Part 6/12:
Critics and fans alike have observed that the current iteration of James Bond has strayed from the character’s roots. The more recent Daniel Craig films have been criticized for softening Bond, portraying him as more deferential to women and less of the stoic spy of old. Films like "No Time to Die" have been seen as lackluster, with some fans arguing they lack the charm and mythos that made Bond an iconic figure.
The franchise faces an existential crisis: whether to adapt to modern, progressive storytelling trends at the risk of alienating core fans or to preserve its traditional roots. The latter seems increasingly uncertain as management debates whether elements like a young Judy Dench as M or an M prequel would be aligned with the characters’ canonical history.