I’ve been a part of many fandoms in my life. Star Wars, Star Trek, and Dr Who were my baby steps, and I tend to check them out from time to time, but I no longer posses and encyclopaedic knowledge; they’ve expanded too much, beyond my interest.

I can’t claim to be a massive Bond fan, but my parents were. They loved Connery, tolerated poor old Lazenby, had a ball with Moore’s goofy adventures, completely ignored Dalton, and adored Brosnan. Brosnan was their definite Bond, and it was the only one whose films they owned on DVD.

When Daniel Craig was announced, I was happy about the casting. I’d recently seen him in both Road to Perdition and Layer Cake and thought it was great casting. My parents were apprehensive about him. Possibly as many from Who fandom were with both Ncuti and Jodie. “He looks too Russian” my mom said. “Bit of a thug with a gun” my dad remarked. Both thought he was wrong casting, nevertheless buying all his flicks on bluray up to Skyfall. All three went unopened.

I enjoyed Casino Royale, even if it was too much of a Bourne-lite for my taste. Quantum of Solace has some script problems, but feels more “Bond”, and it would rank higher if it had ditched its shaky cam, which, granted, was in style at the time. Skyfall was good, but I didn’t fancy M getting killed. No time to die had so many rumours around it that when I finally got around to watch it, I really didn’t enjoy it. Now, Fukunaga had a great eye for this No Time To Die and it’s not his fault that the script is trying to tie all five movies together, MCU-style, painting the franchise into a corner. Let’s not talk about that ending. I’ve never heard my mother be so angry at a fictional character ever. Never will I guess.

Which takes me to Spectre, the next to last Craig film. As a Mexican, the legacy of this film is strange. We now have a Day of the Dead parade thanks to the movie and I’m a sucker for parades and parties. I just now feel a bit too “Coco”-ed and we now have to carry on a very stereotypical event for the tourists. That might take away some enjoyment.

With that said, the sequence is great. Bond calmly walking over the edge of a building and being his cold, unfeeling self is perfect. Then the movie collapses and I never quite felt entertained by it. It just felt like a series of missed opportunities. Shame as I was really enjoying Craig’s run so far (barring M’s death).

I’m indifferent to Sam Smith. I know people who adore their music, others who loathe their presence. It took me a while, but I ended up liking Writing’s on the wall. Don’t get me wrong. Chris Cornell, Alicia Keys, Jack White, Adele, and Billy Eilish all sung their hearts out. But Sam Smith’s vulnerable track conveys Spectre -and its plot issues- perfectly. It’s a great contrast of the brash, energetic fare you expect from a Bond song while still having a few introspective moments.

And then I heard Radiohead’s Spectre. Intimate. Full of regret. The quietest form of anger I’ve ever experienced from Radiohead. I wish a Bond film existed that could fit the grandiosity of this track. The closest I can think is a mix of For your eyes only (Moore’s most brutal flick) and On her majesty’s secret service (Bond’s most personal adventure). I want to see a film that could reflect the maelstrom of emotions Radiohead conjured here. Spectre is not that film and that’s the real reason I think Sam Smith was chosen over Radiohead.

It’s typical of my neurodivergent brain to go for the obscure, for the lesser heard/seen. I feel like I want to check out what people are ignoring, for one reason or another, just to find out by myself. Thankfully Radiohead made it easy for us and everyone. Spectre is like a bizarre lost sibling of Pyramid Song, leaving you with a stupor no home remedy can ever help you with.

-Sam J. Valdés López