Original artwork, not a still
A gun and a radio. Not exactly Christmas, is it?
— Skyfall · 2012
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
A knowing goodbye to gadget-Bond. Q Branch was famous for its toys; after the grit of Casino Royale, Skyfall has Q admit the party tricks are over, which is part confession and part joke at the series' own expense. Fans quote it for the gap between the Moore-era gadgetry and the Craig-era bareness, and Bond is the one disappointed.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for SkyfallShow the scene
Skyfall (2012), the same National Gallery scene. Q hands Bond his kit: a Walther PPK/S coded to his palm print so only he can fire it, and a small radio transmitter that broadcasts his location. Bond looks at them and says a gun and a radio are not exactly Christmas. Q asks whether he was expecting an exploding pen, and adds that the department does not really go in for that anymore. The pen is a wink at the gadgets of earlier films, GoldenEye among them. Q then sends him out with the request to bring the equipment back in one piece.
Sources (3)
- Wikiquote: SkyfallNational Gallery and train-chase scenesReference checked
- Skyfall script transcript, Springfield! Springfield!Train chase; National Gallery; Silva's islandReference checked
- James Bond Wiki: Q (Ben Whishaw)Introduction and Skyfall biographyReference checked
Context reviewed
