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Gandalf vs the Balrog Explained

In Deep Geek

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Explore the best of fantasy and sci-fi in depth, with analysis of the worlds of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The Witcher and more.

For more Lord of the Rings content: Balin's Mission to Moria Explained

Writing credit for this video: In Deep Geek

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20 Comments

@sym9266 9 months ago

Gandalf: I’m pretty tired.
(Proceeds to fights balrog for 10 days)

@mattgoodell7015 1 year ago

Because Pippin dropped the stone, the Balrog was eliminated from middle earth, because pippin looked into the stone Sauron starts his war early, thinks Aragorn has the ring and ultimately fails.. Good thing Pippin went along!

@lmr4403 1 year ago

The recurring theme of Balrogs' dying by "falling from great height" is naturally also a metaphor for how they became Balrogs.

@byucatch22 11 months ago

Is it just me or has the Balrog inspired some of the coolest art? And the guys who did the scene in the movie absolutely nailed everything about that moment.

@snapicvs 1 year ago

Between Glorfindel and Gandalf i think we can safely say that Balgrogs reliably drop both massive XP and a +1up.

@lukematic812 1 year ago

I imagine the Balrog going "surprise!" and returning as Durin's Bane the White

@WeaponMasterJedi 1 year ago

I think “elevated smack talk” is a bit of an underselling of what’s happening there. I’ve always interpreted what was happening as Gandalf weaving the spell. Words have power in Middle-Earth, and by speaking those words, Gandalf is creating the spell that shatters the bridge and makes the Balrog unable to pass. It’s similar to when he says to Saruman “your staff is broken.” He’s speaking truth into being, wielding the power of that secret fire.

@claire2088 1 year ago

I always feel like Gandalf's stand here is beautifully written, he knows that he's the only one who can face the balrog, and he knows the likely outcome but he makes that stand because he feels that he should, he's not backed int oa corner facing terrible odds, he steps forward to face those odds.

@VoidStriderX2 1 year ago

Tolkien fought in World War I. The French at Verdun used the battle-cry: il ne passeront pas! They shall not pass! to keep the enemy out. I always drew a comparison between that scene in the book and the real world campaign.

@jamesharmer9293 1 year ago

The whole Moria thing is so well done. It's my favourite part of the Lord of the Rings. What makes it so good, is that there is so much more of Moria that we only glimpse and even more that we don't get to see at all. "Dark loomed the archway of the gates under the mountain shadow..."

@geoffishy 10 months ago (edited)

13:40 I wonder if Gandalf considered that after the destruction of the ring, his own ring of power would lose its power so he’d therefore have a harder time against the Balrog which also influenced his decision to stay and fight.

@Idyllwyld 1 year ago

You didn’t mention the best part from your Nameless Things video: when they both encountered the Watcher, stopped and looked at it, then each other, and collectively went “NOPE” and then the Balrog booked it out of there up the steps, Gandalf going “don’t you dare leave that eldritch abomination on me, Ricky Bobby”. And only after they were some distance away did they resume their dueling

@Jahbars90 1 year ago

They both died....but one died first.

@RobinDSaunders 1 year ago

(14:15) Rather than smack talk, a pretty convincing argument that "You cannot pass" is Gandalf magically stopping the balrog crossing the bridge is presented in the essay "How Gandalf proved mightiest: spiritual power in Tolkien". Other similar examples include "You cannot enter here" to the Witch-king at the gate of Minas Tirith, and "Saruman, your staff is broken". The full essay contains quite a few more examples and analysis.

@beep_kenshi 1 year ago

Don't forget about whatever was down there that both Gandalf and Durin's Bane were rather afraid and not of each other.

@maulmopsmaus9091 1 year ago

The poor Balrog just wanted to sleep in peace. I sometimes feel like reacting in a similar way when I am woken up so rudely and loudly.

@kainguru1 1 year ago

Robert, you're one heck of a narrator, completely riveting.

@thisisanaccountitis 1 year ago

I am keeper of the sacred flame, the dark fire shale not avail you...

Man that whole scene is goosebumps

@nandoman4769 1 year ago

The fight between Gandalf and the Balrog could’ve been an epic film on its own.

@CodeMage 1 year ago

If you'll pardon a nitpick, Eru did not create Anor directly. Anor is a vessel made by Aulë, hallowed by Varda, and driven by Arien, into which was set the single fiery fruit borne by the dying Laurelin. I think Gandalf's claim to be wielder of the flame of Anor might be a reference to his service to the Valar and his association with light and fire while he lived in Valinor.