Was the Balrog drawn by the ring?

[Leaf]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

Actually, I suppose that actually does give a little more weight to the "no" side in the "Balrog Wing Argument". If the Balrog DID have wings (and actually was drawn to the ring) why on Arda would it not have simply flown over/under/to the side of Gandalf and the bridge to make a beeline for Frodo? Even if (in some theoretical way) the Balrog could perceive that Gandalf WAS a fellow Maia, it would have been immediately obvious to it that he couldn't FLY?

Well, this situation would be even more ridiculous when you look at it from Gandalfs perspective. Gandalf sees this winged creature and immediately decides to block it´s way by standing infront of it. Then he decides to destroy the bridge to throw this winged creature into the abyss underneath the bridge. And funny enough it works! Either Gandalf is the most lucky chump or he knew that the wings are just some weird kind of impractical fashion statement for the Balrogs. Imagine his plan didn´t work out as planned: Gandalf screams YOU SHALL NOT PASS. The Balrog flies over Gandalf in a smooth and unperturbed manner. DAMNIT! I didn´t see that coming. It flies, you fool!

[Alfirin]

For most other flying things, one could argue that it may be only capable of soaring/gliding (or only has the strength to get up in the air and then has to rely of soaring to stay up, like many birds) and the cave has no thermals to ride. But for a Balrog even that would not make sense. Since they produce fire (and unlike dragons, that fire seems to come from their whole bodies/the weapons they carry; not just their mouths) they'd basically make their OWN thermals.

[Belegorn]

I don't get the Balrogs have wings argument. The passage says that it's shadow spread out like wings, in others words covered the expanse to either side, not that actual wings made the shadows. Neither in LotR, or in the Silmarillion have I come across Balrogs with wings, or that they could fly. Flying dragons is what gave Melkor an advantage. If his Balrogs could take to the air I'm sure they'd have used that to their advantage too, pelting the enemy with fiery arrows or some such. Also on the bridge Gandalf said "You cannot pass!" four times, not "You shall not pass."

[Tar-Jêx]

Originally Posted by Belegorn

I don't get the Balrogs have wings argument. The passage says that it's shadow spread out like wings, in others words covered the expanse to either side, not that actual wings made the shadows. Neither in LotR, or in the Silmarillion have I come across Balrogs with wings, or that they could fly. Flying dragons is what gave Melkor an advantage. If his Balrogs could take to the air I'm sure they'd have used that to their advantage too, pelting the enemy with fiery arrows or some such. Also on the bridge Gandalf said "You cannot pass!" four times, not "You shall not pass."

We must always correct the movie-goers who think it is 'You shall not pass!'

I personally think 'You cannot pass!' is much more assertive, like Gandalf will not let him pass, rather than Gandalf saying, 'Nah, I don't feel like letting you cross.'