Gandalf Vs. The Witch King

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Mansun

Was Merry's blade that killed the Witch King mentioned as enchanted in the films? I do not recall that it was, meaning that any fine blade such as Orcrist (as far as the film is concerned) could probably pierce the Witch King. If so, it is definately advantage Gandalf in the film.

I ranted on Merry's blade here and elsewhere. If it's the blade that Merry holds right before the WK battle, then it's not magical as he has to sharpen it while in Rohan. And Gandalf's blade isn't magical either or it would have had the blue glow when Gandalf was in the Gondor siege.

Originally Posted by alatar

I ranted on Merry's blade here and elsewhere. If it's the blade that Merry holds right before the WK battle, then it's not magical as he has to sharpen it while in Rohan. And Gandalf's blade isn't magical either or it would have had the blue glow when Gandalf was in the Gondor siege.

Gandalf does not need a magical blade to kill the Witch King in the film.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Mansun

Gandalf does not need a magical blade to kill the Witch King in the film.

Neither does Merry, apparently.

Originally Posted by Folwren

Neither does Merry, apparently.

Did I question whether Merry did need a magical blade??? Machiavellianism (a tendency to deceive and manipulate others for personal gain) may be an interesting theory for you, Folwren.

[Finduilas]

On Merry not needing an enchanted blade, someone told me once that Merry, and for the same reason Eowyn, was able to kill the Nazgul because he wasn't a man. He, or she (I can't remember who I was talking to), thought that when the Witchking said no man can kill me, that he meant that only women or other races could.

Just thought I would add another explaination. Maybe that's what PJ thought

Originally Posted by Finduilas

On Merry not needing an enchanted blade, someone told me once that Merry, and for the same reason Eowyn, was able to kill the Nazgul because he wasn't a man. He, or she (I can't remember who I was talking to), thought that when the Witchking said no man can kill me, that he meant that only women or other races could.

Just thought I would add another explaination. Maybe that's what PJ thought

Does that mean an Oliphaunt could kill the Witch King? The theory is only a prophecy, not a fact.

A woman was needed in the story to give some noble credibility to women in Middle Earth. Otherwise women would be seen as the maids & housewives, & not the brave, noble cavalry sort which few could yet demonstrate. The killing of the Witch King in the manner of a woman also makes him look very foolsh of his overconfidence, even severely over-rated as an opponent. A good example of machiavellianism.

[Finduilas]

Originally Posted by Mansun

Does that mean an Oliphaunt could kill the Witch King? The theory is only a prophecy, not a fact.

I know. But you can't argue with some people. He held to it, and I didn't have a book with me so I couldn't prove him wrong.

[alatar]

Remember when (at least in the books) Gandalf states that a "power" exists in the Shire as well? Methinks that Hobbits create a zone of chaos wherever they go. Look what happened when one or more of the four were present:

• Five Nazgul fail at Weathertop.
• A Ranger is caught off his guard.
• Nine Nazgul drown.
• Fight ensues at the "Last Homely House."
• Snowy mountaintop explodes.
• Cave troll falls.
• Dwarven bridgework collapses.
• Balrog fails.
• Gandalf falls.
• Dwarf caught off his guard.
• Steward's son dies.
• Uruks fail.
• Gollum is captured (think about it).
• Other Steward's son loses mind.
• Winged Nazgul fails with Ring in plain sight.
• Orthanc falls.
• Saruman dies.
• Shelob fails.
• Fight ensues in Tower of Cirith Ungol.
• Gollum falls.
• Rohirrim become blinded to female warrior in their midst in plain sight.
• Mumakil fail.
• Witch-King bests Gandalf.
• Steward takes flying leap.
• Minas Tirith almost overrun.
• Aragorn gets trampled by Battle Troll.
• Sauron falls.
• Pippin catches bouquet.

And so on. The reason that book Aragorn quarantines the Shire is not for the benefit for the Little Folk, but to protect the rest of us from them.