The Matrix: How Can Cypher Broadcast Into The Matrix To Meet Agent Smith?

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Does Cypher's meeting with Agent Smith break The Matrix's digital rule book? He may not hang around for long, but Cypher is one of the most intriguing characters in the Wachowski sisters' original Matrix trilogy. Played by Joe Pantoliano, Cypher took the red pill once upon a time, buying fully into Morpheus' crusade against humanity's Machine oppressors. Since then, Cypher realized life in Zion isn't so great, what with the constant lack of sunlight and the slop-like food. He comes to believe blue would've been the better option, and sells out Morpheus to Agent Smith in exchange for a ticket back into the simulation.

To make his clandestine arrangements, Cypher must broadcast into the Matrix, since Smith is obviously just a program at this stage. Annoyingly, their meeting creates a plot hole — Cypher's meaty rendezvous with Smith seemingly takes place while the Nebuchadnezzar is outside of "broadcast depth." Morpheus' ship uses a pirate signal to hack into the Matrix, and must rise closer to Earth's surface before securing a connection — hence why humans don't simply plug in from the comfort of Zion. Shortly after Cypher returns from his dinner date, Morpheus orders Dozer to "bring the ship up to broadcast depth," which suggests they weren't within range beforehand, and Cypher shouldn't have been able to hack in.

Related: The Matrix 4's Zion Replacement Name Has 3 Hidden Easter Eggs

Cypher's broadcast plot hole can potentially be explained by misleading chronology. The Wachowskis' Matrix narrative doesn't necessarily confirm Cypher's meeting with Smith sits directly linear to its adjacent scenes. The restaurant sequence could be a flashback from a time when the Nebuchadnezzar was hovering around broadcast depth. Or maybe