Renard is like Red Grant, a weird not-main villain, not-Henchman.

It’s Elektra. There’s no question. It’s HER plan, everything Renard is doing is to make HER goals happen. And even Bond said that “you turned Renard.” Renard is her love sick extremely violent puppy dog essentially.

While I agree that Elektra is the main villain, I feel Renard has too much stature as a villain to categorise him as a henchman. After all, he's the one who gets the final climatic showdown with Bond (and it's a proper dramatic showdown as opposed to the comedy codas with Wint & Kidd and Nick-Nack). I'd say the henchman characters in TWINE are Gabor, Bullion and Davidov, and Renard is higher up the villain pecking order than them. For me, Renard falls into a secondary villain category along with Ourumov in GoldenEye - they have too much presence to be a minion or a lackey, but they're not the main big bad either. Sub-villains, maybe, or deputy villains - or perhaps sous-villains if you want to be fancy.

The real villain the writer who wrote I thought Christmas came once a year 🙈🙈🙈🙈

Reminds me of the dynamic of Bane and Talia in Dark Knight Rises, with Bane being revealed as the henchman of Talia in the twist

In all these years I didn't realise until you mentioned that the song by Garbage for The World is not Enough was actually from Elektra's perspective

If you can I suggest checking out Raymond Benson's novelisation as it elaborates on what happened between Elektra and Renard (as well as detailing more of Renard's backstory). It's been a few years but... Renard kidnapped Elektra after becoming fixated on her. Then when her father refused to pay the ransom she seduced Renard, even going so far as to convincing him to kill several of his own people to facilitate her 'escape.' Based on that I'd say she always had the potential to become a villain but the kidnapping is what flipped the switch. And I've always viewed her as the one in charge with Renard very much under her thumb.

A henchman can be a main villain. Darth Vader was a henchmen for the Emperor, who didn't actually appear in person until the 3rd film. Belloq was working for the Nazis in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Sollozzo was working for Bazini in, "The Godfather".

Elektra's the main villain. The stated intent by the production team with her character was 'Bond thinks he's found another Tracy, but she's actually Blofeld'; you don't attribute that level of villainy to someone unless she's the main villain.

It's Elektra. It's her plan and she was the one pulling Renard's strings. The kidnapping may have been her tipping point, but she was always a spoiled, entitled brat and her villainy isn't in question. Renard and Bond both fall hard for her, but she doesn't care about either so much as she is able to manipulate them.

The main villains of TWINE are clearly the two clampers in the PTS.

I'd say Electra since it's clearly her master plan, Renard is just how powerful henchman. Like Jaws is to Stromberg.

I liked that bit about Christmas , lol

It's definitely Elektra herself. She decided her path with clear mind and open eyes, her own father her villain role model to gaslight and manipulate people. Even Renard, as also Bond of course.

The complexity of the villain relationships and motives in The World Is Not Enough is brilliantly done and doesn’t get enough credit 🙌🏻

Elektra King. She is the real villain of "The World is not Enough". Not saying Renard isn't a villain, but I feel she is the main one through the whole movie.

I like to think Elektra and Renard are co-head villains. Like it’s Elektra plan and motivation, but she is manipulating him into thinking it’s both their plan, and I’m certain Renard considers himself the big bad, not fully aware of Elektra manipulation and wanting to please her. I’ve always seen it as a kind of like Lady MacBeth and MacBeth relationship, where they need each other to succeed

I’d say it’s a similar situation to Octopussy and The Living Daylights in the sense that all three movies have two main Villains.

Neither. The main villain is obviously Cigar Girl.

TWINE is the first Bond film I saw in the cinema. So I have a lot of love for it. Back in the day I saw Renard as the main villain as that is what he was advertised as. But I think it’s a strength of the film that it has encouraged this debate around who is the main villain of the film. These days I regard Elektra as the main villain. I think Sophie Marceau and Judi Dench are fantastic in this film, and this whole narrative is a lot smarter than perhaps it’s credited for

Calvin. would you consider doing a video on the unmade third Dalton film based on the new material that MI6 HQ have? P.S. Elektra is hot especially for a 12 year old at the time.😀😀😀

I’m always too busy thinking about Denise Richards to ever give this much thought. A video about Bond girls that are villains would be great. Elektra, Fatima Blush, Fiona Volpe, etc.

The world is not enough is such an underrated film

3:48 I do wonder if the Blu Ray makers were conscious of avoiding 'Spoilers' with that choice which is admirable even if by the time that set was released it's pretty well know. I wish they'd show the same tact for the original Planet of the Apes [which has the last scene on the front of the DVD!] or The Third Man [with the twist character solely on the cover] Alternatively, maybe a reaction to some audiences dislike of Dr Christmas Jones which is a little harsh if true!

When this film was released, the promotional materials really pushed Renard as the main villain and Elektra as the leading lady. Robert Carlyle was still riding the wave of success from playing the psychotic from Trainspotting at the time, so this made sense. So much so, for many years thereafter, I continued to think of them as that. Looking at the film now, it's clear that Elektra is the main villain and that Renard is actually a victim of her machinations.

Elektra is the villain. Renard is the henchman. But renard gets more agency as a villain because they want to hide elektra being the villain.

Renard always seemed a second fiddle to Elektra. He's clearly her dog. We're meant to think he's the main villain because Elektra is the plot twist. Given that she IS the plot twist, I think the writer intended that Elektra is the main villain, since otherwise the twist is less effective. Elektra was working for Renard all along is far weaker than Elektra was in charge all along. But Renard is needed as a distraction, and they weren't going to be unrealistic and have Elektra be a match for Bond in a fist fight. And let's face it, Renard doesn't seem that bright - this entire scheme just seems really beyond him from a planning perspective, if not execution. There's also a female empowerment message in there, with Renard underestimating Elektra, and even Bond leaping to the assumption that it must be Stockholm syndrome because no "Bond Girl" could possibly be the mastermind of the operation. Everyone underestimates Elektra, even M, because she's a woman. I think Denise Richards is there for contrast because, even though she is a nuclear physicist (no, really), she's more obviously "Bond Girl" material. Women can be more that just "Bond Girls" - they can be M and they can be the main villain. I think that's the story here.

Not a Bond film I have that much liking for......but I will always enjoy listening to your thoughts, Calvin.

Have to say that Elektra is the big bad, because everything Renard is doing is on her behalf. You can call Renard the Dragon- In- Chief to borrow a concept from Tv Tropes .

I always thought of Elektra as the villain because it's her machinations that drive the story and make it happen. And Sophie Marceau's excellent performance really helps in that regard. She really drives it home that Elektra is a wounded, damaged woman who (to reference another show) broke bad in the worst possible way. And given the Benson novelization, it's possible Renard helped turn her into what she became, but the seeds were already there.

For me it's elektra. Her plan. She turned renard into a partner and used his muscle and men to help get things done. She was obviously a great manipulator. She made james honestly feel things, which is why he's visibly upset at having to kill her. Great performance by sophie marceau

Excellent topic for a video. I know a lot of people think TWINE is forgettable or not that great, but I've always liked it specifically because of Elektra and how she so successfully tricks Bond. She is 100% the main villain. Renard being the main is just a misdirect for the twist. Elektra manipulated everyone. As the film implies, I think she got kidnapped and then used her manipulation skills to turn Renard to her side. He loves her. He is carrying out her plan. He is even planning to die for her. He goes into a blind rage when he finds out she's dead. 7:35 look at that strange smile she makes after the kiss. She does not love him, at all. She's just using him. He's on her leash. She is the brains and he is the muscle.

The real villain is the casting director, the one that gave the "nuclear scientist " part to Denise Richards.

Elektra didn’t have Stockholm Syndrome, she wanted Renard to believe she did so she could manipulate him to go on a suicide mission.

Been waiting for this video since you did the poll. As I said there, for years I’d have said Renard or Both. Rewatching TWINE in the last couple of years and revisiting Raymond Benson’s novelization late last year, though, it’s Elektra. Bond says it’s Stockholm Syndrome but that scene with her, Bond, and that chair makes it clear that while Renard kidnapped her, it’s SHE who hurt herself and wrapped him up inside of her own plan to get the company (and her mother’s family oil) away from her father. She’s got Renard wrapped around her little finger, as it were. Benson’s novelization goes into the kidnapping as well as Renard’s background to explain how he got to the point we see the pair at in the film. I hope your novel reading continues into the Benson era as I think you’ll get a lot from his novelizations of Brosnan’s latter three films, especially Tomorrow Never Dies but TWINE as well.

I see three categories: Main villain - Creates the master plan Associate villain(s) - Creates associate pieces that fit into the master plan to complete it. Henchman - The guns and muscle, acting in most cases as bodyguard as well as task boy. Bond, and any 00 agent for that matter, becomes the hero because he has the brains to play the chess match that is the master plan, and has the guns and muscle to deal with the henchmen. The duel skill set is what is key to becoming a 00 agent rather than a lesser field agent or office support. The lesser field agents are doing the field reconnaissance and gathering the few pieces of information that become to report that M hands off to a 00 to fully decipher and neutralize.

I’m just going to say it, I think the reason so many cant fathom that Elektra is the main villain and ring leader of the plot is because she’s female and because its a twist. I remember so many people thinking that SHE was turned by Renard during her captivity when it was the other way around. Stockholm syndrome (which is BS IRL) was a giant red herring. Shes a master manipulator that turned her captivity into an opportunity to fuel her long fuming rage. It’s all text, it’s right there in the film. It’s one of the reasons its one of my favorite Bond films.

I saw this at the cinema twice in its opening weekend back in '99. It was interesting seeing it without knowing and then knowing that Elektra was the villain.

The World Is Not Enough has really gone up my ranking lately, I feel that it's gotten better with age. The dynamic between Elektra and Renard is definitely a major part of it. I wonder if the film had been structured slightly differently, with Elektra being killed after Renard, if the debate about his henchman/villain status would be as open to interpretation?

THIS is a GREAT question! and this is why I'm very confused when people say they are not big fans of TWINE because it creates conversations and discussions like all great films do. It was Neal Purvais and Robert Wades first time on a Bond movie and they certainly delivered on a high for this one. While I think Goldeneye sort of started the whole twist or big revelation with Alec being Janus, I feel from TWINE onwards there's been a some what of a twist that happens with each film from here on. For a film series that got criticism for doing the same thing over and over again, you can see why Barbera and Michael wanted to try and surprise audiences some how . Not through action and spectacle, but through story, plot and drama. This Bond movie did something different and went against our expectations, especially in a pre internet era. This is why I was sad that Die Another Day didnt carry on that same kind of drama (and realistic action) that TWINE delivered as I thought strongly that this is where the Brosnan era was going with his 4th movie . ah well :( Cheers Calvin, hope to see more Bond questions like this in the future :)

Does this mean we can have more Myths of James Bond/ Bond theories in the future? If not, please can you review Sir Billi? I'd like to see what you think of Connery in that film. I just kinda said Elektra was the villain, but I can understand why Renard can also be considered the main villain. I know everyone else probably figured it out long before I did, but I was impressed with myself when I realised the lyrics of the title song were essentially about Elektra and Renard.

My favourite ‘The world is not enough’ theory is that in the one scene where Elektra and Christmas interact, the former’s “pretty little thing” is a meta comment on the actresses’ skill.

The term for people like Largo, Rosa Klebb etc is The Heavy- the main villain of "the plot", but not the overarching series. Comes for television, but applies to movies like Bond, or Star Wars (Darth Vader to the Emperor) and various others.

Elektra’s face is also on the second disc of the ultimate edition and her picture is on the booklet

I always enjoy your vids, Calvin! It's Elektra btw. Renard and Bond would never crossed paths if it wasn't for her.

You know, I just realized that the next Bond film will, for the very first time, feature HIS Majesty's Secret Service.

Within the traditional definition, yes I’d say Renard is the henchman too Elektra… but I think that’s too narrow a box to group them into. Renard certainly STARTS as the main villain, but he definitely unleashed something dark and sinister in Elektra that he lost control of.

I love videos like this. You do a good dive into the subject, and I like how you give equal attention to your commenters and their own theories! And you may have a point with the ending there. 😉

Gustav Graves and Zao are my favourite Bond Villains in the James Bond Film Die Another Day. Btw, you do have a point about Renard Calvin m8.

i find it fascinating how us bond fans are willing to go into this much depth regarding a 24 year old movie that the rest of the world doesnt think was very good. we know what we like and we dont let anybody else tell us otherwise.

TWINE is the first Bond film I saw at the cinema; I was 8 and Renard left a big impression on me - that is to say, he scared the b-jesus out of me. So back then I would have said he was the main villain. Today however... yeah, it's pretty clear he was following Elektra's orders, but I wish they made it clearer that they were in it together for different original motives, not unlike how both Kamal and Orlov are both Octopussy's main villains, in my eyes.

I love TWINE...It's the one movie in which Brosnan got to straight up play Fleming's Bond.

Brilliant video, Calvin! I love TWINE, and I think Elektra is the main villain, probably because she’s so unique in the series. As you said yourself in your Bond Villains ranking video, ‘In a series of rich megalomaniacs, she provides something very different.’ I also think she’s more interesting than Renard

Make a video of top 10 weirdest lines in James Bond series. 1. I will buy you a delicatassen in stainless steel. - FYEO 2. The bubbles tickle my, Tchaikovscky! - AVTAK 3. I got a brother - DAF 4. Octopussy, Octopussy - OP 5. TIMID, outdated and unrealistic policies - OP

Thanks for the analysis

They´re dynamic always reminded me of the dynamic between Bane and Talia al´Ghul in Dark Knight Rises. I wonder if Nolan took some inspirations.

Love this video! There's no question in my mind that Elektra is the MAIN villain. I agree with David that she is a master manipulator, and has always been capable of evil. But looking at the story through the lens of her orchestrating her own kidnapping is fascinating, and my personal head canon from now on. Obviously I have to make a correlation to the Scream franchise (because that's just what I do) but I kind of liken Elektra and Renard to Jill and Charlie from Scream 4. The only difference is that Elektra manipulated Renard to go down with the mission, where as Jill took Charlie out herself. So while I think that Renard is more than just a henchman, the scenario in his mind is that he and Elektra are co-villains, while in her mind it's just her.

It has never even crossed my mind that Renard might be considered the main villain I'm always surprised to come across reviews that treat him like that. Yes he is more substantial than the average henchman and yes he could be considered maybe a junior partner but Elektra is clearly the dominant figure both emotionally as a foil to Bond (she is essentially 'what if Tracy from OHMSS was evil?') and as the mastermind behind the villainous plot.

I love how the man who feels no pain goes "oof" and reacts to punches from Bond.

I would say Electra due to Renard follows orders from her, she has a personal vendetta on MI6, knew how to get into bond’s head and the nuke was her idea renard just went through with it due to being in love with her plus there are instances where bond faces the bodyguard after he kills the main villain

I see the dynamic of Elektra and Renard as a more romantic version of Rosa Klebb and Red Grant. While Rosa and Elektra are in charge and serve as the manipulators and brains of the operation, Grant and Renard are the muscle/physical adversary that Bond must overcome.

Elektra is the main villain for my money. She is the mastermind behind the plan, is manipulating Bond and M to achieve goals which will benefit her while Renard [who she is also manipulating] is carrying the plan out on her behalf [and will die if the attempt is successful]. It's similar to how if your a first time watcher of Goldeneye, your lead to believe that Ourumov is the main villain [with Xenia his heavy] as he 'kills' Bond's friend Trevelyan and is the one who seems to be leading the scheme...only for it to turn out he's working for a very much alive Trevelyan. Ouroumov being killed not long after the twist is revealed means it's more clear cut he's not the main villain compared to Renard. Henchmen/secondary villains sometimes outlive there masters like Stamper in Tomorrow Never Dies.

I guess if they had put Dr Jones in the DVD case it may be a spoiler for those who don't know how the film ends?

I always considered Electra the main villain and Renard is this weird red herring villain that doesn’t fit a henchman role either. He has all the traits as a villain, physical defect, and even looks kind of like Terry Savalis’ Blofeld. Mr Bullion or Electras bodyguard with dreadlocks (can’t remember the name) fits more if the henchman role. The issue is the direction, script and editing of the film needed a lot more work as it doesn’t present the plot as effectively as it could have

Elektra she benefits from the scheme financially.

Great video Calvin. Ive always had a strong love of Bond villains. Here's my longwinded two cents on the matter for anyone that cares... My own set of criteria include 4 main types of villain: Overarching Main Partner Henchman Overarching is when a villain appears in multiple films and often has multiple main villains under them. Blofeld and Mr. White both follow this category. This also allows characters like Largo to recieve the title of Main Villain despite being under another villain. Main is a singular villain who controls all aspects of their scheme. Partners are main villains who often have equal partnership in a scheme, such as Klebb and Kronsteen. Klebb oversees the execution of the plan Kronsteen made, they are on equal footing. Orlov and Khan, Whitaker and Koskov, Renard and Elektra, Medrano and Greene all are in this category. Henchmen are there purely as a muscle or a brain for another villain and have little to no aspirations or autonomy of their own. This would include people like Dario and Truman-Lodge.

It’s honestly surprising to me that it took the franchise that long to create a female main bond villain (one who was propped up to look like the main bond girl too no less). Like, the idea just makes so much sense that I’m baffled they haven’t thought of it sooner/haven’t expanded on it or done another variation of it since.

10:24 This sounds alot like Alec being mad at Bond that he left him to burn in the pre-title sequence when that was his plan all along... to "die".

I think you could do this for both The Living Daylights and Octopussy. They blur the lines to me as well

I was thinking about this the other day - I'd love for a Bond film to have a married couple as the villains. A demented husband & wife duo - like in the book You Only Live Twice but with both main villains. Perhaps, having rewatching the 'Who's Who??' episode of The Avengers lately (where Steed & Peel become the villains) I really want a Bond villain couple who act like Steed & Peel, I think that dynamic would just be gold for a villainous pair. I suppose something like Wint & Kidd but elevated to main villain status.

Plot-wise, its Elektra. She's the one who has the motives and ways of succeeding. The plan is hers, and the whole psychology with Bond happens with her. Renard does have a lot of checkpoints for main villains, though. The bullet sensory thing is the typical villain incapacitation, he has his criminal background being told to Bond, he gets the typical format of final fight... It's a bit like Octopussy. Elektra is like Kamal Khan, and Renard is like General Orlov.

Agreed, whoever the main villain is between Elektra and Renard (or indeed M😆), I still enjoy The World is Not Enough as it was the first new Bond film I saw after I became a fan.

Background music choice 👌 Nightfire’s take on TWINE theme.

Elektra. The fact that the film spent time on exploring Bond's hesitation to be romantically involved with her (due to the tragedy with Tracy) and the feelings that he developed for her after regretting killing her shows she was THE villain. That is what makes this one the best of the Brosnan era. Not Goldeneye.

Renard is no henchman. Elektra is pulling the strings and he just doesnt realize it.

It’s always nice to have her as the very first female main villain

And I thought determining which Faberge eggs in Octopussy were real and which ones were counterfeit was the biggest 007 conundrum...

He's got the physical quirk. That's usuakly a hench thing.

The real villain? Fossil fuels 😳

Great video Calvin. Keep 'em coming.

1. M was smart not to tell Elektra's father to give the money because she probably knew Renard and company were gonna keep Elektra anyway or end up killing her; probably based on experience, not on a whim.

I just watched this a couple of hours ago! I decided to watch after watching some of your other content! Great stuff my friend!

I literally will wait for videos by you man. Always a good moment to look forward to 😃✌🏻

I freaking love this channel

Miss you Coltrane

If you listen to the lyrics of the title song by Garbage, it could be interpreted as Elektra singing an ode to Renard…”And if you’re strong enough, together we can tear the world apart “

Renard works for Elektra. She's the main villain. Renard lives longer than the villain, but then so do many henchmen like Teehee, Nick Nack and Stamper.

Amazing video essay, as always

I feel Renard is the main villain simply because he survives for the main showdown at the end of the film. I guess some bond films have a tradition of the henchman surviving longer than the main villain (e.g. Tee Hee, Nick Nack, Jaws, Stamper). I just feel Renard's final fight was more climactic

The true villain of this film is whoever casted or rather miscasted Denise Richard's as a nuclear physicist.

Speaking of James Bond villains... if you are looking for a James Bond related movie, I suggest The Day of the Jackal (1973), with Michael Lonsdale (Hugo Drax in Moonraker) and Edward Fox (M in the non-EON Never Say Never Again) It is an adaptation of a novel by British author Frederick Forsyth, who has also written The Fourth Protocol.

The henchmen in Bond films are often depicted as borderline superhuman (Jaws, Baron Samedi) and I think Renard, with his inability to feel pain, qualifies.

I think Elektra is the main villain and Renard is a secondary villain. (Gabor and Goldie are the henchmen of the film). I think people consider Renard the main villain because, well, you are meant to think that. The writers set him up as the main antagonist early on so that the twist has maximum impact when Elektra is revealed as the true mastermind.

Well, I thought that this one would be open and shut. Now the gears are turning. The mark of a good discussion, movie and KZfaq channel. Well done.

The super human that can't feel pain is also a Bond trope. It damns Renard to henchman status.

I believe she was the mastermind of the whole plot . That was a hell of a lot of spending cash and she got pissed.

When you went through the list of definite main villains and definite henchmen, I wish you mentioned Kristatos had Locque.

It's great that the marketing and physical media are still dedicated to maintaining the surprise. Renard is still promoted as the sole villain and Elektra as the Bond girl. I do see Elektra as the prime villain and that's why the conclusion of the movie feels underwhelming to me. The prime villain has been defeated. Everything else at this point is just clean up.

The main villain has to be the one person who would gain the most of the Istanbul pipeline explosion = Elektra !

Good explanation but when will we see a HENCHMEN ranking?