It might be a time for a transition for the James Bond series as No Time to Die seems set to be Daniel Craig’s final outing as the character. With such a huge change on the horizon, other characters in the series have also been put under the microscope.
One of these happens to be Ben Whishaw’s Q, who is a rebooted version of the original character. First introduced in Skyfall, this Q has been met with a relatively mixed reception due to him being a departure from the previously set standard. In this list, we’ve evaluated Q both in-universe in regards to his chemistry with Bond and his characterization, as well as the perception the audience has of him.
Worst: Not Enough Experience
The original Q never really missed a beat when it came to pretty much any matters with Bond’s activities, and the actor also benefited from this as his scenes carried more conviction on his part. With Ben Whishaw’s version, his inexperience is striking in many areas, which gives the effect of him being one to underestimate.
On occasion, this has clashed with Q being presented as something of a foil for Bond, since him being relatively clueless means he shouldn’t be in a position to talk down to 007.
Best: Welcome Change From The Norm
It was high time for some change in the James Bond series when Skyfall arrived, as the series was 50 years old by that point and had retained the same characterization of Q. Even R, the character played by John Cleese who was promoted to Q, retained similar mannerisms.
For this reason, it’s nice to see a different type of Q in the recent Bond movies, especially because the series has been rebooted from Casino Royale onwards and this Q signifies a welcome change from the norm and gives viewers something to think about.
Worst: Tendency To Panic
Although it does add to his characterization, this Q’s tendency to panic has led to him being dubbed as rather immature. We saw in Skyfall how he’d originally been certain that nothing could break him, but the moment Silva hacked into MI6’s mainframe, Q seemed like a different person.
He was somehow even more meek in Spectre, where this quality ended up being played for laughs. In-universe, Bond can’t rely on this Q as much as he could with the original as there’s a lot of trial and error involved.
Best: Being On An Equal Footing With Bond
Despite the previously mentioned negatives, Q has been on a generally equal status as Bond in that there doesn’t seem to be a separation in status. While he’s mocked Bond for being out in the field and being bullet-heavy, the dynamic between Q and Bond has been of colleagues.
With this kind of chemistry, one can even picture Q heading into the field in the future, or being more involved emotionally with Bond; perhaps have an input in his love life as well. There’s a lot of potential for future storylines - even with a new Bond after Daniel Craig - due to this changed dynamic.
Worst: Lack Of Puns And Comedy
Truth be told, even Daniel Craig’s Bond has this as a negative point for not having enough puns in his arsenal. The same goes for Q too, as sequences featuring this character were the moments where we got the most comedy.
His comedic moments have come with him having an awkward energy about him and his general disdain with fieldwork, but in order to fill out highlight reels Ben Whishaw’s Q should have a much larger assortment of wordplay and outright comedy.
Best: Youthful Energy
The original role of Q had been to be the exasperated uncle-type figure who was too old to put up with 007’s nonsense, and he would point out how his and Bond’s worlds were different. With Ben Whishaw’s version, we have a Q whose presence embodies youth.
Watching him be animated over whatever excites him is a treat considering the background Q originates from. His relationship with Bond can also be seen as him being that pesky younger brother who think he’s too smart for his elder sibling and has to be given a reality check. This has kept the latest series feeling more lively.
Worst: Too Full Of Himself
People tend to give older characters a pass for being vain or pompous due to their experience, but someone young like Ben Whishaw’s Q is bound to end up being stuck with the tag of being a punk. As it happened, this is how characters in-universe and some fans perceive him.
In his first scene alone he mocked Bond and credited his youth as giving him an edge due to his aptitude with technology. The scene was a good introduction, although a side effect was that Q started off in a relatively unlikable light. In his later appearances he’s retained some of his vanity, but does seem to be getting better with it.
Best: Willing To Adapt
There’s not a lot of stuff that makes sense in the James Bond series. After all, the kind of stuff 007 is sent to accomplish and the lengths he takes require you to suspend your disbelief, and Q’s strong point has been to adapt to this.
He was less willing in Skyfall, but got a good dose of reality once his security had been bypassed. In Spectre, he was definitely more open to suggestions and developed a better relationship with Bond due to it. Of course, it’s expected he’ll develop further as the series progresses.
Worst: Not The Same Kind Of Banter With Bond As The Old Q
So far, Ben Whishaw’s Q hasn’t been able to replicate the entertainment value of the original Q mainly due to a lack of banter with 007. Their jabs at one another have been more hostile than playfulness, something that was the reverse with the first Q.
In Spectre, Bond went so far as to threaten Q successfully by implying he’d harm his cats, which was obviously a joke, but it just didn’t play out as good fun; rather, you’d feel as if there was an antagonism between them.
Best: Long-Lasting Quality
The great thing about all the flaws of Ben Whishaw’s Q is that they can be rectified given time. His youth presents an opportunity for him to last several decades if the actor is willing to play the part. Since the character doesn’t demand stunt work, his tenure has no reason to be threatened with age.
As there’s a lot of areas where he can develop further, such as maturing as a person and becoming better friends with 007, the series can leave these plot threads out for future movies and keep Q as a relevant character. If played right, we might end up calling Ben Whishaw’s Q as the best thing in the rebooted Bond series.