In Skyfall, Q’s flippant response to Bond regarding the now apparently taboo “exploding pens” was nothing short of disappointing. I almost screamed at the movie theater screen: “WHY NOT?!” We could’ve at least gotten an explanation as to why this was the case, like budget cuts or weapons that minimize civilian casualties. Don’t just gloss over gadgets like they can just be forgotten in a Bond movie.

I suppose they did so for the playful cat and mouse, Bond and Q conversation, which was entertaining. But at what cost? In the end, Q Branch’s uninventiveness felt like they left Bond under-equipped and ill-prepared.