In The Spy Who Loved Me, Anya Amasova gets to show off her expertise in front of Bond, M, and her own superior as they examine the microfilm Bond recovered in Egypt. It’s a rare moment where Bond is not the smartest person in the room, and the scene works because it feels like a genuine battle of wits rather than a forced attempt to one-up him. It’s a scenario that has failed several times since, and I’ve all but soured on the forced “woman is Bond’s equal” trope since Die Another Day‘s Jinx.

But there’s something about Triple X’s ego-less demeanor that interacts nicely against Bond’s mostly justified arrogance better than any other female Bond counterpart. Amasova’s calm reactions and Barbara Bach’s even-keeled portrayal give her a leg up on any other female Bond ally in my opinion, even those with “kickass” reputations.