Octopussy

Right now you can watch Octopussy on Crave — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 2,242 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch Roger Moore work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Crave.

Octopussy is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The plotting in Octopussy is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. James Bond is sent to investigate after a fellow “00” agent is found dead with a priceless Indian Fabergé egg. Bond follows the mystery and uncovers a smuggling scandal and a Russian General who wants to provoke a new World War. Roger Moore and Maud Adams lead a cast that gives the tension real weight. It hit screens in 1983. The plot mechanics of Octopussy never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Octopussy proves them wrong. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Roger Moore anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.