»Merovingian the One???«

I read just about everything on this site, and there is one claim that Merovingian may be the former One, and Persiphone the former Trinity. Maybe its my misunderstanding of the Architect scene, but as I recall Neo is the only one with a specific experience of love. Now Im not sure if the architect meant that he is the only one so deeply in love, and that the others had similar experiences but not as specific. Otherwise, Persiphone would not be a former Trinity, so you'd have to question Merovingian's One-ness.

Also I read some claims (maybe not here) that Neo is a program and Smith a human (spreads like a virus). I would disagree. Merovingian is a program, otherwise how would he be alive after 100 years of war and look the same. Why doesnt he fight Neo? Despite all, I disagree that Merovingian is the former one.

Ive just been revising M1, the incident in the car, when Trinity says: "You've been down there, you know that road, you know exactly where it ends". Where does it end? This is unanswered but seems to be very important to convince Neo to stay in the car and trust Trinity.

With respect to all, I just have to mention that my favourite line from M2 is: "Hope, it is the quintessential human dillusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength and your greatest weakness", Architect to Neo.

Personally, I disagree with Theory 3 (MIM). I rather prefer Theory 2, because MIM is 0 degree twist and I believe WB like to turn things around in their stories. Just to mention as well that I think this is a great site, it opened my eyes on some issues of M1 and M2.

Dusan wrote:

I read just about everything on this site

How long did it take you?

Dusan wrote:

and there is one claim that Merovingian may be the former One, and Persiphone the former Trinity...and that the others had similar experiences but not as specific.

He chose the right door, Zion got rebuilt and Merobingian managed to survive.... (Just a theory)

Dusan wrote:

Also I read some claims (maybe not here) that Neo is a program and Smith a human (spreads like a virus).

Hey, Smith is a human? Do you mean a security measure if the Matrix runs too long?

Dusan wrote:

Ive just been revising M1, the incident in the car, when Trinity says: "You've been down there, you know that road, you know exactly where it ends". Where does it end? This is unanswered but seems to be very important to convince Neo to stay in the car and trust Trinity.

Maybe at the end of the road there is State Prison.

Dusan wrote:

Just to mention as well that I think this is a great site, it opened my eyes on some issues of M1 and M2.

Hey, thank you very much!

There are several clues in The Matrix Reloaded that make believe that Merovingian is a previous "One".

1) He has been there for a very long time.

The Oracle: Yes, he disappeared some time ago. We did not know what happened to him until now. He's being held prisoner by a very dangerous program, one of the oldest of us. He is called the Merovingian, and he will not let him go willingly.
Neo: What does he want?
The Oracle: What do all men with power want? More power.

Note that the Oracle said MEN. Could this mean he was once human? Maybe I'm trying too hard, but it's a possiblity.

2) The scene in the restaurant.

Merovingian: Causality. There is no escape from it, we are forever slaves to it. Our only hope, our only peace is to understand it, to understand the `why.' `Why' is what separates US from them, YOU from me. `Why' is the only real social power, without it you are powerless. And this is how you come to me, without `why,' without power. Another link in the chain. But fear not, since I have seen how good you are at following orders, I will tell you what to do next. Run back, and give the fortune teller this message: Her time is almost up. Now I have some real business to do, I will say adieu and goodbye.

When he says "Why is what separates us from them, you from me" he is looking at Neo. This might mean that while Neo and him are different from the rest of the inhabitants of The Matrix, he and Neo are different because they have a different "why", or they have a different purpose.

3) Persephone

Persephone: If you want the Keymaker, follow me. [to man in washroom] Get out! I'm so sick of his bullshit. On and on, pompous prick. A long time ago, when we first came here, it was so different. He was so different. HE WAS LIKE YOU. I'll give you what you want. But you have to give me something.
.
.
.
Persephone: You love her. She loves you. It's all over you both. A long time ago, I knew what that felt like. I want to remember it. I want to sample it. That's all, just a sample.

This is the line that triggered all the rumours that Merovingian was in fact a former "one" from an older version of The Matrix. This might also mean that Persephone is a "former Trinity".

But then at the scene in the chateau, he throws us all off whe he says:

Merovingian: Handle us? You'll handle us? You know, your predecessors had much more respect.
.
.
.
Merovingian: Damn it, woman, you will be the end of me. Mark my words, boy, and mark them well. I have survived your predecessors, and I will survive you!

Of course, this doesn't discredit the whole theory, because Merovingian could still be from version 1 of The Matrix, thus the other "ones" would be Neo's predecessors but not his.





[/i]

Merovingian is a PROGRAM from the first version of the Matrix. The reason that version failed is somehow tied into the original purpose of Merovingian. The reason Merovingian was scheduled for deletion is because in the next version of the Matrix, they invented The One, who replaces whatever similar function Merovingian had. Merovingian is now a deprecated program, living in exile.

See, Merovingian is similar to the One, but he is NOT the One, never was. Thats also why he looks down on the One, and why he does not place himself in the same category as Neo's predecessors.


Also: think about the parallels the Matrix implies between the first version and the garden of eden, and then the parallels between neo and the messiah. Merovingian parallels "adam"- the perfect human who sold mankind into the slavery of sin- who the messiah then redeems. If you draw this parallel, a lot of the dialogue you just quoted, the "woman, you'll be the end of me... " for instance, points to this reference: Eve gave Adam the forbidden fruit

Thank you for your insight on the topic. Although, I was just stating that it is a posibility, not a fact. That's why I gave 3 points to support the theory, and the final point, that is somehow contradictory and confusing.

I'm not sure if The Merovingian is an "exile" program, because from what I recall the Oracle saying, he is just a "dangerous program".

Neo: The Keymaker?

The Oracle: Yes, he disappeared some time ago. We did not know what happened to him until now. He's being held prisoner by a very dangerous program, one of the oldest of us. He is called the Merovingian, and he will not let him go willingly.

I agree with StaticAge when he says that the Merovingian is similar to Neo. I think that they are somehow bonded in kinda the same way Smith and Neo are.

i've been thinking what if part of going to the architect is the matrix changes the one (the "process")and turns him into a sort of program it would explain some theories about neo being a program so mero is sat the first or second "one" and in enter the matrix the old guy that speeks to niobe in the subway could be another and the others could still be out there or have been killed

what do you guys think?

Why is the Merovingian a collector of exile programs? Why does anyone need to pay him any respect? All Ive seen him do is drink wine and give cake to people. If Neo can take out an entire room of programs, why would the Merovingian be so quick to point out that he has survived his predecessors? What makes him so special?

Also, he has seen enough Ones to know what they are capable of (which is why he asks Neo if he can see the code on the woman). Although, the stopping-of-the-sword-with-his-hand trick seemed to catch him off guard.

Interesting character, this guy.

AHHH...but remember we are talking about The One Version 6.0 (I wonder if they are still in beta)...anyway...maybe version 6.0 includes stopping bullets and swords with your bare hands, responding quicker than predecessors to the Architecht, and....well....maybe version 7.0 will look something like this --->

First of all, we know that it has been at least 100 years since the last version of the One. Assuming that Mero could be version 5.0, we have to throw in growing up, being unplugged, and being trained to fight (On MR bonus DVD there's a place where it says that it has been six months between stories). Mero looked between 40 and 45. So we're talking nearly 150 years.

My point is: If all versions of the one were human and all humans have to be physically plugged in to experience the matrix, how is mero being sustained for this amount of time? (This is assuming that mero is at least the 5th "one".) I don't see how this is possible unless the matrix could download mero's memories and create a program that looked like his real self. (This idea, I think, is a stretch.)

Another thing, when mero is talking with morpheus, trinity, and neo he says his job is gathering information. Notice how all the other exile programs state what their function is: Oracle: My job is to know the future. The Keymaker: My job is to protect that which is most important.

Then there's the whole thing about mero surviving neo's predecessor’s

So, what do any of you think about my ideas?

The thing about the Merovingian is that he is old. "One of the oldest of us" (us, meaning the Oracle, the Merovingian, possibly Seraph, most of the exile programs, etc).

I think that the old programs dont get reloaded simply because they never returned to the source. They are free-roaming programs living inside the Matrix... the Merovingian just happens to be one of the most powerful ones that couldnt get deleted.

Now, if he was a former One, he couldve just figured out a way to "download" himself into the Matrix, thereby eliminating the need for his human body (like how Smith "uploaded" himself into Kane, thereby escaping the Matrix altogether). It would also explain why the Mero was able to exploit something about Neo in order to trap him in the matrix (causing Morpheous, trinity and Seraph to come look for him). Personally, I think he just exploited Neo's stupidity about the whole "matrix" concept (neo is very trusting of the wrong people).

I would point out, as a point of interest if not clarification, what the Merovingian name means in the broader context of actual history--this, I think, could be instructive given the W. Bros. penchant for mythologizing and oblique reference...

The Merovingian dynasty were, of course, the first dynastic rulers of France, until unseated by the Carolingians in the form of Charlemagne. There is a plethora of literature out there speculating that the Merovingians were, in fact, descended from the Davidian line of Kings, including the big guy JC himself. Ha!

Now, y'all are, I'm sure, net-saavy enough to find the fun conspiracy literature out there. In reference to the Matrix, however, I'd point out that this lends some pretty strong credence to the idea that the Merovingian is some sort of relative, though perhaps not a former incarnation, of the One.

Certainly the symbology fits.

Historically, the Merovingians in France "justified"--the wrong word, probably--or legitimated their kingship by drawing that explicit connection to the Davidian Kings of the Old Testament. There is, additionally, a body of literature speculating that Jesus was likewise an actual "King of the Jews"--that the moniker was not applied mockingly, as orthodox Christian dogma has it, but rather literally: for Jesus was descended directly from King David. And as we may recall, the human city is indeed called Zion, that is, the Promised Land, the Kindom of Israel.

I'm not going to try to square away any sort of timeline or family tree here--that's beyond the scope of my lunchbreak! But, food for thought, no?