Between 1963 and 1999, Desmond Llewelyn played Q in 17 filims in the James Bond franchise, and almost all of those appearances followed the same formula. Bond would meet up with Q (either in the office or in some secret location), Q would unveil a bunch of stunningly cool gadgets, and Bond would mock him while Q begged to be taken just a little bit seriously. The dynamic certainly works, and it's one of the reasons Q became such a popular character, but it's also one of the reasons he remains an underrated presence within the franchise in terms of the sheer amount he was able to accomplish.
Over the course of his time with Bond, the man invented (among other things) a remote controlled car, a portable breathing device, a pen that dispensed acid, a car that turned into a submarine, and a portable jet. He saved Bond's life countless times, and was only ever mocked for his trouble. Again, the dynamic works, but Q deserves more credit for how much he did. Here's hoping Ben Whishaw's version of the character gets a little more respect.
