This lyric from Sheryl Crow’s Tomorrow Never Dies serves as a subtle yet powerful reminder that Bond operates in a world of deception and shifting loyalties.  It challenges the myth of Bond as the singular master of espionage, hinting instead at the growing complexity of the global intelligence landscape.

As the series looks ahead to Bond 26, the next Bond story has the opportunity to explore a world where 007’s supremacy is no longer guaranteed.  A narrative centered on rival agents and competing agendas could deliver a great morally ambiguous Bond story that tests 007’s instincts and forces him to redefine what it means to be the best.  Admittedly, such a plot might have better suited Daniel Craig’s seasoned, world-weary Bond rather than a younger successor, but regardless, a story that pits Bond against peers rather than pure villains could reinvigorate the franchise with the sophistication and nuance it deserves.