Trump / Zelensky
One thing we knew for certain with the return of a Trump administration to the White House was that there would rarely be a dull moment. In fact, given the events of this week—particularly the car crash that was President Zelensky’s visit—some might say there has been simply too much excitement. Of course, the left and Trump’s critics have seized on the incident as evidence of his unfitness for office, whereas the right and far-right argue that Zelensky, by provoking Russia, has been fatally irresponsible over the past three years and is obstructing a ceasefire ahead of a potential deal.
Part of the issue is the unlikely shift in traditional political alignments: the left now supports Ukraine and continuing the war, while the right seeks to end the conflict and sees Ukraine as the primary aggressor rather than Russia. Those with a degree of objectivity may wonder how the two sides have seemingly swapped their historical perspectives. They may also question why nearly every issue must be so aggressively polarized—a state of affairs that can only lead to disaster.
Starmer / Zelensky
What has been interesting this weekend is that, after his swift retreat from the White House, Zelensky arrived at the relatively friendly outpost of the UK. There, he met Prime Minister Starmer, who welcomed him with open arms and promised yet more billions of UK taxpayer money—and potentially even the lives of British soldiers. Some might argue that Starmer has yet to put a foot right since becoming Prime Minister, implying that his stance on Zelensky and Ukraine is likely to be as flawed as his other decisions since July.
Additionally, some may view Starmer’s international diplomacy as a convenient distraction from domestic issues, which continue to spiral out of control. Indeed, if one believes certain conspiracy theories, it was former Prime Minister Boris Johnson who blocked a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, ultimately prolonging the horrors of the conflict since 2022. Johnson’s motivation, some suggest, may have been his desire to play the role of wartime leader in the mould of his hero, Winston Churchill—perhaps at the expense of the interests of both the UK and those still fighting in the Donbas region.
Gene Hackman
The nature of fame is often paradoxical: people spend years trying to attain it, only to become shy and reclusive once they have it. So reclusive, in fact, that they could disappear for 10 days without anyone realizing they had died.
Although his death was initially deemed not suspicious, the passing of actor Gene Hackman and his wife have since raised eyebrows, prompting the need for Inspector Morse- or Columbo-grade detective work. The dog in the cupboard, the wife with the pills, and Hackman’s pacemaker running out of battery all create a heady mix of mystery. This could be anything from a robbery gone wrong to a tragic case of one spouse passing away and the other soon following when trying to raise the alarm, or a mix of the two scenarios. Even in today’s high-tech world, there remains a chance that we will never truly know what happened. What can be said though, is that it beggars belief that there was so long between the deaths and their discovery.
James Bond / Amazon
The decision to kill off James Bond in No Time to Die (no spoiler alert needed at this point) was arguably the final insult to the legendary spy and the ultimate triumph of the so-called “woke” world. For those of a certain age, the demise was painful to watch—though perhaps less painful than seeing Bond play doting father. Even at the time of the film’s release there was no turning back from this plotline, with the film’s title itself foreshadowing the franchise’s fate.
With Amazon now having gained full control of Bond as of last month, the debate rages on: is 007 truly finished, or—as William Sitwell suggested in The Telegraph—was he actually finished decades ago? Beyond the oft-repeated claim that Sean Connery was the Bond, it’s hard to argue against the idea that the franchise’s golden era spanned from Dr. No to You Only Live Twice. In this context, one-time Bond George Lazenby appears wise for bowing out after On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, while Roger Moore’s tenure seems more akin to The Saint Mark II, and the rest merely imitations of Jason Bourne or Mission: Impossible.
Amazon now faces a crossroads: it could return to Bond’s 1960s roots and set this in the 1960s, or explore a Day of the Jackal-style spin-off. Eddie Redmayne in Jackal, another actor who should have been Bond, has knocked the ball out of the park and been a good stand in for those who need their 007 style action fix. A Jackal type reboot could potentially satisfying fans of Fleming’s original vision. However, Jackal is set in the present day, where it is difficult for Bond not to be hurt by the kryptonite of political correctness and colour blind / gender blind casting and plotlines. At this point, Amazon has increasingly few options—if Bond is not to Die Another Day.
