»Agents of the system«

It seems like there is a debate between whether or not the agents seen in Reloaded are under the control of and/or part of Smith. I dont think so, and I'll try and explain why, leaving out the obvious points already discussed on the main index to keep redundancy to a minimum.

The most important distinction is a matter of motivation. The agents, are soley devoted to the purpose of preserving the matrix while Smith has superceeded this and broke free. Smith now has a greater purpose. The difference between Smith and all other agents appearing in Reloaded is that the other agents behaving within the rules and confines of the system, whereas Smith can no longer do that.

Consider: Morpheus tells Neo in the first film that agents are sentient programs that can move in and out of anything still connected to the matrix, which allows them to 'take over' indivduals still plugged in. Smith, as he says, has been "unplugged" from the system. If he is no longer a part of that system, he would not be able to use it to take over bodies like he did in the first film.

Therefore when we see agents appear in the bodies of police and truckers in the freeway scene, these must be agents of the system, separate from Smith. (He can hack the system, obviously, but does so in a subversive manner which differs from normal agents... he has to physically interact with the being to overwrite their program with his own.)

Now these agents on the highway... they are trying to kill the Keymaker. Would Smith have any motivation to do this? I dont think so. Smith wants "everything"... to kill the keymaker and obstruct Neo's quest would in turn obstruct his own journey. With the duality between them it seems likely that, for reasons yet unexplained, the journey to the source is just as critical for Smith as it is for Neo.

Now a big question that arises is this: If these agents are agents of the system why do they try and stop Neo from using the Keymaker? (Ive got an answer for this... but I would like to see others thoughts before I get too deep into the topic)

Dan wrote:

Therefore when we see agents appear in the bodies of police and truckers in the freeway scene, these must be agents of the system, separate from Smith.... he has to physically interact with the being to overwrite their program with his own.)

Good one. Have added it.

Dan wrote:

they are trying to kill the Keymaker. Would Smith have any motivation to do this?

Yes. Remember, he is the one who shot the Keymaker. Maybe he doesn;t want Neo to go to the Architect.

I think that the Agents are not really briefed by the Higher-ups. They have orders to terminate any program that has been exiled or that went rogue, and they run with that.
When terminated, the program still has to go through the train station to the mainframe. So, useful programs like the Keymaker can be used again and again. Why the Oracle looks different is an interesting question on program avatar selection.

Agent Smith has obviously gone "buck," and will pop a cap in anything and anyone that prevents him from annihiliating/assimilating Neo.

Ogami Itto wrote:

I think that the Agents are not really briefed by the Higher-ups. They have orders to terminate any program that has been exiled or that went rogue, and they run with that. When terminated, the program still has to go through the train station to the mainframe. So, useful programs like the Keymaker can be used again and again. Why the Oracle looks different is an interesting question on program avatar selection. Agent Smith has obviously gone "buck," and will pop a cap in anything and anyone that prevents him from annihiliating/assimilating Neo.

yes agreed. The Agents certainly arent in possesion of the type of knowledge that Architecht and his kind would know. I think they are restricted to the system, they know enough to function as part of the system, but they dont know whats ulitmately going on.

knnknn wrote:

Maybe he doesn;t want Neo to go to the Architect.

yes, but notice he only kills the keymaker once his purpose has been fulfilled (after he has got Neo through the door). Killing the keymaker wouldn't stop Smith at that point (he could just steal the key from his dead body).
Also, I don't think Smith was trying to kill the keymaker in particular, I think he was just in the crossfire.

And I agree about the agents not knowing, it wouldn't matter if they didn't. Zion needs only be destroyed every 100 years, so lots of the ONES would die before one that became strong enough (Neo) got through.

I bet the program that governs the trees doesn't know about it.

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so lots of the ONES would die before one that became strong enough (Neo) got through.

but those free is Zion would know and remember if they would the one multiple times.

and really... if they found the "one", and he died before visiting the Arcitecht, then is he really the one?

there could have been many the ONES who died but no one knew they were the ONE.

or maybe the only reason hes the one is coz he had summat to live for that wasnt selfish....eg love or maybe thats what the arcitect wanted neo to think so he was just another one not a THE ONE

MantaRay wrote:

Killing the keymaker wouldn't stop Smith at that point (he could just steal the key from his dead body).

What key? You have to know which is the right one.

HE HAD LIKE 600 KEYS.....

It was round his neck! It was pretty obvious!

but maybe if sum1 tried to take it he'd turn into the hulk or summat............

Agents seem not to know what is going on and, in that manner, are just as much `under the thumb of the system` as the humans they shepherd about. It would be a little like angels looking after humans, they dont know gods plan, they just do what they are told.

Smith is an interesting mirror of Cypher. Cypher learns the truth and wants to go back to his pod. Smith becomes free, but feels he has lost his purpose and yearns for it once more. Both sell out their own kind in order to master their destiny.

I like agents in that they too will be set free if the matrix is destroyed, thus making them just as much prisoners as those they ward over.

Ok, I think the reason why the agents want to delete the keymaker is because of something that happens in Enter the Matrix. The keymaker gives Niobi and Ghost the key used at the end of the film to enter the door, which is the keymaker's purpose (to make the key and deliever it to the ONE).

But then Abel and Caine (the Merovingian's dudes) appear and steal the key back. The keymaker says 'I'm sorry, I didn't know our paths weren't meant to cross yet'. And then the keymaker gets captured again, ready for Neo and crew to rescue him in Reloaded.

I believe when keymaker gave Niobi the key he fulfilled his purpose, and so the agents thought he had and were trying to delete him. The agents are programs that do not get commands from some 'centeral server' (or architect); they all work independantly (agents function is to destroy exiled programs).

When the keymaker lost the key he should have gone to the source but CHOSE to be captured again (I think he just went back to his cell, and you don't see anything of the keymaker being captured in the game or film).

MantaRay wrote:

I believe when keymaker gave Niobi the key he fulfilled his purpose, and so the agents thought he had and were trying to delete him.

Nice, have added it.

wow, I'm honored that you've added one of my ideas to this amazing site!

Just a small detail but heck in the Matrix it seems like they're the biggest.

System agents are easily differentiated from Smith Agents by the colour of their suits (aside form the whole "looking like Smith" thing).

Rewatch the beginning of Burly Brawl where the System Agent appears via the woman with her groceries. When Smith jams his hand into that agent look at their suits. Smiths is jet black (like Neo's), whereas the agent still has the "Matrix Green" Hue to it.

Boomhaeur ~

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Smiths is jet black (like Neo's), whereas the agent still has the "Matrix Green" Hue to it.

I've made this observation before regarding suit colour... Perhaps when you're 'unplugged' you lose the 'hues' that the Matrix generates and so display only whites, blacks, browns, greys etc...

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System agents are easily differentiated from Smith Agents by the colour of their suits (aside form the whole "looking like Smith" thing).

I don't think that the Upgraded Agents have the 'looking like Smith thingy' going-on...They are bigger built and have more hair...(not as attractive as Agents go!)
Gimme Smith ANYDAY....

"Perhaps when you're 'unplugged' you lose the 'hues' that the Matrix generates and so display only whites, blacks, browns, greys etc..."

Yeah -- when you look at any of the unplugged characters their blacks are solid blacks not a greeny black. (Not sure what Mero's black is like - will have to rewatch).

I wondered too though if Smith's suit was now Jet Black because of his connection with Neo. They've both gone to a flat jet-black, whereas everyone else always seems to be wearing something w/a little shine to it that isn't nearly as black as Neo/Smith.

(Remember Black isn't always black -- there's a lot of shades that would be considered black (think of a worn out black t-shirt). Se7en was well known for actually doing a special process on the film to extend the black range).

boomhaeur ~

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(Not sure what Mero's black is like - will have to rewatch).

If my memory serves me correctly the Merovingian wears black/black..

when Choi and Dejour go to Neo's appartment at the start of the Matrix, Neo's black clothes have a green hue.