[Rhod the Red]

I want to make two points that is more in disagreement with non-forum members but might address some confusion anyway. On the council meeting & Radagasts' portrayal.

In the WC meeting one might be puzzled by Gandalf's bowing & the contradiction of Gandalf most of the time by the others. As others have said Saruman outranked Gandalf, which was no little feat. Even if Saruman was on the up-and-up and not already falling into league with Sauron, it would have been his right and duty to call Gandalf into question. ATM, Saruman is the proven superior wizard. Verbally berating him for 'plans and schemes' made behind his superior's back.

Everything Gandalf believes right now, ref Sauron (which this is all foreshadowing of) are suspicions and gut instincts. Concrete proof is needed. He is calling into question things basically set in stone as far as everyone in the know is concerned. His preliminary propositions are radical to the extreme.

As to Galadriel and Elrond, they are powerful beings in their own right, separate from wizards, likely superior to wizards in some ways and lesser than wizards in others. Elrond is sort of looking upon Gandalf as unproven & unfounded in so much as his suspicions are concerned. Also, realising that elves are not all-knowing and flawed, I can sympathise with why he thinks it's a ridiculous notion to return Thorin and his kin to what is now Smaug's lair. Whuch one poster in page one said he was puzzled by the opposition. What a needless risk it looks like to stir a dragon from his lair in a foolish suicide mission, one that won't only affect Thorin, Gandalf, & the company but potentially countless innocents who have nothing to do with the attempt.

Galadriel I believe admires Gandalf above all others. She alone is wise and insightful enough to appreciate his full potential. Had she wanted to call his deception out before the others, she could have done so. Instead, she remained silent, granting him opportunity to obtain the proof he needed and to rise in everyone's eyes.

On Radagasts' portrayal, his usefulness appears to be missed by many. People who complain so much weren't paying much attention. Radagast was actually the one character who succeeded at every challenge put before him. He saved Sebastian the hedgehog, drove away the spiders and tracked their activity back to Dol Guldur, took on and defeated the ghost of the Witch-King(?)/Ringwraith, escaped the Necromancer alive & reported back to Gandalf & the White Council with valuable evidence, & then drew off the attack by the wargs. Radagast got stuff done while Saruman sniped from the sidelines & Gandalf played bodyguard to the Company.