>>7525875

My theory after watching probably 20 times is that the Oracle knew that the only solution was a new version of Neo merged with a new version of Smith (they merged code more than once), and she orchestrated this secretly without the knowledge of the Architect. Her and the Architect had for many years tried various configurations of The One and The Agent, and it always just lead to an inevitable reboot with more of the same (war, deception, and slavery) which was fine with the Architect but not ideal to the Oracle who had, herself, picked up the best qualities about humans.

A solution this time would require special programming from the Oracle for the One, which would also be copied to the Agent. Neo was the first "One" that fell in love and rejected his programming to save Zion, in order to save the person he loved. Smith after receiving Neo's code, was the first Agent to reject his programming which required him to return to source after being defeated. (It is possible the Merv was the previous version of one of these roles, and he was the first to rebel, which gave the Oracle the idea for her grand plan.)

The Oracle allowed these two to reject their programming which forced each other to grow to unimagined new levels through competition and combining best qualities. This produced both the "existential threat" to the system (Virus Smith), AND the only savior that could resolve the threat (Neo-Smith).

Neo, before confronting Smith the final time when both have evolved to their full power: "Smith. What is he?"

Oracle: "He is you. Your opposite, your negative."

Neo: "What do you want?"

Oracle: "The end of the war."

Architect, at the end of the trilogy: "You played a very dangerous game."

Oracle: "Change always is."