On her Majesty Secret Service was a reboot?

[sharpshooter]

@MrKiddWint

Since OHMSS was their first transition, they tried to a) acknowledge in a low-key way a new Bond actor; and b) reassure the audience that while there was a new story, the character was the same. Lazenby’s lack of experience as an actor meant that he did not have the tools or the presence to compete with the reminders of Connery’s portrayal.

Indeed. I understand why they took this approach, especially as YOLT’s poster proclaimed ‘Sean Connery IS James Bond’. Delaying Bond’s introduction in the pre-title sequence built up the supporting characters such as M, Q and Moneypenny, and we see the Aston Martin before Lazenby himself is fully identified. As you say, the intention was to make the world feel like an authentic continuation.