Once a defining hallmark of classic Bond movies, peculiar villain/henchman traits (think Dr. No’s metal hands, Jaws’ steel teeth, Oddjob’s bowler hat or even Gobinda’s yo-yo saw) have largely drifted into the realm of camp.

The franchise has experimented with reviving these traits in the modern era, most notably with Blofeld’s facial scarring, Le Chiffre’s bleeding eye and Safin’s distorted mouth and jaw, yet these attempts don’t carry the same impact they once did.  What used to feel ominous or symbolically charged might now only appear cosmetic and forced, especially after the more grounded, psychologically driven Craig era.  A character as awesome as Jaws, for instance, would be tonally incompatible in any of Craig’s movies.  And while Mr. Hinx’s signature metal-piercing fingernails in Spectre were introduced with promise, they were ultimately abandoned without follow-through or narrative consequence.

Ultimately, if a future Bond movie hopes to recapture the magic of unforgettable villain/henchman trademarks and avoid campiness, it needs to strike a delicate balance between the boldness of the past and the more serious tone of the present.