Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin is clearly a huge fantasy fan, but one of his Lord of the Rings criticisms misses the point of Gandalf’s death. Martin has a reputation for killing off characters, as A Song of Ice and Fire isn’t shy about eliminating even major players like Ned Stark. Martin has strong feelings about character deaths, as the Game of Thrones writer believes death scenes should leave strong impressions. Many other authors are less willing to ax characters, and in some cases, that caution can backfire.

Although Martin clearly draws inspiration from The Lord of the Rings and other classic fantasy narratives, the author has issues with J.R.R. Tolkien’s approach to Gandalf’s character arc. Gandalf famously perishes in The Fellowship of the Ring, but he returns as Gandalf the White in The Two Towers. His death and rebirth is a major part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it has a deeper meaning for the wizard. Unfortunately, Martin still isn’t a huge fan of the way Gandalf’s death was handled.

George R.R. Martin’s Problem With Gandalf’s Death In Lord Of The Rings Explained

The Game Of Thrones Author Believes He Should Have Stayed Dead

Martin isn’t afraid to kill off characters in his own books, and the author believes that other writers would benefit from a more permanent approach to fictional deaths. During a Bullseye With Jesse Thorn interview, Martin discussed death being a “transformative experience” in fiction. He emphasized that death should have a lasting impact on a character, even if they come back from it — though it seems he’d prefer that happened less often, too. Martin expressed his disappointment that Tolkien brought Gandalf back after his fight with the Balrog, admitting that he “always felt like Gandalf should have stayed dead.”

For one, Martin feels that Gandalf the Grey’s final moments in The Fellowship of the Ring were the perfect send-off for the character — and he’s got a point there. “What power that had, how that grabbed me,” he said. Unfortunately, the sacrifice feels somewhat less powerful when Gandalf returns as the White Wizard. And Gandalf’s comeback doesn’t follow Martin’s preferred rule of bringing back a character. The Lord of the Rings doesn’t take anything from Gandalf in exchange for reviving him. As Martin put it, “if anything, he’s sort of improved.”

Martin feels that The Lord of the Rings would have benefited from keeping Gandalf dead. And while his criticisms make sense within his own rules for writing and reviving characters, they miss key aspects of Gandalf’s revival. It’s difficult to compare the wizard’s return to Jon Snow’s or Lady Stoneheart’s. After all, Gandalf serves a very different function within Tolkien’s narrative.

GRRM Is Missing The Point Of Gandalf’s Death In Lord Of The Rings

Gandalf’s Role In Tolkien’s Series Is Different From George R.R. Martin’s Resurrected Characters’

Although Martin’s approach to killing characters makes sense, his sentiments about Gandalf’s death miss the point of the character in The Lord of the Rings. Gandalf’s role in the story is different from that of Jon Snow or Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones. For one, he isn’t a human character, so he shouldn’t be held to human standards, even in death. Martin’s philosophy about losing a part of oneself makes sense for human characters, but Gandalf being an angelic being in Tolkien’s universe makes it a moot point. His character is perfectly set up for extraordinary feats like returning from the dead.

Martin’s philosophy about losing a part of oneself makes sense for human characters, but Gandalf being an angelic being in Tolkien’s universe makes it a moot point.

Additionally, Gandalf’s sacrifice making him stronger sends a powerful message within The Lord of the Rings’ narrative. The Grey Wizard gives his life to save his friends and ensure Sauron’s defeat — two things that should be rewarded. By bringing Gandalf back stronger, Tolkien emphasizes that embracing friendship and hope makes a person more powerful. This wouldn’t apply to characters like Jon, Catelyn, or Beric Dondarrion, all of whom perish after being betrayed or murdered. It makes sense that they’d return as completely different people; their last moments changed them negatively.

Finally, Gandalf is meant to be a guiding force throughout The Lord of the Rings. This is a much different role than being a major political player in Game of Thrones. He’s a necessary addition to The Two Towers and The Return of the King, and it’s unclear if The Lord of the Rings’ outcome would be different without his return.

Lord Of The Rings Keeping Gandalf Dead Wouldn’t Have Worked

Gandalf’s resurrection in The Lord of the Rings works regardless of Martin’s philosophy, and it’s unlikely that keeping the character dead would have benefited Tolkien’s series without some massive changes. Gandalf is a huge reason that Middle-earth defeats Sauron, and it’s difficult to envision Tolkien’s story without him returning as the White Wizard. He directly impacts the Battle of Helm’s Deep, which would have been lost without his interference. This defeat would also have prevented Aragorn and the others from distracting Sauron long enough for Frodo and Sam to get into Mordor.

Needless to say, Gandalf’s return is a necessary element of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And it makes sense within Tolkien’s lore. While Martin’s approach to character deaths is a smart one, it doesn’t account for the many ways Gandalf differs from other fantasy characters. The Lord of the Rings makes sense of his revival, and it sends an important message by having him become Gandalf the White.