Matrix’s previous “chosen ones” were identical versions of Neo, it’s more likely that the Wachowskis simply used Keanu Reeves’ likeness to illustrate that his character isn’t as unique as the audience is led to believe. It’s a visual representation to show that Neo really wasn’t that special and that The One of The Matrix was a fabricated prophecy to keep humans in check forever and ensure the cycle continues.
