Dr. Valdo Obruchev (Russian: Валдо О́бручев) was a scientist who had been responsible for the development of Heracles. Ostensibly employed by the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6), he was working with the terrorist Lyutsifer Safin. The tertiary antagonist, portrayed by Swedish actor David Dencik, the character appeared in the 2021 James Bond film No Time to Die.
Biography[]
As a scientist specialising in genetics and nanorobotics, Dr. Valdo Obruchev had been an integral part of a decade-long project to develop a DNA-targeting assassination nanoweapon for the SIS, code-named "Heracles". However, unbeknownst to his employer and colleagues, Obruchev was actually in league with Lyutsifer Safin. Around 2020, his London laboratory was raided by the criminal organisation SPECTRE, and he allowed himself to be kidnapped as part of Safin's plan to exact vengeance on the organisation and acquire Heracles for himself. He was taken to Cuba, where he secretly reprogrammed the weapon to massacre SPECTRE's leadership; rather than their intended target – former SIS agent James Bond.
Believing Bond to be employed by Safin, Obruchev flew with him to a meeting with CIA operatives Felix Leiter and Logan Ash. During the resulting interrogation, it quickly became apparent that Ash was in fact working for Safin, and following a shoot-out onboard the CIA ship, Dr. Obruchev was extracted by the turncoat and taken to Safin's recently-acquired chemical works somewhere in the Sea of Japan/Okhotsk. There he set about mass-manufacturing Heracles for Safin to kill millions and change the course of world history. On Safin's orders Obruchev later produced an insurance phial of Heracles tailored for two hostages; Bond's lover Madeleine Swann and her five year old daughter Mathilde.
Shortly afterwards, Bond and another Double-O agent, Nomi, infiltrated the island to rescue them and destroy its Heracles production facilities. The pair burst into Obruchev's laboratory and rigged it with explosives, with Nomi holding the doctor hostage whilst Bond confronted Safin. Eventually Nomi was forced to withdraw from the laboratory, taking the obnoxiously overconfident Obruchev with her at gunpoint. He threatened to unleash Heracles against people of African origin, which proved to be the last straw and, retorting that it was "time to die", she kicked the scientist into a pool of toxic liquid, ultimately dissolving him.
In spite of his death, Obruchev's work on the weapon tailored for Madeleine and her daughter proved to be the key to finally defeating Bond permanently. When Lyutsifer Safin broke the vial's contents on Bond's face, Bond was forced to realize that he could never again make physical contact with Madeleine or his daughter, or else he would instantly kill them. Thus, Bond made the final and fateful decision to stay on the island and perish with the oncoming missile barrage that destroyed the remaining fragments of Obruchev's work.
Personality[]
Valdo Obruchev is first presented as intelligent but awkward socially with his colleagues. However, his true nature is far worse. He is revealed to be treacherous, betraying MI6 by allying himself with Safin. Unlike the latter, Obruchev lacks any redeeming quality or excuse for his actions. He is in fact, pleased when he confirms Heracles's efficacity, proving he is sadistic. When he is accosted by Nomi, he threatens to reprogram Heracles to kill people of black African origin.
Obruchev is also a notable coward, panicking whenever he is or has the impression to be cornered. This exagerrated trait gives him a comedic side. But his intentions and acts are serious and it doesn't detract of his villainy. Because of his cowardice, he is not loyal at all to Lyutsifer and immediately reveals everything about him and his plan when Bond interrogates him.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- He is very similar to the character of Max Denbigh from the previous Bond film Spectre. Both of these men loved the idea of taunting people, presenting a project that they feel will dominate society, and also be revealed to be working for the arch villains in their respective films, (after it seemed like they were allies at first). One difference is, Denbigh was unable to kill anyone. However, Obruchev managed to murder several of the members of SPECTRE, when he reprogramed the nanobots into poisoning them, instead of Bond. Also, one big difference is that, M attempted to spare Denbigh's life and arrest him, despite the latter getting killed in their struggle. But in Obruchev's case, M ordered Bond and Nomi to eliminate not only Safin, but Obruchev as well! This proves that the rogue scientist was far more dangerous and threatening than the corrupt politician. Coincidentally, both of these men meet their demises after falling off an edge, except for Obruchev, it's not the impact of the fall that kills him, but the fact that he landed in acidic water, which caused him to dissolve. Plus, his death was done deliberately whilst Denbigh was killed accidentally when he lost his balance and plunged several stories down from his office.
- "Valdo" is a German name rather than a Russian one. This could mean that Obruchev is part German.
- Obruchev's wish to use Heracles against black Africans would be a tall order. There is more genetic diversity in Africans than the rest of the human race combined.