Daniel Craig’s take on James Bond was distinctive, and among his character's unique qualities was a death wish that made his fate in Craig said he wanted his Bond killed off — a desire that, albeit unplanned, became something of a through-line of his version of the character.
This is especially clear through Craig’s portrayal of Bond as often weary and holding little regard for his own life, even utilizing his own "death" in Skyfall to retire, all of which gave the character a darker, moodier aesthetic than previous portrayals. But this thematic link between Craig’s movies means that his final demise in No Time to Die is even better, making it a culmination of both dramatic intent and thematic storytelling.
Why James Bond Had To Die In No Time To Die
Beyond Daniel Craig’s wish to kill his character off, No Time to Die presented the perfect time for James Bond to exit the role and his life. After all, Craig’s Bond’s "M" (Judi Dench) had also died and been replaced, as had several of his critical love interests. When rightly paired with James Bond’s faked death in Skyfall, it was only a matter of time before he was killed off for real. But No Time to Die made the character's fate a natural part of growth and forward momentum for the series by providing Craig’s Bond with a legacy, both in his child, Mathilde (Lisa-Dorah Sonnet), and in Dr. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), a love interest who neither dies nor betrays him and with whom he is on good . With his memory cemented in his surviving family, Craig’s Bond arc — which had focused on recklessness, weariness, and the hazards of the job to those close to him — was ready to close.
Why Bond's No Time To Die Death Was A Perfect Ending For Craig
Not only was James Bond’s death in No Time to Die perfect for Craig's version of the character, but it was a fitting sendoff for the actor's portrayal of the role as well. With the framing of Vesper’s (Eva Green) grave at the beginning of No Time to Die to Bond’s sacrifice to ensure the end of the murderous nanobots at the end of the movie, Craig’s Bond was allowed to finish his series as a hero while calling back to his first movie as the character. The last film in Craig’s run as James Bond also bookends the actor's contribution to the franchise, providing a satisfying end that honored his wishes.
The changing of the guard is never an easy process, yet Craig’s death wish for the character bore unexpected fruit in his portrayal of 007 and his fate in No Time to Die. With the end of Craig’s James Bond movies handled in such a way that it seems in keeping with the character, the series is now free to move forward with a new direction and tone. Meanwhile, Craig’s Bond can rest easy knowing that his stories reached a satisfying conclusion.
