AinurOlorin
Half-elven
Jan 11 2013, 7:06am
Views: 2193
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Protesting in advance to the notion of Galadriel carrying Gandalf like a babe in arms, as though she were an angel of mercy.
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HE is the Angel in the equation! I understand he is in a limited, incarnate form, but Peter and company seem to be climbing aboard the overboard express here. They need not explicitly inform the audience of Gandalf's Angelic origins and hidden nature, but nor should they be so heavily implying that he is inferior to other beings in Middle-Earth. I love Galadriel, and I love that much her her power and mystique are being portrayed in these films. But she should not be seen to come across with the same mystery and power to Maiar, temporarily limited and incarnate though they be, that she conveys to the likes of Frodo, Aragorn or even Sindarin Elves. What is more, I wouldn't mind her being portrayed as a semi-angelic saviour to the likes of Aragorn or Thorin (misplaced as such a scene might be), but to Gandalf?? It's a bridge to far, if not handled VERY carefully (and Sir Peter is not always sufficiently careful in these matters). Gandalf and the other Wizards are emmisaries of Eru and of The Valar, NOT of The High Elves. They are not answerable to Galadriel, nor do they require her to affirm whether or not they are making proper decisions (though certainly they would exchange counsel with her), and while they certainly could achieve more combining their powers with her own than they could independantly, there is little to nothing (save perhaps in some moments of foresight) that she can achieve for them through her powers that they cannot manage with their own powers. Those of you familliar with the movie Willow will understand the meaning when I say that Galadriel is NOT to Gandalf, what the Fairy Queen Cherlindrea is to The High Aldwin of Willow's community, or to the sorceress Fin Raizel. Whatever appearances may suggest, Gandalf is not some human magician who has gained the favour and trust of The Elves and is now allowed into their inner circle or tasked with aiding them in protecting Middle-Earth. And while we here, all (or largely) learned with lore, might say, "well, of course, everyone knows that is not the case," the truth is not everyone knows. The layperson in the audience knows nothing about the distant histories and true natures of some of these characters. Thus, presenting Gandalf as subordinate to Galadriel or as essentially less capable than her presents a fundementally flawed understanding of these characters, and of the dynamic between them, and does a disservice to the character of Gandalf. I am not going to get into the argument of "who is more powerful," the incarnate Gandalf or Galadriel. Gandalf The White is, explicitly by his and Tolkien's observation, the most powerful being in Middle-Earth aside from Sauron himself. But who is marginally mightiest between Gandalf The Gray, Galadriel, The Balrog and Alatar. . .there are strong arguments to be made, but I have no interest in derailing this thread with them. What does bear stating, and what cannot be reasonably argued, is that Galadriel would not have any hope of walking into a fight with Durin's Bane and defeating him without working up a terrible sweat. She would likely not fare any better than Gandalf, Glorfindel, Feanor and Ecthellion. And hence my concerns about the report of her carrying Gandalf out of a conflict (doubtless in the assault on Dol Guldur). . . IF it is handled in such a way that she herself is clearly seen to be damaged/injured and imperiled, and to have remained concious during the battle mainly due to chance, rather than to superior skill and power, then it could work. But if she comes off looking like Legolas and Gandalf like Pippin, or if she comes floating in, glowing and unscathed, and picks up her "poor", overwhelmed "little helper" . . .. oh hell no .
"Hear me, hounds of Sauron, Gandalf is here! Fly if you value your foul skins, I will shrivel you from tail to snout if you step within this circle!" "Do not be to eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends."
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