How did an unnamed coffee shop employee become one of the greatest villains in the history
of "The Matrix?" And does Christina Ricci even know she was in "The Matrix Resurrections?"
There's more to these Matrix Resurrections characters than meets the eye.
On the surface, Sati might just be notable for offering some exposition right about when
viewers might be starting to feel lost in the film. But, as is briefly mentioned, Sati
is actually a computer program, not a human. Most importantly, she's a character we've
seen before.
Sati first appeared in 2003's "The Matrix Revolutions" where Neo met her in a subway-looking
realm where she was accompanied by her parents, also computer programs. Her father told Neo
at the time,
"Every program that is created must have a purpose. If it does not, it is deleted."
Sati was taken in by the Oracle before getting assimilated by a group of Agent Smiths. However,
by the end of the film, the Oracle and Sati are safe and sound in the new iteration of
the Matrix thanks to Neo's sacrifice.
"Will we ever see him again?"
"I suspect so."
That day has clearly come in "Resurrections" as Neo actually meets Sati a couple of times
without realizing her significance.
While Neo is trapped in the Matrix, Sati is one of his co-workers at the game company,
where it seems she's keeping an eye on the former savior of Zion. Near the end of the
film, her character becomes a bigger part of the story as she lays out the plan to rescue
Trinity as well.
Besides her loyalty to Neo, it's implied she might have a personal stake in the mission
as well, since the audience is told that the evil Analyst purged her parents, and the Oracle
is gone as well. Whether or not Sati appears in any possible sequels, it's safe to say
that the program has found her purpose.
Of all the returning characters in "The Matrix: Resurrections," arguably the most surprising
is The Merovingian. Originally appearing in "The Matrix Reloaded" as a data trafficker,
the Merovingian is implied to be an extremely powerful force within the Matrix, though he
preferred to stay slightly more under the radar than the One or the Oracle.
In "Resurrections," it seems that The Frenchman has had a rougher time of it than most—instead
of the high-end luxury he preferred in "Reloaded" and "Revolutions," the Merovingian in "Resurrections"
is dressed in rags and leading a group of other exiles at the seeming behest of Agent
Smith. One thing that hasn't changed for the former crime lord? His obnoxious superiority
and French accent.
"Like wiping your ass with silk. I love it."
On the surface, Bugs seems pretty self-explanatory. She introduces herself as "Bugs… as in,
the Bunny." She has a tattoo of a rabbit, wears a t-shirt with a carrot on it, and asks
another character "What's up, doc?" So yeah, she's got a theme and she's sticking with
it.
Below the surface, Bugs has a lot more depth. Like many of her compatriots, she is a big
fan of Neo, Trinity, and their past adventures. She is the one who never gave up hope, who
saw Neo inside the simulation and then set out to bring him back to the battle. Movement
leader Niobe might not be a fan of her independent streak, but Bugs is determined to remain on
the front lines and do whatever she can to help return Neo and Trinity to power.
If there is to be a breakout character from "Resurrections" and a new franchise face moving
forward, the filmmakers would clearly like it to be Bugs. This is interesting because
while she clearly knows enough about the Matrix to essentially re-introduce Neo to it, this
"true believer" seems to have a significant journey yet to take.
One of Bugs' compatriots, Lexy is introduced to Neo as being the granddaughter of Captain
Roland. While there isn't a lot more said about the character, she clearly has a deep
connection to the conflict that goes back generations.
Her grandfather, Roland, was the former captain of the Mjolnir, appearing in "The Matrix Reloaded,"
"The Matrix Revolutions," and other secondary tales existing across "Matrix" media. You
might best remember him as the freedom fighter that Neo rescues from the Agents in the "Path
of Neo" video game, but he pops up throughout the sequels and media tie-ins.
Some 60 years later, it can be assumed that Roland has died, but his example has clearly
inspired his granddaughter to join the cause.
Inside the Matrix, it's safe to assume that Gwyn de Vere is a big cheese. At the beginning
of the film, Thomas Anderson is feeling pressure from his boss to revisit the "Matrix" game
series, which causes various people around the office to begin brainstorming ways to
make the series relevant, and profitable, again.
Enter Gwyn de Vere, a powerful Warner Bros. executive. She delivers a determined pitch
to bring the franchise back, putting more pressure on Anderson. And then, like that,
she's gone.
It sure does seem suspicious that an actor as high-profile as Christina Ricci would show
up for such a small part. The character's flamboyant name also seems to indicate that
she's much more than just another human lost in the Matrix. Considering the recent birth
of Ricci's child, perhaps she didn't have the time to film more scenes, or maybe those
at the real-life Warner Bros. didn't appreciate the joke. Regardless, to quote, Morpheus,
"What happened happened and couldn't have happened any other way."
This one's a bit of a stretch, but the mustachioed hipster slinging caffeine at the Simulatte
coffee bar is most certainly more than meets the eye. After all, Thomas Anderson and Trinity,
in the guise of Tiffany, keep running into each other there.
Typically, Coffee Shop Guy seems harmless. But as "Resurrections" progresses, we learn
that Thomas Anderson's boss is actually Agent Smith, that the Simulatte is the chosen spot
for a meeting that will shape the future of all reality, and that the coffee shop guy
might not be as innocent as he presents himself.
After all, the film ends with the revelation that Agent Smith was the coffee shop guy—or
at least that Agent Smith could temporarily hijack the poor man's body. While the coffee
shop guy likely won't be performing any slow-mo kung fu moves in future films, perhaps Agent
Smith learned how to make a mean latte while he was working in Simulatte. Clearly, Smith
has an evil scheme brewing — and it involves something far more nefarious than simply charging
extra for soy.
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