Building a Better Bond

Infinite insights. 8 Episodes. 1 legendary actor. As our analysis of each performance draws to a close, we must explore the future of a franchise with open minds. 007 is just a code name, after all. For it’s the man behind the moniker with whom we build our Bond. James Bond.

The bad boy. The blonde Bonde. The stoic sleuth with the steely blues. Daniel Craig may be the newest addition to the Bond name, but in terms of making his mark on the franchise, he’s certainly no spectre. His films have boldly reinterpreted the origins of 007 and modernized the story for a new generation.

Tall, dark and deadly. The tech-savvy sleuth. Debonair style from the Eyre Isle. Pierce Brosnan’s suave diction and smooth operations earned him a place in the crosshairs amongst his fellow MI6 admirables. This storied stage master’s tenure as 007 ushered in a new era for the franchise, and continually ensured that Bond would live another day.

The iconoclast intimidator. The stalwart spy. The killer Welsh. Timothy Dalton harkened back to literary inspiration for a Bond that would scare the living daylights out of his foes, and stir the hearts of his fans. In the pantheon of Bond, Dalton’s stay may have been short, but he surely earned his license to thrill.

The classic Brit. The blithe Bond. If Connery brought the swagger, it was Roger Moore who brought the smile. His jubilant approach to playing the iconic secret agent was—and is—a controversial interpretation of the role. With seven outings as Bond, he became the spy many loved to the Moonraker and back, and many...did not.