Like Elrond, we shouldn't dismiss Gandalf just because he has already played a huge role in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Arguably Gandalf the Grey was a more interesting character than the more gallant Gandalf the White so the opportunity to visit this version of the character in the Hobbit trilogy was a fantastic opportunity. Again Ian McKellen is Gandalf, the wise, bumbling wizard that accompanies the dwarves on their quest to reclaim Erebor. There is a bit more joy and fun to this Gandalf than his reborn incarnation and that comes across particularly well in the first Hobbit film: An Unexpected Journey. He is as at home in Bilbo's Bag End as he is discussing the darker events of the world with the White Council. He appreciates the fun moments in life, while still having the ability to put even Thorin down when the time is needed. His rescue of the expedition from the Great Goblin is perfectly recreated from the books, making him hero and guide in equal measure. There is only one more film in which to appreciate Gandalf The Grey. Of every character, every event that has taken place in this cinematic Middle Earth, saying goodbye to him will probably be the hardest.
A writer for Whatculture since May 2013, I also write for TheRichest.com and am the TV editor and writer for Thedigitalfix.com . I wrote two plays for the Greater Manchester Horror Fringe in 2013, the first an adaption of Simon Clark's 'Swallowing A Dirty Seed' and my own original sci-fi horror play 'Centurion', which had an 8/10* review from Starburst magazine! (http://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/eventsupcoming-genre-events/6960-event-review-centurion) I also wrote an episode for online comedy series Supermarket Matters in 2012. I aim to achieve my goal for writing for television (and get my novels published) but in the meantime I'll continue to write about those TV shows I love! Follow me on Twitter @BazGreenland and like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BazGreenlandWriter
