Let us know your thoughts on the theory and what if you have any others. If you enjoyed this video then please subscribe to the channel th-cam.com/channels/q3hT5JPPKy87JGbDls_5BQ.html
The meltdown from few reactionary idiots when he was announced the new Batman was embarrassing. It actually took people to watch Tenet and then realize yeah he will be a great Batman. He has always been a great actor, he has that look and man some of stills from Tenet do give Bruce Wayne vibes. example him getting out of car, that smirk inside that art storage facility... like you said Cant wait any longer to see him as the Dark knight!!!
@Michael Kolhaaas as a matter of fact, yes. I belonged to that group that wasn't entertained by the thought that he is actually a good actor. Boooy, am I glad he proved my wrong..
@@GuyBehindAComputer I was in the skeptical of batman casting camp ... Given my only real knowledge of him was the sparkly vampires... But with tenet, I have a baseline to compare to besides the vampire...
My theory is that the Protagonist sacrifices himself for Neil in the future, so Neil is just returning the favor by sacrificing himself for the Protagonist. This is probably what causes Neil to respect and develop a close bond with the Protagonist. Their lives are mirrors of each others
Yes. We never see an older version of The Protagonist, this shows he probably dies somewhere upwhen. I agree with this theory that Protagonist gives his life for Neil later on. Also, the Protagonist did raise Neil from a child, before sending him back in time to train his own younger self. This is a better explanation for why Neil would give his life for the Protagonist in the past. Although, I do like the video theory for connecting Neil's joyous self-sacrifice to the Johnny Got His Gun military mentality of soldiers being sent to die for rich men's ideals. I accept this as another meaning of Neil's character. Great job video and comments section for further elaborating the inner meanings of a masterpiece from a modern day cinematic Einstein.
Neil is Kat's son, Maximilien "Neil", from the future sent back in the past by the protagonist. He speaks Estonian because Protagonist knew the mission 10 years in advance would take place in Estonia. He probably speaks Russian as well, like his father, Sator.
The Protagonist told Sanjay Singh: "You're an arms-dealer, friend. This may be the easiest trigger that I've ever had to pull." He later shot Priya, the real arms-dealer, with ease.
@@wifine1951 Yeah Great movie. «There is a cold war going on, cold as ice, to Even know it’s true nature is to lose». Sator knew it’s true nature and he lost
@@redmed10 the scene could've played out with the Protagonist inverting to two different points in the past. Killing Priya and the assassin simultaneously. But I believe the movie is confusing enough. Also who leaves their car open when committing a homicide?
I literally thought the movie was fkin with the audience when I first heard that saying.. I thought wtf is that? I thought rubbing your finger and thumb from the same hand against your temple, outer eyebrows! After a while, I looked it up and BAM! 🤣
Protagonist knew he was sending Neil to his death, but not because he “disobeyed” orders, it was cause he knew after the airport fights that what’s happened has happened, and you shouldn’t try to change the past.
Yes, but he stopped Sator from destroying the world, yet maintained the illusion that Sator had won. I think that this ultimate trick of temporal operations, maintaining the illusion that what has happened has happened.
@@cfosburg i watched the movie long time ago, but what do u mean by "destroying the world", like how was he going to destroy the world which im confused of still.
@@aim-9sidewinder550 Sator wanted to destroy the world in his present, and the ‘Future’s’ past. At the end, ‘team Tenet’ execute that 10 minute temporal pincer movement. Blue team went inverted, red team went real time. Their mission was to ‘fail’ to detonate the explosion that would set off the algorithm, but succeed in stealing the algorithm without anyone knowing. We know there was an explosion because the Protagonist was told by Crosby at 24:49 mins that they spotted a detention in Stalsk-12, Siberia. The same day as the Opera attack, and the same day as the fiasco on the Yacht 1:52:30 mins and 1:53:52. In the words of Neil, the detonation had to happen because it happened. Only it didn’t happen how people thought it would. On the surface everything went as planned, and Sator was none the wiser. But in reality, it was as if, ‘team Tenet’ had changed time. My argument is the Protagonist did attempt, multiple times to change events that had transpired. Case in point, the stopped the algorithm from destroying the world by making sure it wasn’t sealed in the explosion. So who is to say he could not devise another plan to save Neil. As long as Neil appeared to die as he did in the movie at 2:13:43 mins, he could theoretically be saved. No one actually saw the person’s face as he was shot in the face, not Neil and not the past Neil watching it happen. Following the rules of the Tenet universe, it seems the grandfather theory holds true, but they found a loophole by having things transpire somewhat different than they appeared. Neil says this profound statement at the end 2:24:00 mins: “It’s the bomb that didn’t go off, the danger no-one knew was real...That’s the bomb with the real power to change the world.” The Tenet creed is: “Knowledge divided, ignorance is our ammunition” I hope that clears it up. 😅
@@cfosburg I disagree. Tenets universe doesn't have a loophole for changing events. Everything happend the way it was intended to from the very beginning. The explosion at Stalsk 12 has always happened without the algorithm, it's just that they didn't know that until the actual operation took place. It's a self fulfilling prophecy and nothing about it could be changed. Just like Neils death.
We think the Protagonist making Sator think he was the 'God' but it's actually Nolan the 'God' that makes the Protagonist thinks that way and acted accordingly.
I fail to see how this theory adds up though. The protagonist making Sator work for him, it is senseless. To be Blunt, that would mean the future protagonist put Sator on a wild goose chase, collecting all nine parts of the Algorithm just so the protagonist could have friends lives threaten and some of them die just so he can then disassemble the 9 parts and hide them again? No the Future wants Sator to destroy the past to save the future, the protagonist would have no part of that.
@@justindyson4753 Algorithm never went boom and Protagonist know it b'cos they are all alive.. and Neil and Protagonist had a talk about it how the blowing past would not work for future or the whole timeline... from that Protagonist knew only one way they succeeded and that was shown so he followed it.. slight change in that would probably bring chaos.. Protagonist is not doctor strange who can see all possible future and then act.. he saw one and worked on that as it was.......
The "I'd rather it be my choice" line in reference to Neil's demise struck me on first viewing, the theory gives it a much deeper and meaningful context. It also gives Neil's (Max's) line would "you take a child hostage" more meaning, the PT might not take a child hostage but will send him to his death when he's all growed up lol. Great vid as always 👍
I had a similar theory, that he's the one who sent Sator instructions to piece together the algorithm. Not because he's a bad guy, but "what's happened's happened". He knows that Sator will piece together the algorithm, and that the ultimate outcome is that they win. The outcome might change if Sator never received it.
Why is it that the more I watch explained tenet videos the more confused I get. From this explanation then it can be said protagonist is at the same time the antagonist since he orchestrated the entire thing.
Your videos are so insightful. I am going to watch Tenet again and maybe a few.times to catch everything that you mentioned. I thought l understood it but l did miss a few things. Thanks you
exactly it was the same for stanley kubrick's the shinning and 2001 a space odyssey, both received some what of poor reviews by casuals when they first came out, and both are now considered as the gold standard of cinema today.
When Sator sees the Protagonist on his yacht after killing his helper with the gold bar Sator uses the trust password "We live in a Twilight World". The Protagonist plays dumb instead of giving the countersign, thinking the password is compromised to his greatest enemy. However maybe he recruited Sator in the future through an intermediary so Sator never met him as the head of Tenet, and was genuinely trying to check if the Protagonist was a friendly or not. I wonder how it would have played out had the protagonist chosen differently. No friends at dusk indeed.
@@sartnowelye3236 nah, tenet is founded by the protagonist so the fact that he didn't say the counter of no friends at dusk, I believe hid the truth about who the protagonist was.. cause it is clear that perhaps Sator was recruited by the future protagonist..
So the protagonist is also the antagonist, I guess that's hinted in the movie, when the Protagonist tells Priya there were two antagonist in the terminal and one came out inverse.
@@JinKee when "they go into the turnstile" is when he crosses the threshold from going backwards to forward in time, there is no "annihilation" taking place. The one that Neil chases down is the Protagonist that gets away to meet up with Neil & Kat a little bit later.
Neil is only back in the present because what has happened, happened. He doesn’t necessarily know he’s gonna die because that would change his thought process and could ultimately change the events which would create a paradox. He decides to sacrifice himself for the protagonist because he feels he owes him that. What has happened, happened
This theory is BS! I even commented that today as well. And on another video by this channel. I feel its like this channel rather stir up controversy with far fetched non-sense then bringing up well thought out theories that could add up.
The idea that Sator is working for the future Protagonist makes sense since Sator just wants the world to burn. He would have no way of verifying anything. Neil chose to go back and die to make sure the lock was opened so they could get the algorithm. He did it out of respect for their relationship in the future since he had already lived it. He was recruited by the Protagonist. The idea that he is Max (from another video) is really cool. That also makes sense since he asks the Protagonist about checking on Kat. There appears to be some kind of special relationship there. Ives saying no one could live didn't really make sense to me. Ives would have to kill himself also, which would leave the algorithm on the ground for anyone to take. Besides, he couldn't kill The Protagonist or the whole thing would fall apart.
Doesn't make much sense to say thay he didn't follow orders, cuz everytime he saved TP's life it was still his obediemce to TP and his plan. And i dont think TP would kill someone that close to him while he saved someone who he barely knew(kat) with lot of risks in the movie.
BTW when Neil and TP get in the ambulance you can see them also just coming out the shipping container. In addition when the blue team first land it Stalsk 12 u can actually see Neil pulling Ives and TP out of the hypocenter. U also probably noticed neil was in the car warning Ives and TP before they entered tunnel Would really appreciate winning the LOTR 4k love ur vids ❤️
Priya told him that "Algorithm did not find in the past, it found in the future." Therefore, the protagonist sent this instruction to Sator, because the future version of the protagonist knew that Sator is the father of Neil. Therefore, he chose Sator in the past.
the entire movie is paradox. they chose sator because he was a the father of neil or they chose neil because he was kat and sator's son. You cant know which came first.
So i think the scientist from future who discovered Inversion is Max/Neil (Phd in physics) and i also think he is the real protagonist who recruited Protagonist (David) in past Its a pincer operation and scientist from future made sure that the Algorithm stays in this predestined loop of events. Knowledge divided. i can be wrong though but this movie has no clear theory
I like that latter part of your theory. I wouldn't say its Neil because Priya establishes the idea that its a female. If it was Neil, they'd leave the gender ambiguous.
@@cprw10 I understand but at that point she wasn't necessarily working for him. It took me a while to realize, but at the end when he says "we both know you were working for me" it was at that point when he went for a walk with her that she was hired. So I don't think she'd have a reason to lie, since at that point in time she didn't expect him.
You know when a film has so much theory and twist ..you know is special....Happy to finally see more people give The recognition of this piece of art!!!
My problem with this theory: The Protagonist has ALL of the pieces. He hides ALL of the pieces so that Sator can find them and assemble them so that; The Protagonist can obtain ALL of the pieces?
The protagonist was left with 6 remember? All 3 men were given 3 each. Neil, in order to go and fulfill his role in the beginning of the movie, gave the protagonist his 3, leaving him with 6.
1:432:00 this is incorrect. the scientist who invented the algorithm didn't send those instructions and gold to Sator. it wa sOTHER people in the future,.
TH-cam recommended one of these Tenet videos after I watched a Shining fan theory video. Not only did I like your presentation more, I've watched through the whole Tenet playlist with this one being the last. Good stuff. 👍
If watched backwards the movie explains itself about 35%. As Sator even said "Its not a machine Cate,it's a safe.." To hide world ending weapons in the past..
I personally like this theory as in my first viewing, I couldn't shake the "feeling" that the protagonist is really a villain and it was all a matter of perspective. I re-watched Memento after Tenet and that is one of the themes in that film. Your "reality" is a combination of events that really happen along with elements that you bring to it. I think Tenet explores this as well. Thanks for the post.
Huh ... This still doesn't feels right to me. So who are the bad guys from the future who instructed Sator every step of the way? Indeed they have no name, but it supposed to be separated/in conflict with Tenet organization. Also, kinda hate this theory as it basically make the protagonist an even darker ruthless figure "playing god" with time instead of the laser focus agent that truly care about his loved ones (friendships). It make no sense when he genuinely care about Kat & her son in the end This theory is basically like Batman sending his robin to be killed by Joker just so he could catch & incriminate Joker after the crime happened, regardless via time manipulation or not.
The way I understood the theory is that the Protagonist used "what's happened's happened" to both trigger and prevent World War 3. He knows that Sator will find the algorithm, and the outcome is that they win. The outcome might change if Sator never received the algorithm.
@@berniet1215 Not necessarily. I think giving Sator the pieces and instructions to find it, keeps the algorithm in that predestined loop in time. Because he knows that Sator will eventually lose, what's happened's happened...changing it might change the outcome
Tenet will be the only 2nd Christopher Nolan film that i'll own, when its release. i think it is absolutely phenomenal. saw it 3x in cinemas & i keep finding new things in each viewing. can't wait to own it to hear Christopher's commentary on important scenes...
Your videos on TENET have been my favorite to watch. Insightful and mind-bending. They've helped me to both understand the movie and love it even more.
@@heavyspoilers Seriously!!! It's the global "Water Cooler" movie 2020 has needed to provide a space of healthy, cross-cultural theorizing discussion on something that's not about the virus or non-political. Thanks for making the space to do that!!
I enjoyed this theory. Nolan does such a great job of having layers to peel back. I dare say not a single movie of his was ever just what it seemed on the surface.
Paul I can’t express how fantastic a job you’ve done with these series of Tenet reviews. I felt like I was living in a Tenet since I had to do into your past to watch these reviews having waited for Tenet to be available to watch in my future. (I wasn’t available yet in my country). Your multiple reviews were very insightful in gaining a fuller grasp of this film.
As for the algorithm pieces got showing inverted properties ... I was under the impression that A) You can still interact with an inverted object normally. You can reach down and pick up an inverted bullet AND you can gesture for it to fly into your hand. B) Sator's goal at Straks 12 was to bury the algorithm so that his employers in the future could use it to end the world. That would probably mean he would need to uninvert them so that they continue to flow into the future
The algorithm is not a mcguffin. It’s what writers call an important object. Mcguffin’s can be taken from a story without the structure of the story collapsing. Taking away the algorithm and replacing it with anything would destroy the entire film. People need to stop calling everything a mcguffin
Loved the intro, and your theory is quite interesting. I raelly didn't understood tenet properly it was really but your breakdown of tenet helped me to understand it more, thanks.
Watching Tenet is like waking up from a dream, only to realize that you weren't dreaming and knowing that you have to deal with all the actions you took in the past that you thought were already made in the future, then you suddenly realize what people are going to say and do before they actually say or do the things that they will say. Its so convoluted but its all the pieces of the puzzle falling into place and you didnt realize you are playing it by yourself all along.
one day people are going realize this movie was about 20 years ahead of its time. When Stanley Kubrick released the Shinning and 2001 a space odyssey, the initial reception for both films mirrored that of this film. Fast forward to today and there are entire documentaries dedicated to deciphering The Shinning and 2001 A Space Odyssey is now considered the gold standard for film making. Most of the Art we consider to be "brilliant" today was not considered so in their time, this is true for all forms of Art, from Painting, architecture to even some forms of music, truly groundbreaking art that pushes the limits of that specific art form is usually too progressive for the masses and takes some time for the general public to catch up. if you are in these comments on this channel and a true fan of this film, consider yourself one of the lucky few with the ability to recognize true brilliance upfront. ..... Love your channel by the way, no one has broken down Tenet the way you have in such a detailed way. keep up the good work.
This is actually a pretty good theory. Gives me the vibe of the movie 'Nightcrawler'. This video would have been even better had The protagonist executed Priya after she killed Kat. That way there would have been no loose ends left.
Before they go into the final scene, the blueprint (the one that Ives is pointing to) of the blast site and it’s setup seem to be a hat tip to Plato’s allegory of the cave. This alludes to the forces at work in the future/‘past’ (fire and moving objects) affecting the present (prisoners in the cave).
I don't think Neil is just happy following orders. I think he's happy to lay down his life to save the Protagonist because he knows the Protagonist saved him and his mother when he was a kid.
Would destroying or damaging one piece of the "algorithm" make the whole thing immaterial and defeat the entire threat? (and by extension, the entire movie)
I wonder if Nolan next Film would be like an agency travelling through different universe's and dimensions call it "Inter-dimensional" a fusion of inception, interstellar and tenet
I've found the best way to think about this movie is being under the mindset that Neil is Christopher Nolan: he sacrifices himself to take us (The Audience/The Protagonist) on this adventure through time. There's legitimacy to the majority of the theories spawned from this movie, I think the best idea is that it's Nolan at his most meta (even Honest Trailers had a joke about Sir Michael Caine literally playing himself/"Sir Michael" in the movie, something I think was very deliberate on the part of Nolan). This movie is, to put it lightly, a masterpiece and I genuinely think it'll only get better with time because Nolan's at his most confident. Nolan's not giving The Audience answers (since he's hired us for the role of The Protagonist) because the answer is the end. Tenet is Nolan channeling David Lynch's Twin Peaks into James Bond.
Make a video showing the similarities in the lines they say throughout TeneT. Like when the Protagonist says “Go, Go, Go!” At the opera seige when he runs out as the bombs are about to go off and when he says “Go, Go, Go!” When Sator starts to chase him in the Audi car chase.
I've watched a lot of these break downs, but one point that I've yet to see anyone talk about is the line right at the end "the bomb that doesn't go off has the power to *change* to world" , which to me implies that the protagonist *isn't* going to ultimately let the events play out again as we see in the movie, especially as the unseen future forces intent on inverting all time are only doing so because humanity is already doomed at that point - an outcome which goes against what we see the protagonist's character to be (he risks his own life over and over to save others and the world). It also explains why neither TENET or the future scientist chose to simply destroy the algorithm device, and instead send it back in time. They do it specifically because they need the inversion techonolgy to reach the past (our present) in order to warn them (us) to avert the destruction of the future they (we) are in the process of creating. Yes, it creates a paradox, but backwards time travel will always create paradoxes unless we think of time like a line of string which that process of time travel creates loops within.
Trying to figure out Neil's timeline, when would he have been recruited. How long was he on missions that he struck this great friendship with the protagonist. And if this took say a few years. He would have had to travel inverted all those years linearly to the point of the movie.
That's actually a good point. Like....was he invented for years on end, sitting in a cargo contain, in order to travel back sufficiently into the past. Interesting...
When i saw the Mcguffin, it looks like an irrgular cam shaft or something you place in a lathe so in my mind this item slips into something that moves linearly and has an influence on a movement like an engine. Valves hitting and others operating in recourse. Still works in therory
As to the "algorithm" not displaying inverse properties I would think Sator sent all the pieces through a turnstile since he was intent on burying them so a future group could dig them up. All in all I really don't care for this theory as it makes the Protagonist this all-knowing puppet master which then defangs the story of any stakes for it means that everyone is just going through the motions of it all like clockwork robots. Where's the emotional center in a story where the true main character is unseen, yet causing all the actions you watch without any chance of failure? To me such a narrative comes off as flat, and solipsistic as those movies that end with "it was all a dream!"
Is it just me or does Priya's hair color change? In the beginning her hair is distinctly gray, but in the walking scene her hair is clearly white. Maybe he's interacting with Priya in different times?
Let us know your thoughts on the theory and what if you have any others. If you enjoyed this video then please subscribe to the channel th-cam.com/channels/q3hT5JPPKy87JGbDls_5BQ.html
After my third viewing of the film I came to the conclusion that I too was unwittingly working for the protagonist the whole time.
We’ve met before just not yet i knew you’d make this comment
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The theory is greatly flawed
Thats good shit brotha!
I don't care what anyone says, Neil is a true selfless hero and Pattison totally stole every scene. Can't wait to see him in Batman.
The meltdown from few reactionary idiots when he was announced the new Batman was embarrassing. It actually took people to watch Tenet and then realize yeah he will be a great Batman. He has always been a great actor, he has that look and man some of stills from Tenet do give Bruce Wayne vibes. example him getting out of car, that smirk inside that art storage facility... like you said Cant wait any longer to see him as the Dark knight!!!
@Michael Kolhaaas as a matter of fact, yes. I belonged to that group that wasn't entertained by the thought that he is actually a good actor. Boooy, am I glad he proved my wrong..
@@GuyBehindAComputer I was in the skeptical of batman casting camp ...
Given my only real knowledge of him was the sparkly vampires...
But with tenet, I have a baseline to compare to besides the vampire...
He stole every scene?? Really?? Lmao this sounds off
@@Novacaine_m every scene he appeared in
I really want a Tenet sequel, but the sequel would actually be a prequel
My theory is that the Protagonist sacrifices himself for Neil in the future, so Neil is just returning the favor by sacrificing himself for the Protagonist. This is probably what causes Neil to respect and develop a close bond with the Protagonist. Their lives are mirrors of each others
@@jjjj-365 And yet
now Heavy Spoilers will make a 10 minute "theory" video about it.
I wonder why Nolan didn't think of any of it. This looks interesting.
You never get to see "oldest" Protagonist. He may be dying/have died after the founding of tenet.
Yes. We never see an older version of The Protagonist, this shows he probably dies somewhere upwhen. I agree with this theory that Protagonist gives his life for Neil later on. Also, the Protagonist did raise Neil from a child, before sending him back in time to train his own younger self. This is a better explanation for why Neil would give his life for the Protagonist in the past.
Although, I do like the video theory for connecting Neil's joyous self-sacrifice to the Johnny Got His Gun military mentality of soldiers being sent to die for rich men's ideals. I accept this as another meaning of Neil's character.
Great job video and comments section for further elaborating the inner meanings of a masterpiece from a modern day cinematic Einstein.
Neil is Kat's son, Maximilien "Neil", from the future sent back in the past by the protagonist. He speaks Estonian because Protagonist knew the mission 10 years in advance would take place in Estonia. He probably speaks Russian as well, like his father, Sator.
The Protagonist told Sanjay Singh: "You're an arms-dealer, friend. This may be the easiest trigger that I've ever had to pull."
He later shot Priya, the real arms-dealer, with ease.
Damn nice catch
Yup
@@wifine1951 Yeah Great movie. «There is a cold war going on, cold as ice, to Even know it’s true nature is to lose». Sator knew it’s true nature and he lost
Pretty convenient that priya was there along with the assassin. She didn't seem that involved before then.
@@redmed10 the scene could've played out with the Protagonist inverting to two different points in the past. Killing Priya and the assassin simultaneously. But I believe the movie is confusing enough.
Also who leaves their car open when committing a homicide?
I swear, the more in-depth I hear of tenet, the more it seems like a purgatory loop for all the characters
Neil was happy to close his loop. He finally gets out of the endless wheel of suffering.
now that you mentioned that, i am happy that neil dieded 😊
No one experiences a loop. Some pieces of their life overlap though.
There's one more theory.. Niel was Andre's Son!!
It's not, no one is "in a loop", I don't know why everybody keep thinking that
I need a temporal pincer to figure this movie out
This briefing has the benefit of information from the team that watched the movie backwards.
I literally thought the movie was fkin with the audience when I first heard that saying..
I thought wtf is that?
I thought rubbing your finger and thumb from the same hand against your temple, outer eyebrows!
After a while, I looked it up and BAM! 🤣
Protagonist knew he was sending Neil to his death, but not because he “disobeyed” orders, it was cause he knew after the airport fights that what’s happened has happened, and you shouldn’t try to change the past.
Yes, but he stopped Sator from destroying the world, yet maintained the illusion that Sator had won. I think that this ultimate trick of temporal operations, maintaining the illusion that what has happened has happened.
@@cfosburg i watched the movie long time ago, but what do u mean by "destroying the world", like how was he going to destroy the world which im confused of still.
@@aim-9sidewinder550 Sator wanted to destroy the world in his present, and the ‘Future’s’ past. At the end, ‘team Tenet’ execute that 10 minute temporal pincer movement. Blue team went inverted, red team went real time. Their mission was to ‘fail’ to detonate the explosion that would set off the algorithm, but succeed in stealing the algorithm without anyone knowing.
We know there was an explosion because the Protagonist was told by Crosby at 24:49 mins that they spotted a detention in Stalsk-12, Siberia. The same day as the Opera attack, and the same day as the fiasco on the Yacht 1:52:30 mins and 1:53:52.
In the words of Neil, the detonation had to happen because it happened. Only it didn’t happen how people thought it would. On the surface everything went as planned, and Sator was none the wiser. But in reality, it was as if, ‘team Tenet’ had changed time.
My argument is the Protagonist did attempt, multiple times to change events that had transpired. Case in point, the stopped the algorithm from destroying the world by making sure it wasn’t sealed in the explosion. So who is to say he could not devise another plan to save Neil. As long as Neil appeared to die as he did in the movie at 2:13:43 mins, he could theoretically be saved. No one actually saw the person’s face as he was shot in the face, not Neil and not the past Neil watching it happen.
Following the rules of the Tenet universe, it seems the grandfather theory holds true, but they found a loophole by having things transpire somewhat different than they appeared.
Neil says this profound statement at the end 2:24:00 mins:
“It’s the bomb that didn’t go off, the danger no-one knew was real...That’s the bomb with the real power to change the world.”
The Tenet creed is:
“Knowledge divided, ignorance is our ammunition”
I hope that clears it up. 😅
@@cfosburg So Neil is alive?
@@cfosburg I disagree. Tenets universe doesn't have a loophole for changing events. Everything happend the way it was intended to from the very beginning. The explosion at Stalsk 12 has always happened without the algorithm, it's just that they didn't know that until the actual operation took place. It's a self fulfilling prophecy and nothing about it could be changed. Just like Neils death.
This is the only movie ever where even the explainer videos are impossible to follow.
“Impossible”, you say.
::continues to follow, along with many others::
So…
This is so good, Sator thought he was the "god" but it was the protagonist making him think he was the one.
Right. At best, Sato was a false prophet. It's pretty damn good, I must say, even if it does paint the Protagonist as deeply callous and detached.
We think the Protagonist making Sator think he was the 'God' but it's actually Nolan the 'God' that makes the Protagonist thinks that way and acted accordingly.
@@puppiepoppy yeah but we're talking about the characters in the movie lol
I fail to see how this theory adds up though. The protagonist making Sator work for him, it is senseless. To be Blunt, that would mean the future protagonist put Sator on a wild goose chase, collecting all nine parts of the Algorithm just so the protagonist could have friends lives threaten and some of them die just so he can then disassemble the 9 parts and hide them again? No the Future wants Sator to destroy the past to save the future, the protagonist would have no part of that.
@@justindyson4753 Algorithm never went boom and Protagonist know it b'cos they are all alive.. and Neil and Protagonist had a talk about it how the blowing past would not work for future or the whole timeline... from that Protagonist knew only one way they succeeded and that was shown so he followed it.. slight change in that would probably bring chaos.. Protagonist is not doctor strange who can see all possible future and then act.. he saw one and worked on that as it was.......
It would be nice if we all can see Neil’s point of view in this movie, from the beginning till the end
That would make a good sequel.
@@Sci-Fi_Freak_YT *prequel
@@ghe176 well I meant a sequel that’s a prequel.
@@Sci-Fi_Freak_YT like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings did
If it happens it should be called teneT
"We live in a Twilight world"
Robert Pattinson : .......
There are no friends at dusk. No truer statement when night falls
The "I'd rather it be my choice" line in reference to Neil's demise struck me on first viewing, the theory gives it a much deeper and meaningful context. It also gives Neil's (Max's) line would "you take a child hostage" more meaning, the PT might not take a child hostage but will send him to his death when he's all growed up lol. Great vid as always 👍
Thank you, yeah I definitely think it hints to what’s going on
EXACTLY....him asking that child question made my antenna go up the first time I saw it
@@heavyspoilers Yes very much so...its beautiful foreshadowing because it's not obvious until u get to the end of the movie....very good writing
Just bought Tenet on Prime Video and I can’t tell you how much subtitles have helped me out. I can now understand what’s going on and it’s beautiful
@ravi sanchez my method also 😂
right??? same for me.
I had a similar theory, that he's the one who sent Sator instructions to piece together the algorithm. Not because he's a bad guy, but "what's happened's happened". He knows that Sator will piece together the algorithm, and that the ultimate outcome is that they win. The outcome might change if Sator never received it.
If he never received them there wouldn't be a movie...
@@tuntejaable That's what a temporal loop is, you don't know what came first
A true Paradox
The ‘why’ questions are the hardest.
Divine will is my best answer.
God i want a TENET cinematic universe now. This has got to be my new #1 sci fi movie of ALL TIME. Last one was interstellar.
MY OPINION! I think Neil accepted his death rather than set up.
Technically, he's using himself as a pawn too...
How do we know? How do we know he was sometimes pretending to be "ignorant" after the ending?
Why is it that the more I watch explained tenet videos the more confused I get. From this explanation then it can be said protagonist is at the same time the antagonist since he orchestrated the entire thing.
You are correct. Our understanding of the movie changes whenever we watch it again.
This is going to make me watch Tenet again. So good!
Yeah it’s amazing
Your videos are so insightful. I am going to watch Tenet again and maybe a few.times to catch everything that you mentioned. I thought l understood it but l did miss a few things. Thanks you
One day people will figure out this film is leaps and bounds ahead of its time.
Yeah my thoughts too...in about ten years after about 20 rewatches people will be like "OH...Thats Brilliant!!" Lol
exactly it was the same for stanley kubrick's the shinning and 2001 a space odyssey, both received some what of poor reviews by casuals when they first came out, and both are now considered as the gold standard of cinema today.
When Sator sees the Protagonist on his yacht after killing his helper with the gold bar Sator uses the trust password "We live in a Twilight World". The Protagonist plays dumb instead of giving the countersign, thinking the password is compromised to his greatest enemy. However maybe he recruited Sator in the future through an intermediary so Sator never met him as the head of Tenet, and was genuinely trying to check if the Protagonist was a friendly or not. I wonder how it would have played out had the protagonist chosen differently. No friends at dusk indeed.
Is that Whitman?
damn that's a solid find! so Tenet was compromised from within the organization, either that or just as you said :)
@@sartnowelye3236 So, finally someone talked.
@@sartnowelye3236 nah, tenet is founded by the protagonist so the fact that he didn't say the counter of no friends at dusk, I believe hid the truth about who the protagonist was.. cause it is clear that perhaps Sator was recruited by the future protagonist..
GREAT POINT!!
So the protagonist is also the antagonist, I guess that's hinted in the movie, when the Protagonist tells Priya there were two antagonist in the terminal and one came out inverse.
And when they go into the turnstile it looks like they vanish into an annihilation like a electron/positron pair
What? He says they're antagonists because he doesn't know it's him and at the time it seemed like they (the two hims) were antagonists.
No the "two antagonists" was the protagonist. One inverted the other not. Priya even says that
@@JinKee when "they go into the turnstile" is when he crosses the threshold from going backwards to forward in time, there is no "annihilation" taking place. The one that Neil chases down is the Protagonist that gets away to meet up with Neil & Kat a little bit later.
@@MonsieurAuContraire that's from the perspective of a Wheeler-Feynman electron, not the outside world.
I’m just waiting for the fan theory that the protagonist is also responsible for the events in Netflix’s show DARK.
Theory: Sator was working with Thanos in the future the whole time.
It was inevitable.
Perfectly balanced
@@JinKee it was inconceivable
Neil is only back in the present because what has happened, happened. He doesn’t necessarily know he’s gonna die because that would change his thought process and could ultimately change the events which would create a paradox. He decides to sacrifice himself for the protagonist because he feels he owes him that. What has happened, happened
I think it’s more a matter of him having a “feeling”. Like he doesn’t KNOW, but he has a good idea that he’s approaching the end of his road
Neil could go away and come back to sacrifice himself after a couple of years of personal time though
Everyone is actually working for the protagonist, willingly or unwillingly, if the outcome is the one desired by the protagonist
Heres what i think of this theory 8:26
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 best use of a time stamp ever
This theory is BS! I even commented that today as well. And on another video by this channel. I feel its like this channel rather stir up controversy with far fetched non-sense then bringing up well thought out theories that could add up.
People rewind and watch movies to understand them...i had to rewind and watch breakdown videos of Tenet and still i am not completely clear 😃
Hahah I don’t even think the cast are
It is more convoluted that the wibbly wobbly timey wimey thing.
Try not just rewinding, but watching it backwards. May help.
They told u to just feel it in the movie
The idea that Sator is working for the future Protagonist makes sense since Sator just wants the world to burn. He would have no way of verifying anything.
Neil chose to go back and die to make sure the lock was opened so they could get the algorithm. He did it out of respect for their relationship in the future since he had already lived it. He was recruited by the Protagonist. The idea that he is Max (from another video) is really cool. That also makes sense since he asks the Protagonist about checking on Kat. There appears to be some kind of special relationship there.
Ives saying no one could live didn't really make sense to me. Ives would have to kill himself also, which would leave the algorithm on the ground for anyone to take. Besides, he couldn't kill The Protagonist or the whole thing would fall apart.
Doesn't make much sense to say thay he didn't follow orders, cuz everytime he saved TP's life it was still his obediemce to TP and his plan. And i dont think TP would kill someone that close to him while he saved someone who he barely knew(kat) with lot of risks in the movie.
BTW when Neil and TP get in the ambulance you can see them also just coming out the shipping container. In addition when the blue team first land it Stalsk 12 u can actually see Neil pulling Ives and TP out of the hypocenter. U also probably noticed neil was in the car warning Ives and TP before they entered tunnel
Would really appreciate winning the LOTR 4k love ur vids ❤️
Good catch, yeah it’s really detailed, Neil also shoots at himself in the truck as well when he drives past
Priya told him that "Algorithm did not find in the past, it found in the future." Therefore, the protagonist sent this instruction to Sator, because the future version of the protagonist knew that Sator is the father of Neil. Therefore, he chose Sator in the past.
best comment
the entire movie is paradox. they chose sator because he was a the father of neil or they chose neil because he was kat and sator's son. You cant know which came first.
Rewatching Tenet, I think Ives might be the young version of Sir Michael. The Protagonist tells Ives exactly what Sir Micheal will tell him.
yo why is no one talking about this! This is legit!
Wow...Nice catch!!!!
So Sir Michael is from the future?
So i think the scientist from future who discovered Inversion is Max/Neil (Phd in physics) and i also think he is the real protagonist who recruited Protagonist (David) in past
Its a pincer operation and scientist from future made sure that the Algorithm stays in this predestined loop of events.
Knowledge divided.
i can be wrong though but this movie has no clear theory
I like that latter part of your theory. I wouldn't say its Neil because Priya establishes the idea that its a female. If it was Neil, they'd leave the gender ambiguous.
@@RobotHau5 Priya could had being lying, she's a liar, all spies are at some degree, "Lying it's standard operating procedure".
@@cprw10 I understand but at that point she wasn't necessarily working for him. It took me a while to realize, but at the end when he says "we both know you were working for me" it was at that point when he went for a walk with her that she was hired. So I don't think she'd have a reason to lie, since at that point in time she didn't expect him.
You're right but thatsa good one as well
I watched the movie, but I already knew this as my future self told me so I watched it in reverse and then it made sense.
Damn, this film gets better with every viewing.
IKR!!
You know when a film has so much theory and twist ..you know is special....Happy to finally see more people give The recognition of this piece of art!!!
My problem with this theory:
The Protagonist has ALL of the pieces.
He hides ALL of the pieces so that Sator can find them and assemble them so that;
The Protagonist can obtain ALL of the pieces?
Yes, it's a closed loop of perpetual combat
Seriously, doesn't make sense.
Information has no origin.
The protagonist was left with 6 remember? All 3 men were given 3 each. Neil, in order to go and fulfill his role in the beginning of the movie, gave the protagonist his 3, leaving him with 6.
I think he purposely created a paradox so that the pieces are looped and can never escape.
1:43 2:00 this is incorrect. the scientist who invented the algorithm didn't send those instructions and gold to Sator. it wa sOTHER people in the future,.
TH-cam recommended one of these Tenet videos after I watched a Shining fan theory video. Not only did I like your presentation more, I've watched through the whole Tenet playlist with this one being the last. Good stuff. 👍
If watched backwards the movie explains itself about 35%.
As Sator even said
"Its not a machine Cate,it's a safe.."
To hide world ending weapons in the past..
I personally like this theory as in my first viewing, I couldn't shake the "feeling" that the protagonist is really a villain and it was all a matter of perspective. I re-watched Memento after Tenet and that is one of the themes in that film. Your "reality" is a combination of events that really happen along with elements that you bring to it. I think Tenet explores this as well. Thanks for the post.
Huh ... This still doesn't feels right to me. So who are the bad guys from the future who instructed Sator every step of the way? Indeed they have no name, but it supposed to be separated/in conflict with Tenet organization.
Also, kinda hate this theory as it basically make the protagonist an even darker ruthless figure "playing god" with time instead of the laser focus agent that truly care about his loved ones (friendships). It make no sense when he genuinely care about Kat & her son in the end
This theory is basically like Batman sending his robin to be killed by Joker just so he could catch & incriminate Joker after the crime happened, regardless via time manipulation or not.
So the theory is that there is no organisation it’s just The Protagonist in the future
@@heavyspoilers right
The way I understood the theory is that the Protagonist used "what's happened's happened" to both trigger and prevent World War 3. He knows that Sator will find the algorithm, and the outcome is that they win. The outcome might change if Sator never received the algorithm.
I like making theory’s but I dislike this one coz it makes the protagonist such a bad guy.
@@berniet1215 Not necessarily. I think giving Sator the pieces and instructions to find it, keeps the algorithm in that predestined loop in time. Because he knows that Sator will eventually lose, what's happened's happened...changing it might change the outcome
Just watched Tenet for the first time today, and now I’m eager to rewatch it with this theory in mind.
Tenet will be the only 2nd Christopher Nolan film that i'll own, when its release. i think it is absolutely phenomenal. saw it 3x in cinemas & i keep finding new things in each viewing. can't wait to own it to hear Christopher's commentary on important scenes...
Your videos on TENET have been my favorite to watch. Insightful and mind-bending. They've helped me to both understand the movie and love it even more.
Thank you, yeah it’s so layered, if we could only get one big movie this year I’m glad it was this
@@heavyspoilers Seriously!!! It's the global "Water Cooler" movie 2020 has needed to provide a space of healthy, cross-cultural theorizing discussion on something that's not about the virus or non-political. Thanks for making the space to do that!!
This has made me NEED to rewatch TeneT
If you’ve watched dark you’d totally relate to this theory
This movie came at a good time. I have little more to do than to study Tenet breakdowns and rewatch the film 30 times.
I enjoyed this theory. Nolan does such a great job of having layers to peel back. I dare say not a single movie of his was ever just what it seemed on the surface.
I've watched Tenet so many times and watched these videos and my brain is still like 🤯🤯
Me too 😔
I'm convinced Heavy Spoilers is working for the Protagonist. How else would he know all of this information that is supposed to be need-to-know?
Paul I can’t express how fantastic a job you’ve done with these series of Tenet reviews. I felt like I was living in a Tenet since I had to do into your past to watch these reviews having waited for Tenet to be available to watch in my future. (I wasn’t available yet in my country). Your multiple reviews were very insightful in gaining a fuller grasp of this film.
Am definetly watching the movie again🔥. Also congrats the channel has been grown over the yr
Ah thank you, your support has meant a lot, always see your name on every video and I really appreciate it
The more I watch this film, the more I love it. The details are there and waiting to be noticed by the watcher.
Awesome video once again. Keep them coming. Sounds like your having fun making Tenet videos.
Watched tenet last night and watched all your tenet videos this morning. I love movies that stay on my mind for days if not weeks..
As for the algorithm pieces got showing inverted properties ... I was under the impression that A) You can still interact with an inverted object normally. You can reach down and pick up an inverted bullet AND you can gesture for it to fly into your hand. B) Sator's goal at Straks 12 was to bury the algorithm so that his employers in the future could use it to end the world. That would probably mean he would need to uninvert them so that they continue to flow into the future
"It's fate."
"Call it whatever you want."
Reality :*)
I watched it finally last week after being afraid to see it in theaters. But man its had me hooked even been listing to the soundtrack.
Yeah it’s amazing, I didn’t like it massively after the first watch but by the second I thought it was incredible
It's actually better mixed on phone. I'm sure it was mixed for iPhone headphones for real, like the screenrant pitch meeting joked.
The algorithm is not a mcguffin. It’s what writers call an important object. Mcguffin’s can be taken from a story without the structure of the story collapsing. Taking away the algorithm and replacing it with anything would destroy the entire film. People need to stop calling everything a mcguffin
Beat me to it
@ 7:51 this is why Neil didn't see Kat before he inverted. He knew he would die so he didn't want to see his mother.
Loved the intro, and your theory is quite interesting. I raelly didn't understood tenet properly it was really but your breakdown of tenet helped me to understand it more, thanks.
Ey thank you Saikath
Excellent video and fantastic theory.
We honestly need a sequel to this movie to explain what happens in the future in relation with the past and present.
Watching Tenet is like waking up from a dream, only to realize that you weren't dreaming and knowing that you have to deal with all the actions you took in the past that you thought were already made in the future, then you suddenly realize what people are going to say and do before they actually say or do the things that they will say. Its so convoluted but its all the pieces of the puzzle falling into place and you didnt realize you are playing it by yourself all along.
You have some really great theories, I've seen it 4x already and can't wait to watch again!
one day people are going realize this movie was about 20 years ahead of its time. When Stanley Kubrick released the Shinning and 2001 a space odyssey, the initial reception for both films mirrored that of this film. Fast forward to today and there are entire documentaries dedicated to deciphering The Shinning and 2001 A Space Odyssey is now considered the gold standard for film making. Most of the Art we consider to be "brilliant" today was not considered so in their time, this is true for all forms of Art, from Painting, architecture to even some forms of music, truly groundbreaking art that pushes the limits of that specific art form is usually too progressive for the masses and takes some time for the general public to catch up. if you are in these comments on this channel and a true fan of this film, consider yourself one of the lucky few with the ability to recognize true brilliance upfront. ..... Love your channel by the way, no one has broken down Tenet the way you have in such a detailed way. keep up the good work.
This is actually a pretty good theory. Gives me the vibe of the movie 'Nightcrawler'.
This video would have been even better had The protagonist executed Priya after she killed Kat. That way there would have been no loose ends left.
No because Kat helped raise Neil...she needed to be alive
I like how at the end you show the scenes with Neil and that guy putting their hands together. I always thought that was the older version of Neil
Before they go into the final scene, the blueprint (the one that Ives is pointing to) of the blast site and it’s setup seem to be a hat tip to Plato’s allegory of the cave. This alludes to the forces at work in the future/‘past’ (fire and moving objects) affecting the present (prisoners in the cave).
I don't think Neil is just happy following orders. I think he's happy to lay down his life to save the Protagonist because he knows the Protagonist saved him and his mother when he was a kid.
TENET is like Parallel Universe now ...anything is possible
Only if it doesn't contract what has happened, because what happened happened.
Would destroying or damaging one piece of the "algorithm" make the whole thing immaterial and defeat the entire threat? (and by extension, the entire movie)
Every TENET video blows my mind. cant stop watching the film.
Another new way to think about this film. I will def keep this in mind during my next viewing!
I wonder if Nolan next Film would be like an agency travelling through different universe's and dimensions call it "Inter-dimensional" a fusion of inception, interstellar and tenet
Thank you for closing the book on Tenet as we all close 2020❤️ All the Best to You, Mate🎄🚀😜👍
I've found the best way to think about this movie is being under the mindset that Neil is Christopher Nolan: he sacrifices himself to take us (The Audience/The Protagonist) on this adventure through time. There's legitimacy to the majority of the theories spawned from this movie, I think the best idea is that it's Nolan at his most meta (even Honest Trailers had a joke about Sir Michael Caine literally playing himself/"Sir Michael" in the movie, something I think was very deliberate on the part of Nolan). This movie is, to put it lightly, a masterpiece and I genuinely think it'll only get better with time because Nolan's at his most confident. Nolan's not giving The Audience answers (since he's hired us for the role of The Protagonist) because the answer is the end. Tenet is Nolan channeling David Lynch's Twin Peaks into James Bond.
I can t wait for the day I finally understand the movie and swim above all these theories
How come you changed your intro? Just curious! Love the content man, your page is the first one I go to after movies and shows! You the man!
Just keep trying to make things interesting
Right on! Hopefully my question didn’t come off the wrong way. You’re always interesting man!
Nolan just simply wants everyone to think properly but that's a good theory
Everyday there's a new theory, and it really changes your mind when you watch it with that new thought in your mind
Yeah the film was made for rewatches
I know right!! Im loving this movie more everyday just like inception
@@heavyspoilers youre right and its why so.many people both like and dislike it... personally I love Nolan's layered outlook to film making
Loving these analyses. Enriching the movie.
This theory is going to make me want to rewatch it again (or have I already done so?) with a new perspective
Make a video showing the similarities in the lines they say throughout TeneT. Like when the Protagonist says “Go, Go, Go!” At the opera seige when he runs out as the bombs are about to go off and when he says “Go, Go, Go!” When Sator starts to chase him in the Audi car chase.
I've watched a lot of these break downs, but one point that I've yet to see anyone talk about is the line right at the end "the bomb that doesn't go off has the power to *change* to world" , which to me implies that the protagonist *isn't* going to ultimately let the events play out again as we see in the movie, especially as the unseen future forces intent on inverting all time are only doing so because humanity is already doomed at that point - an outcome which goes against what we see the protagonist's character to be (he risks his own life over and over to save others and the world).
It also explains why neither TENET or the future scientist chose to simply destroy the algorithm device, and instead send it back in time. They do it specifically because they need the inversion techonolgy to reach the past (our present) in order to warn them (us) to avert the destruction of the future they (we) are in the process of creating. Yes, it creates a paradox, but backwards time travel will always create paradoxes unless we think of time like a line of string which that process of time travel creates loops within.
Excellent analysis as always.
Thanks and shoutouts Trust | Nobody
Trying to figure out Neil's timeline, when would he have been recruited. How long was he on missions that he struck this great friendship with the protagonist. And if this took say a few years. He would have had to travel inverted all those years linearly to the point of the movie.
That's actually a good point. Like....was he invented for years on end, sitting in a cargo contain, in order to travel back sufficiently into the past. Interesting...
Biggest plot twist of all: Sator is actually The Protagonist, just older and made caucasian by technology developed in the future. 🤯
Damn you Paul! You blew my mind! Now I have to watch it again. This is the way.
Dude thanks for the theory.. now I think it makes more sense than it did earlier.
When i saw the Mcguffin, it looks like an irrgular cam shaft or something you place in a lathe so in my mind this item slips into something that moves linearly and has an influence on a movement like an engine. Valves hitting and others operating in recourse. Still works in therory
As to the "algorithm" not displaying inverse properties I would think Sator sent all the pieces through a turnstile since he was intent on burying them so a future group could dig them up. All in all I really don't care for this theory as it makes the Protagonist this all-knowing puppet master which then defangs the story of any stakes for it means that everyone is just going through the motions of it all like clockwork robots. Where's the emotional center in a story where the true main character is unseen, yet causing all the actions you watch without any chance of failure? To me such a narrative comes off as flat, and solipsistic as those movies that end with "it was all a dream!"
Thanks for making these videos for the few of us who loved this movie!!! ✌️
Is it just me or does Priya's hair color change? In the beginning her hair is distinctly gray, but in the walking scene her hair is clearly white. Maybe he's interacting with Priya in different times?
Theres so many damn ways of interpreting this movie. I kind of like when movies have a definite ending.