March 8, 2002

Nazgul Have Rings?
John R.

Brett C. poses the question whether the Nazgul should be wearing their rings.

Maybe not. Gandalf does say (in the book) the Sauron had gathered the Nine to him. The antecedent reference was to the nine rings, not the nine wearers of the rings. But hey, it's a movie, so why not let the Nazgul wear the rings.

As to Balrog wings, Brett C. makes some nice points, but hardly Occam's Razor.

The Balrog is either a shape-shifter (it was also a slimy serpent wrestled by Gandalf), or it wears an illusion of an appearance.

So the Balrog wings may just be an illusion perceived by the Fellowship. They may not be functional at all.

I suppose no one ever really got close enough to find out and live to tell about it. From all of the C. Tolkien books, it appears that everyone who fought a Balrog, died.