Ex Bond writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade gave some excellent Bond 26 commentary in a recent Times interview. Most notably for me was Wade’s above line, which reflects the pendulum swing of Bond’s character over the last few actors.

After exploring an over-the-top James Bond experience in Pierce Brosnan’s last outing Die Another Day, we swung back to seriousness in the Daniel Craig era. Now the pendulum seems ready to swing back again, perhaps toward a Bond who is a little funnier and unapologetically flawed. Perhaps a bit more swagger would be a welcome change after Bond’s recent introspection. Which doesn’t mean turning him into a caricature, but how about at least allowing him to be impulsive and even occasionally politically incorrect again.

If Bond 26 can strike that balance, it’d feel undoubtedly refreshing and unmistakably Bond.