5 Best And 5 Worst Things In Tenet

The ultimate moral Tenet wants to impart is a pretty wholesome and simple one — all things, people, and parallel timelines considered. The Protagonist is The Protagonist in really literal terms, and his motivation is not all that separated from the hero in a JRPG: he grows into his own self-confidence and acts with deep empathy to protect others, and when he falls short, he trusts his friends to help him even when he can't anticipate what he'll need or when. Friendship, trust, love, and killing God (at least insofar as Sator describes himself as a god) — Tenet is just like Final Fantasy. 

Jokes aside, the emotional truth underlying the film is reflected most obviously in the little catchphrase that begins popping up halfway through: Ignorance is their strength. It sounds a little negative at first, but the point is a profound one — keeping information from one another is the strength of their trust in and love for each other.

Neil knows a lot about what's going to happen to the Protagonist and he doesn't tell him anything to help. Why? Trust in the Protagonist's individual ability and good faith because he is Neil's friend — or will be, or really always has been, poetically speaking. In reverse, the Protagonist originally gives Neil the mission we see many years hence. That too, is an expression of love and trust that Neil can get it done and literally save his life several times because they are friends. There's no kinder or more touching emotional center for a film, even when it's wrapped up in a complicated and grim storyline about the possible end of the universe.