The death of Judi Dench’s M in Skyfall was a shocking moment in the James Bond franchise, but the movie actually revealed her fate in the opening credits. When Daniel Craig was cast as James Bond, it signified a reboot of sorts for the Bond movies, with Casino Royale serving as an origin story of sorts for 007 and ignoring the loose continuity that had been established in the franchise thus far. However, one element from the Pierce Brosnan Bond era that continued on was Dench as M, the head of MI-6.
While M has been a returning James Bond character from the very beginning of the franchise, Dench became the most iconic version of the character, often getting a more prominent role compared to the previous iterations of Bond’s superior officer. Skyfall took a big risk in killing off M, leading to Ralph Fiennes taking over the role for the rest of the Daniel Craig Bond movies. However, for fans who were really paying attention, they would have seen the death coming a lot earlier.
The Skyfall Opening Credits Cleverly Gave Away M’s Death
Judi Dench’s Name Is Presented In A Cryptic Way
The James Bond opening credit sequences have always been memorable parts of the franchise, but Skyfall‘s credits include a spoiler-heavy detail. While audiences may have been distracted by the haunting imagery of the credits, as well as the beloved James Bond song “Skyfall” by Adele, they might have overlooked the fact that, when Judi Dench’s name appears in the credits, it is shown over images of a graveyard. It is a quick moment that, in retrospect, tells the audience of the tragic fate that awaits her as she faces off with her vengeful former agent Silva (Javier Bardem).
The credits take place after Bond is accidentally sH๏τ by Moneypenny while on a mission in Istanbul and presumed to be ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. As a result, a lot of the imagery is an eerie glimpse inside Bond’s psyche, which understandably includes some images of death. It blends together well enough that you could easily overlook the way Dench’s name is presented. However, for fans who might have clocked that moment as cryptic, the fact that M is given such a prominent role in the story that follows may have further solidified that Skyfall was setting her up to die.
M’s Death Is Arguably The Defining Moment Of Daniel Craig’s James Bond Story
Bond’s Reaction To M’s Death Established A More Complex 007
Daniel Craig’s James Bond was presented as a darker and grittier take on 007 following a consensus that the franchise was getting a little too silly. However, despite his tough exterior, Craig’s Bond was gradually shown to have a larger capacity for caring than previous iterations of the hero. This was highlighted in Casino Royale with his relationship with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green). However, the moment M died in his arms was a real turning point for the character.
This moment in Skyfall helped create the most complex and layered version of this character, which allowed for James Bond’s death to have more meaning.
There had been brief moments of vulnerability from Bond over the years, but M’s death scene showed the kind of emotion that character had never previously exhibited. He was genuinely crying over losing someone who had become something of a parental figure to him. With Skyfall exploring Bond’s past and childhood, losing M was a way for him to reconcile with the heartbreak and darkness he had buried deep down for so long. It also put him on a path for where his arc would ultimately go.
Without M’s death showing more vulnerability and emotional maturity in Bond, it would have been hard to accept him genuinely falling in love with Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) in Spectre. The reveal that Bond had a daughter in No Time to Die would also have been less impactful, as he would never have seemed like a fitting parent. This moment in Skyfall helped create the most complex and layered version of this character, which allowed for James Bond’s death to have more meaning.
