Okay- so I read LoTR when I was about twelve. That was the first reading. I read those books cover to cover and circled right back to book 1 again when I would finish. I was reading the series when most other kids were reading the Little House books (explains a lot about why I was never on the same page as my peers, like, literally:)

Anyway- I never did the deep dive into the lore and the minutia. And granted, as an adult, I can see various social and plot elements that could have been handled differently. Like- women? Where are they? They are mainly side-pieces or show up very briefly, long enough to demonstrate their immense power and mystique– but not actually do anything with it. (I’m looking at you, Galadriel, Arwen, etc) Or Eowyn– who i adored.. but really only got brief page time in comparison to the entire trilogy– was she an afterthought? Does anyone know what the background is on her? And then- she is dealt the very-human blow of.. wow.. I’m really into this guy but… he’s hotter than human and already soul-bound to someone who is more exalted than humans (nutshell if you want to break it down. To me, it feels a little bit like humans being told to stay in their lane, but that’s not what I was most recently interested in.

SO- Gandalf- you remember him, he was the prime focus of the title. Cool dude, very powerful, and wisely constrained re when, where, and how to use that power. Now, as someone who was trained (taught/healed etc) by indigenous lore, I have really come to understand the power and value of not-doing… the more we learn, the more we realize how much we cannot truly understand, and that sometimes by helping, we interfere with events that need to take place. Much like a child learning how to ride a bike or take their first steps, stumbling is part of the process, and so parents stand by, proud and terrified, allowing their child to grow.

Anyway- that wasn’t the point here.. just an observation about why Gandalf gets a pass for rarely using his greater than human and… greater than wizard..powers..

which leads me to the actual question. I don’t have the answer to this, and so I’m hoping someone else does.

Gandalf was a wizard. There are only a few wizards. Or are there only a few wizards left? I’m not entirely sure; it’s been a long time since I’ve read the books. BUT- Gandalf is also one of the race of Maiar. (spelling?). As is the balrog? And Sauron? I’ll have to look that up.. If I’m correct re the balrog, does that make the contrast between the balrog and Gandalf the typical satan-god/good dichotomy? The Balrog is literally in a dark pit and is evil? What is his deal, anyway? Anyone care to fill me in on his lore? his? its?

BUT- if Gandalf is Maiar AND a wizard– wouldn’t that make him more of a super-charged wizard? Like.. shouldn’t his powers be able to obliterate Sauruman and any of the other small-time wizardy-dudes? And yet, there is no sense anywhere within the trilogy that his powers are in any way exceptional… not even in hints or rumors.. you’d think somewhere in the thousands of years of history he would have unleashed his full mojo, and someone would be commenting on that– like… forever.. “that one time….”

Anyway- this was just the random thought-wander I had while I was driving home the other day.. sure, I could probably google it– and I might.. but.. I thought maybe one of you would have some insights before I do:)