The Lord of the Rings: 5 Things That Still Make No Sense About Gandalf & the Other Wizards

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Gandalf is a central figure in The Lord of the Rings, but some aspects of his character—and wizards in general—remain puzzling. He was first shown on screen in the original Lord of the Rings films, alongside the rest of the fellowship and other characters. What sets Gandalf apart from many others in those movies is that he continued to be a major character in later films and shows within the franchise.

Gandalf first reappeared in all three films adapted from The Hobbit, and he’s set to be in the new movie The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Plus, the popular Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has revealed that the character known as the Stranger is actually Gandalf. Even with all these appearances, there are still five aspects of Gandalf’s story that remain confusing.

5) Gandalf Couldn’t Figure Out The Riddle To Enter The Mines Of Moria

One of the earliest puzzling things about Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was his difficulty with the riddle guarding the Mines of Moria. The riddle was, “Speak friend and enter.” Gandalf told Frodo it just meant to say the password if you wanted to be let in, but Frodo correctly realized the riddle actually asked for the Elvish word for ‘friend,’ which is ‘Mellon’.

By this point in the story, Gandalf was known as a clever and experienced character, so the riddle shouldn’t have been much of a challenge for him. Some fans think he deliberately acted like he didn’t know the answer because he didn’t want to go into the mines in the first place. However, the movie shows him seeming truly puzzled, which was unusual for his character.

4) Gandalf Didn’t Use Much Magic In Return Of The King

Gandalf seemingly dies in The Fellowship of the Ring, but he returns in The Two Towers as Gandalf the White – a much more powerful form than Gandalf the Grey. Becoming a White Wizard represented the highest level of magical ability in Middle-earth. However, despite this increased power, Gandalf surprisingly used very little magic during the final battle in The Return of the King.

While the Witch-King of Angmar did break his staff at the Battle of Gondor, and that was a setback, Gandalf didn’t actually need the staff to use his magic. He could still access his powers during both that battle and the final confrontation at the Black Gate. These were the most crucial moments throughout the entire story, and he was still capable of using his magic then.

3) Gandalf Wasn’t As Concerned As He Should Have Been About Bilbo’s Ring

In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins finds the One Ring, and sixty years later, at the start of The Fellowship of the Ring, he still possesses it. Gandalf knew Bilbo had a magical ring, but he didn’t realize it was the One Ring. It’s only during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring that Gandalf grows concerned and starts researching the ring’s true nature and power.

It’s understandable that he didn’t suspect the ring was the One Ring – it would have seemed unbelievable. However, it’s strange that he wasn’t more worried, considering Gandalf was a remarkably clever and insightful wizard. Knowing Bilbo found the ring in mysterious circumstances should have at least raised some concerns. It will be interesting to see if The Hunt for Gollum explains this, as the search for Gollum is directly related to this oversight.

2) Gandalf Used A Moth To Call The Eagles

People often question why Gandalf didn’t simply have the eagles fly the One Ring to Mordor in The Return of the King, calling it a plot hole. However, this actually makes sense. Sauron would almost certainly have spotted the eagles with his powerful gaze, making such a journey incredibly dangerous. Plus, there’s a strange, unexplained moment involving the eagles earlier in The Fellowship of the Ring.

When Gandalf is captured by Saruman, he famously uses a moth to summon the eagles and escape. While Gandalf is a wizard, and magic could explain it, it’s still unclear how he communicated with the moth. Interestingly, the moth is a detail added for the films; in the original books, it’s another wizard who calls for the eagles to rescue Gandalf, and he doesn’t involve a moth at all.

1) Wizards Were Meant To Be Guides Only, But Gandalf Was Much More

Perhaps the biggest question about Gandalf is just how involved he gets in events. The books state that wizards were sent to Middle-earth simply to advise and guide others. However, Gandalf does much more than that, particularly with Frodo. For example, in The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo is reluctant to leave the Shire, but Gandalf strongly pushes him to do so.

As a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings, I totally get why Gandalf felt he had to step up – with Sauron coming back, all of Middle-earth was at risk! But thinking about it, wizards were supposed to be guides, not really direct participants, and Gandalf definitely broke that mold throughout the movies. He got way more involved than he should have, and it’s a key part of his arc.

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2026-03-30 02:11