Summary
- The Matrix sequels introduced several fascinating new characters that added depth to the franchise's ensemble.
- Memorable characters like The Analyst, Bane, and The Trainman were introduced in the sequels, showcasing their unique traits and contributions to the story.
- Persephone, The Architect, and Bugs are standout characters who brought intriguing layers and compelling performances to the Matrix universe.
The Matrix sequels are considered to be drastically inferior to the classic original movie, and that’s an astute assessment, but they introduced some fascinating new characters into the franchise’s ensemble. The most iconic Matrix characters were introduced in the first film. Neo is the messianic figure destined to save humanity from the Machines; Trinity is one of the most badass female action heroes in movie history; Morpheus is the wise, noble warrior who introduced Neo (and the audience) to the truth about the universe; and Agent Smith is an unforgettable villain with the pesky ability to duplicate himself in the heat of battle.
But each of the sequels introduced their fair share of memorable characters to the franchise. The Matrix Reloaded introduced a pair of awesome henchmen, the Twins, with an air of mystery that makes them compelling. The Matrix Revolutions introduced The Trainman, the leader of a sort of Matrix underworld who smuggles programs into the Matrix without the Machines knowing about it. The Matrix Resurrections introduced a brand-new big bad for the saga, the Analyst, and a young heroine named Bugs (one of several references to Warner Bros. in the self-aware sequel). The Matrix sequels introduced a bunch of great new characters.
10 The Analyst
Introduced In The Matrix Resurrections
The Analyst is introduced as Thomas Anderson’s therapist in The Matrix Resurrections, but he turns out to be The Matrix franchise’s new big bad. Played by Neil Patrick Harris, the Analyst prescribes Anderson blue pills to keep him in the dark. It’s eventually revealed that the Analyst created the seventh iteration of the Matrix. He implemented his own ideas, like making “bullet time” a canonical concept. The Analyst is set up as a seemingly kind and comionate character, but he turns out to be one of the series’ most evil and powerful villains.
9 Bane
Introduced In The Matrix Reloaded
Bane is a crew member on the Zion hovercraft Caduceus, played by Ian Bliss. Bane is an interesting and unique character, because he walks the line between hero and villain. His own intentions are good, but Agent Smith finds that he can overwrite Bane’s consciousness in the Matrix and embody him in the real world. The tragedy of Bane is that he’s not a bad guy, but Neo still has to kill him to save the day, because he’s being controlled by Smith.
8 The Trainman
Introduced In The Matrix Revolutions
There weren’t a ton of memorable new characters introduced in The Matrix Revolutions, arguably the weakest entry in the entire series, but the Trainman is a great character. He’s an exiled program working for the Merovingian, played by Bruce Spence. The Trainman lives in a subway station under the guise of a homeless man so he can covertly smuggle fellow programs into the Matrix. When the Trainman was introduced, it also introduced a whole fascinating underworld of the Matrix.
7 Persephone
Introduced In The Matrix Reloaded
The Merovingian’s long-suffering wife, Persephone, is played brilliantly by Monica Bellucci. Persephone is bored with her life in the Matrix and feels like she’s stuck in an unhappy marriage with an unfaithful egomaniac. Bellucci gives this character a lot more depth and intrigue than she has on the page. In an alternate reality, this would be a forgettable side character who happens to share the screen with cinematic icons, but Bellucci made her a memorable character in her own right.
6 The Architect
Introduced In The Matrix Reloaded
Described as the “father” of the Matrix, the Architect is an omnipotent A.I. played by Helmut Bakaitis. The Architect’s primary purpose is to deliver exposition. But the Wachowskis wrote that exposition in such a poetic way that it digs into the philosophy of reality and the paradox of free will, and Bakaitis brings the appropriate gravitas to every line delivery. At the turn of the third act in The Matrix Reloaded, the Architect provides Neo with a crucial choice: he has to choose between saving the Matrix and saving Trinity. Neo, of course, chooses the latter, sealing his fate.
5 Bugs
Introduced In The Matrix Resurrections
The captain of the hovercraft Mnemosyne, Bugs, is played by Jessica Henwick in The Matrix Resurrections. Bugs kicks off the plot of the fourth movie as she searches the Matrix for Neo – who, at the time, is under the impression that he imagined the events of the original trilogy – so they can team up to overthrow the Analyst and his new version of the Matrix. Henwick’s magnetic turn as Bugs is one of the bright spots in the movie and shows what she could’ve done if she was given a bigger Star Wars role.
4 The Keymaker
Introduced In The Matrix Reloaded
One of the most fun aspects of The Matrix franchise is the way it takes intangible concepts from the computer world and visualizes them as real, tangible things. The Keymaker, played by Randall Duk Kim, is able to create shortcut commands that are represented visually as physical keys. The Keymaker is essentially a walking, talking MacGuffin. The thrilling freeway chase in The Matrix Reloaded, one of the best action sequences in the whole saga, is kicked off because Trinity needs to keep the Keymaker safe.
3 Link
Introduced In The Matrix Reloaded
Link, played by Harold Perrineau, replaced Tank and Dozer as the pilot of the Nebuchadnezzar. He was initially unsure whether he should trust Morpheus, because Morpheus is a lot more reckless and courageous than his last captain was. Link actually has a real arc and changes over the course of his on-screen journey. Between the second and third Matrix movies, Link really opens his mind. He goes from refusing to wear his wife’s fortune necklace because he doesn’t believe in her superstitions to wearing it because “it can’t hurt.”
2 The Twins
Introduced In The Matrix Reloaded
The Twins, played by real-life identical twins Neil and Adrian Rayment, are the Merovingian’s most trusted henchmen. They’re the most badass side villains in the whole Matrix franchise. There’s an air of mystery around the characters, since their backstory is never fully explained. The Twins are believed to be Agents from a previous version of the Matrix who went rogue. Their toughness in the action scenes makes them compelling characters, but the mystique surrounding their background makes them even more compelling.
1 Niobe
Introduced In The Matrix Reloaded
Niobe is a human from Zion, played by Jada Pinkett Smith, who ed the resistance against the Machines. Niobe is the captain and pilot of her own ship, the Logos, which is the zippiest, most maneuverable craft in the human fleet. In the heightened reality of the Matrix, Niobe is one of the most skilled martial artists from Zion. She’s survived fights with Seraph, the Merovingian’s superpowered goons, and even Agent Smith. Throughout all three sequels, Niobe quietly carved out a reputation as one of The Matrix saga’s fiercest and most powerful characters.
