Ben Wishaw as Q

IanTIanT Posts: 573MI6 Agent
It's two film in, what do you think of Ben Wishaw as Q?

My personal opinion is that I think it is a genius bit of casting. The last time we saw Craig and Wishaw on screen together prior to this, Wishaw has just popped a cap into DC and legged it.

To move to a younger Q had to be the right thing to do. As poor John Cleese found out, to have an old chap doing it just meant someone impersonating Desmond LLewelyn. Having a younger person to do it moves with the times. Younger people are, in the main, more tech savvy. Our new Q is probably some Oxbridge graduate who was whipped up by MI6 due to his prodigious skills.

Having someone younger than Bond who is clearly senior to him makes a far more interesting vehicle for some great dialogue. You can see, especially in Spectre, that although Q is a higher rank than Bond, he also idolises him. Isn't that more interesting than an old codger telling him off all the time?

I do hope that Babs and Mike keep this up.
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Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I think he's fantastic, an iconic Q for a new series of Bond films. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    I hated him in SF, but I loved him in SP. His character just didn't make any sense at all in SF. Why would M hire an immature and inexperienced kid to be the head of Q-Branch? He doesn't prove himself either. In SP he proves himself to be an adult. But M in SF made so many mistakes that I agreed with Mallory that it was time for her to step down.
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  • OrnithologistOrnithologist BerlinPosts: 585MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    I hated him in SF, but I loved him in SP.

    Same here. And despite being much younger, he did remind me a lot of the old (Desmond Llewelyn) Q in Spectre. The way he and Bond constantly make fun of each other, but in truth they respect each other a great deal, and Q is ready to help him as best he can, even without M's knowledge (like when Q showed up "in the field" in LTK, Octopussy, etc.). Just great.
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  • Thunderbird 2Thunderbird 2 East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
    What I particularly love about both Mr Wishaw as Q2 and Miss Harris as EMP is I get the same happy feeling and start smiling when they appear on screen as their characters as much as the much missed Mr Llewellyn and Ms Maxwell. I feel a little bit different about Ralph Finnes as M-Malry, because he brings something new to the position with his M. - Menace. We have seen that Mallory is as capable with firearms and combat as Bond or EMP. Something we never got to see any of the previous M's do.

    I know its a different timeline and therefore the same character, but part of me can't help but imagine that Mr Wishaw's Q2 is the grandson of Mr Llewellyn's original character.
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  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Ben's Q is the grandson of Desmond's ! What a lovely idea. :x
    I too will imagine that from now on {[]
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  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    After watching him in London spy last night I thought he was a stroke of genius
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  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    Great move .... esp. considering the reliance on IT
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    I hated him in SF, but I loved him in SP.

    Same here. And despite being much younger, he did remind me a lot of the old (Desmond Llewelyn) Q in Spectre. The way he and Bond constantly make fun of each other, but in truth they respect each other a great deal, and Q is ready to help him as best he can, even without M's knowledge (like when Q showed up "in the field" in LTK, Octopussy, etc.). Just great.
    So much agreement here! {[]
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  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    I liked him in SF, but more so in SP.

    I think he looked more assured in the latter.

    Llewellyn will always be the classic Q, so I'm glad that, with Wishaw, it doesn't feel as though we have a replacement for Llewellyn's Q. He's just a geeky dude filling in the role.
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  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    I like him, he's like how Desond was as Q......always make you smile when he turns up, and often having the funniest stuff in the film.
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  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    {[] I think Thunderbird2 summed it up best for me, with Q and Moneypenny
    I too get that same old happy feeling, as if the " rest of the family" has turned
    up. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Penfold HeartPenfold Heart Posts: 159MI6 Agent
    I hated him in SF, but I loved him in SP.

    This.

    In SF he came across as a bit of a smug prick, he was far better in SP.
  • DutchJamesBondFanDutchJamesBondFan the NetherlandsPosts: 414MI6 Agent
    I never thought, and I think nobody, that they could replace Desmond. And he IS Q, but Whishaw is brilliant in the role and a true great follow up. Llewelyn would be proud to see that Q is in good hands now. By changing his age and so his interests in computers was a very good choice. Can't wait when he's 85 and still plays the part -{
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  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    I hated him in SF, but I loved him in SP.

    This.

    In SF he came across as a bit of a smug prick, he was far better in SP.

    Agreed, seems to me for both Q and MP, their roles in SP were written with much more importance for the overall story - instead of as you say, a smug prick.
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  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Yes, I agree he's excellent. One of the best aspects of SP, IMO, is the great chemistry Bond's supporting cast all have with one another. That said, I think Eon should guard against turning the films into full-blown ensemble pieces.
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  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,754Chief of Staff
    I thought he was great in Skyfall but in SPECTRE he's even better...he's had some good lines...I hope he sticks around for a good while yet -{
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  • eric7064eric7064 USAPosts: 344MI6 Agent
    He's great. Love the casting choice.
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    He's doing a fine job -- and it's interesting how his negative qualities fit the stereotype of a Millennial, which gives him contemporary relevance.
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    The new Q is a fine bit of comedy, although a bit too cartoonish. Is he really supposed to be higher in rank than Bond?
  • herbie123herbie123 Posts: 47MI6 Agent
    Agree with this, didn't think anybody could come close to DL, but BW is getting there, brought Q more upto date with the computer side of things.
    I never thought, and I think nobody, that they could replace Desmond. And he IS Q, but Whishaw is brilliant in the role and a true great follow up. Llewelyn would be proud to see that Q is in good hands now. By changing his age and so his interests in computers was a very good choice. Can't wait when he's 85 and still plays the part -{
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    The new Q is a fine bit of comedy, although a bit too cartoonish. Is he really supposed to be higher in rank than Bond?

    I don't agree. At my office the R&D/tech department is filled with guys similar to him and his age. It's pretty accurate. More accurate than an 80 year old...
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  • Willard WhyteWillard Whyte Posts: 166MI6 Agent
    Brilliant casting, you can believe he is a tech genius.
    I smell a rat
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    The new Q is a fine bit of comedy, although a bit too cartoonish. Is he really supposed to be higher in rank than Bond?

    I don't agree. At my office the R&D/tech department is filled with guys similar to him and his age. It's pretty accurate. More accurate than an 80 year old...


    Yes, but is it MI5 office?
  • The Red KindThe Red Kind EnglandPosts: 3,336MI6 Agent
    I think he's great as Q and comes across as very feasible.

    I also think RF as M and NH as Moneypenny are both brilliant. I really hope we can keep this cast for the next couple of films at least! I now feel the ingredients have been fully restored :)
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  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    Yes, but is it MI5 office?

    :v
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  • LexiLexi LondonPosts: 3,000MI6 Agent
    I liked him in SF, but more so in SP.

    I think he looked more assured in the latter.

    Crikey, the comments about him in SF are quite surprising... hate is a strong word, smug pr*ck is even worse ?:) :#

    I think he was quite genius in both, although his personality, and laughing at Bond in SP was refreshing to see, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in the next movies :007)
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  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia, PAPosts: 754MI6 Agent
    Absolutely adore new Q. Desmond was everyone's favorite uncle and later on grandfather. I remember as a kid, all my friends and I were always most excited for the Q lab scene and to see what next gadgets come out. I don't know if they will ever be that gadget dependent again. I can see Whishaw being a favorite amongst kids as well with his funny sometimes awkward quips and emphasis on technology which the younger generations will be able to better relate to.

    It will be interesting to see how long they run with him as Q. How will he handle the transition to middle age and older age depending on how long they keep him. Desmond was able to handle the computerized gadgets well because it wasn't commonplace at that time. Will Whishaw be able to pull off the geeky computer wizard style Q at age 45,50,50+?
  • Thunderbird 2Thunderbird 2 East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
    My response to that is lets just take it a film at a time and enjoy the journey! Hopefully Mr Wishaw (and the others) will want to play their characters as long as they can, as Mr Llewellyn, Mr Lee, Ms Maxwell and Dame Judi all did / have!
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  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia, PAPosts: 754MI6 Agent
    Cheers to that -{

    Definitely going to soak in and enjoy every performance we get from each!
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    Lexi wrote:
    I liked him in SF, but more so in SP.

    I think he looked more assured in the latter.

    Crikey, the comments about him in SF are quite surprising... hate is a strong word, smug pr*ck is even worse ?:) :#

    I think he was quite genius in both, although his personality, and laughing at Bond in SP was refreshing to see, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in the next movies :007)

    He is superb in everything that I have seen him in. He's currently very good in London Spy. Q however is one of his finest. To take over such a loved position within the Bond landscape with such aplomb is excellent. I look forward to seeing how the relationship continues to develop.
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