The Matrix was a game-changing sci-fi film when it was first released, with the concept affecting films for a generation. Still, that doesn’t mean there weren’t elements that didn’t always hold up, including some plot contrivances that might have otherwise derailed the plot. But there’s at least one that fans think they might have explained.
A fan theory for the original entry in the Matrix franchise explains how Cypher was able to alert Agent Smith to his proposed betrayal — closing a plot hole in the original film and giving the throwaway concept of the Woman in the Red Dress greater importance.
In The Matrix, Neo is introduced to the specifics of the setting by the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar, including the young coder, Mouse. Part of his training program for Neo introduces the Woman in the Red Dress, a beautiful blonde woman who serves as an easy example of a distraction for the inexperienced Neo. After training for a while with his newfound mentor Morpheus and getting more accustomed to the limitations and possibilities of his world, Mouse even teases Neo with the possibility that he can spend some time alone with the program if he asks — likely giving him some genuine privacy for the first time since breaking out of the Matrix. But as a fan theory from Reddit user davidsmeaton (and found by Ranker) explains, this simple well-meaning act might be the key to explaining a major plot hole in the film.
The ultimate threat of the first Matrix film, Agent Smith, is eventually alerted to the plans of the Nebuchadnezzar by crewmember Cypher. Having grown exhausted with his current circumstances and wishing he’d merely remained happy and docile inside the Matrix itself, Cypher effectively sneaks into the digital world and speaks with Agent Smith. There, he agrees to betray the ship and help set up the capture of Morpheus in exchange for re-entry into the Matrix and a mind-wipe of his knowledge. The plan largely works, resulting in the deaths of most of the ship’s crew and Morpheus’ capture. Cypher is only prevented from killing Neo by Tank — who survived Cypher’s plan and killed him.
Over the years, fans have questioned how Cypher got into the Matrix to speak with Agent Smith alone. Most of the time, hacking into the Matrix from the Nebuchadnezzar requires the assistance of an Operator like Tank, who can see what they’re getting up to. If that’s the case, then it should have been impossible for Cypher to speak with Agent Smith in secret. However, there might have been a workaround thanks to the Woman in the Red Dress. The theory suggests that Cypher approached Mouse about having some time alone with the program. The crew abided and gave Cypher privacy while he was with her. But once he was plugged in, Cypher instead came up with his plan to betray the group with Agent Smith, effectively using the alone time as his cover for being plugged in but unwatched by his allies.
The Matrix theory is a clever idea and allows for the crew’s near-complete downfall to be arranged by their own hubris. Mouse’s attempt to give the group an easier time ended up being a minor throwaway idea in the film, but as a tool of Cypher and Agent Smith, it gains some unexpected story weight. It also gives a plausible way that Cypher was able to complete his betrayal without alerting his war-seasoned allies to the possibility of betrayal. Finally, the mistake of focusing on the Woman in the Red Dress ended up costing Mouse his life — serving as a good quick metaphor for one of the film’s themes.
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