Who was the best James Bond?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Who was the best James Bond?
Position‹4 of 6›: Pierce Brosnan was the best James Bond
Argument: Pierce Brosnan was a chimaera of Bonds

Pierce Brosnan had all the best bits of the previous four 007s

The argument

Brosnan maintains the one-liners and quips that Roger Moore had. He has the tough-guy bravado of Dalton (the opening scene in Goldeneye racks up a franchise-leading 47 confirmed kills). He enjoys the company of the female variety, much like Sean Connery, and he retains all the elegance and dignity a Bond needs. He is the ultimate Bond chimaera and, therefore, the ultimate Bond.

Context

Brosnan was as handsome as Connery, as tough as Dalton, his films had a smorgasbord of gadgets, and he oozed character and charisma. He encapsulated everything that was good about all the other Bonds individually and rolled them into one.

Premises

[P1]The best James Bond would combine the strongest traits of every previous Bond actor. [P2] Pierce Brosnan combines Moore's quips, Dalton's tough-guy bravado, Connery's charm with women, and the requisite elegance and dignity. [C] Therefore, Pierce Brosnan was the best James Bond.

Counter-arguments

Pierce Brosnan himself said that his Bond wasn’t good enough. If that isn’t a sign that something went amiss, then what is? His performance is flat and lazy at times. He is also smug in a way that the sophisticated Sean Connery and Roger Moore never were. Brosnan piggy-backs on decent storylines and strong, well-rounded villains. His demeanour is also not tough. He doesn’t look physically imposing like Daniel Craig, and as a result, loses credibility.

Rejecting the premises

[P1]He tries to emulate the other Bonds, but lacks authenticity, therefore, losing credibility.