Why are other double o agents idiots?

slingerslinger USAPosts: 79MI6 Agent
I'm watching "The Living Daylights" on the Sci Fi channel right now and in the pre-title sequence of the 3 Double Os, of course Bond is the only to survive. Now I have not examined all the movies so my "theory" could be crap but, is Bond really the only Double O that's worth anything? It seems all other Double Os get killed really easily or turn "bad".
Maybe someone can help me. Has there been another Double O in the series other than Bond, that isn't an idiot?

Right now, as I continue watching TLD, Saunders (another OO right?) is being a total jerk to Bond.

Comments

  • Gothic ZMGothic ZM VA, USAPosts: 110MI6 Agent
    Well, Thunderball showed a lot of double-0s. I don't think any of them acted like idiots. Also, only one double-0 got killed in the opening of The Living Daylights....
    "A dry martini, in a deep champagne goblet. Three measures of Gordons, one of Vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until its ice cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?" - Ian Fleming's 'Casino Royale'

    "We're just too different... I mean, you're dead...." - Tim Burton's 'Corpse Bride'
  • slingerslinger USAPosts: 79MI6 Agent
    Thanks, I'll watch Thunderball again. Are the divers double-Os?
    In The Living Daylights, yes one is actually killed but the other is "taken out" by a paintball during the drill really simply.
    Also, I didn't mean idiot to be so harsh.
  • Gothic ZMGothic ZM VA, USAPosts: 110MI6 Agent
    No, they just all showed up for their assignments on the film's mission. Bond was the only one that showed up late....
    "A dry martini, in a deep champagne goblet. Three measures of Gordons, one of Vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until its ice cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?" - Ian Fleming's 'Casino Royale'

    "We're just too different... I mean, you're dead...." - Tim Burton's 'Corpse Bride'
  • walther p99walther p99 NJPosts: 3,416MI6 Agent
    009 put a bullet in renard's head,all the 00's made the Thunderball briefing on time except for Bond,but ya i get what your saying, but for me this ties in with the whole current thing with M,always analyzing Bond and showing up where he is,doesnt she have other stuff to be doing with other 00's?
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,865Chief of Staff
    slinger wrote:
    Saunders (another OO right?) is being a total jerk to Bond.


    No, Saunders wasn't a 00 (Sender, the Fleming character on which he's based, wasn't either). Total jerk, maybe, though he does make up with Bond before becoming the sacrificial lamb- hm, a lot of labels for a minor character.
  • hegottheboothegottheboot USAPosts: 327MI6 Agent
    If you think about it though, a good percentage of the other 00's are seen failing/dying/turning traitor. 009, 004, and 006 for instance. M always has to call in 007 to replace the dead or missing 00 and get the job done.
    Smiert Spionam.
  • bondfanggrbondfanggr Posts: 5MI6 Agent
    slinger wrote:
    I'm watching "The Living Daylights" on the Sci Fi channel right now and in the pre-title sequence of the 3 Double Os, of course Bond is the only to survive. Now I have not examined all the movies so my "theory" could be crap but, is Bond really the only Double O that's worth anything? It seems all other Double Os get killed really easily or turn "bad".
    Maybe someone can help me. Has there been another Double O in the series other than Bond, that isn't an idiot?

    Right now, as I continue watching TLD, Saunders (another OO right?) is being a total jerk to Bond.

    I wouldn't say 006 was an idiot after watching Goldeneye. Although he had evil intentions, he certainly wasn't stupid.
    Not sure about the rest though.
  • dr. evan-gelistdr. evan-gelist SheffieldPosts: 399MI6 Agent
    slinger wrote:
    I'm watching "The Living Daylights" on the Sci Fi channel right now and in the pre-title sequence of the 3 Double Os, of course Bond is the only to survive. Now I have not examined all the movies so my "theory" could be crap but, is Bond really the only Double O that's worth anything? It seems all other Double Os get killed really easily or turn "bad".
    Maybe someone can help me. Has there been another Double O in the series other than Bond, that isn't an idiot?

    Right now, as I continue watching TLD, Saunders (another OO right?) is being a total jerk to Bond.


    ur right in a sense the other 00's r crap but the blond haired 00 in tld was captured during the war games sequence, 009 was killed by mishca and grishca in octopussy and travelyan turned bad. another 00 survived in twine cos he shot renard but didnt finish him off. and there were 00's in die another day in the title scene.
    "You're in the wrong business... leave it to the professionals!"
    James Bond- Licence To Kill
  • blofeld#1blofeld#1 Posts: 118MI6 Agent
    I really don't know y. But it sometimes seems that bond is saving the 00's.
  • dr. evan-gelistdr. evan-gelist SheffieldPosts: 399MI6 Agent
    blofeld#1 wrote:
    I really don't know y. But it sometimes seems that bond is saving the 00's.


    true yes. thats probably why bond is assigned the tough missions including going into outer space... it is strange
    "You're in the wrong business... leave it to the professionals!"
    James Bond- Licence To Kill
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,253MI6 Agent
    As far as I know the two Korean guys helping Bond in DAD are not 00 agents, rather I think they were just local MI6 station agents sourced to help him.
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    If you think about it though, a good percentage of the other 00's are seen failing/dying/turning traitor. 009, 004, and 006 for instance. M always has to call in 007 to replace the dead or missing 00 and get the job done.
    Smiert Spionam.

    Death, capture, etc. is normal and expected for this class of agents (e.g., Bond in CR, " ...I understand double 0s have a very short life expectancy... ") and it seems that success and failure are often determined by chance and not by skill. Bond frequently is unlucky (or stupid?) by getting himself caught, and on the other hand he is lucky to be in the right place and time to discover some important clue. In YOLT, Fleming attributed to Bond the "Nelson Touch" which seems to sum up his winning factor that in review of past missions, was actually a combination of skill and luck; this is also a recurring theme of gambling throughout the books.

    Putting expectations and formulas aside, going into a story I think we should assume that the same fate of failure is also possible for Bond, who in turn can be replaced, such as his capture in GF; the laser table incident could have turned out much differently had he not been lucky to overhear the term "Operation Grandslam." In sum, on top of luck, yes I think Bond possesses an "x" factor that enables him to fair better than most other 00 agents, but I don't think that the gap is so great to the point of making him extremely exceptional, nor does it make the other 00's comparatively inept.
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,253MI6 Agent
    I agree with hegottheboot and superado's thoughts, I have always thought that like in Fleming's novels the fact that the other 00 agents die in field is due them making a mistake at just the wrong time, or not using their skills and resources to the fullest of their ability. Hence that is why Bond is still alive, as he is resourceful and a quick thinker rather than being depending on his weapons and Q branch issued equipment alone to help him in a bind.
  • thesecretagentthesecretagent CornwallPosts: 2,151MI6 Agent
    slinger wrote:
    I'm watching "The Living Daylights" on the Sci Fi channel right now and in the pre-title sequence of the 3 Double Os, of course Bond is the only to survive. Now I have not examined all the movies so my "theory" could be crap but, is Bond really the only Double O that's worth anything? It seems all other Double Os get killed really easily or turn "bad".
    Maybe someone can help me. Has there been another Double O in the series other than Bond, that isn't an idiot?

    Right now, as I continue watching TLD, Saunders (another OO right?) is being a total jerk to Bond.


    ur right in a sense the other 00's r crap but the blond haired 00 in tld was captured during the war games sequence, 009 was killed by mishca and grishca in octopussy and travelyan turned bad. another 00 survived in twine cos he shot renard but didnt finish him off. and there were 00's in die another day in the title scene.

    Two were'nt so hot, but wasn't it just unlucky with the double 0 who had his rope cut? And to be honest, parachuting in broad daylight into an installation with the SAS (or any half decent unit) aware that there is going to be a raid would really have resulted in all the double 0's being beaten in the exercise, whether there was an assassin lurking there or not.
    Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. If you enjoy crime, espionage, action and fast-moving thrillers follow this link:

    http://apbateman.com
  • RJJBRJJB United StatesPosts: 346MI6 Agent
    The movies feature James Bond. Doesn't it make sense that he should be portayed as the best 00? What would be the point to show a superior agent, when the main character is Bond?
  • thesecretagentthesecretagent CornwallPosts: 2,151MI6 Agent
    RJJB wrote:
    The movies feature James Bond. Doesn't it make sense that he should be portayed as the best 00? What would be the point to show a superior agent, when the main character is Bond?

    I think you just hit the nail on the head. End of discussion :D
    Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. If you enjoy crime, espionage, action and fast-moving thrillers follow this link:

    http://apbateman.com
  • JADE66JADE66 Posts: 238MI6 Agent
    The other 00s aren't idiots. They're expendable. Like Star Trek's red shirted security guys, like Star Wars stormtroopers, they are there to be killed. If you think about it, 007 is really the only agent licensed to kill, for the rest the 00 number is a one way ticket to the graveyard. When a 00 bites the dust in the films, it lets the audience know the situation is serious.
    The other 00s are a plot device, nothing more. (With the exception of Sean Bean's 006, of course.)

    B-)
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