Trevelyan’s ultimatum in GoldenEye aboard the train perfectly captures James Bond’s central paradox. For all his charm and romance, Bond is ultimately trained to treat personal attachment as a liability. That’s why his answer, “Kill her. She means nothing to me,” is less of a lie and more a calculated, tactical response. Trevelyan is caught off guard by Bond’s bluntness, and hesitates just enough to give Bond an opening to kill Ourumov.

In the end, this hostage showdown scene has some memorable quotes but is a bit contrived. I think Ourumov could’ve just shot Bond and used Natalya as a human shield. Regardless, the sequence does a great job showcasing Bond’s ability to think quickly under enormous pressure.