More musings! Firstly: Go here

More musings!
Firstly: Go here and read a cool article on kilts.
Now, then. I’ve babbled endlessly about Pip and mused on Aragorn, what about Gandalf?

Gandalf was always one of my favorite characters, I think, if I really had one. I loved everybody in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings so much I’m not sure if I really had a proper favorite. At any rate, my opinion of him hasn’t changed like my opinion of Boromir has.
I love how incredibly cranky Gandalf is. His temper is one of the few things that keeps him from being annoyingly perfect. You can’t accuse someone of being an aggravatingly perfect character when he’s capable of saying things like “Fool of a Took! Next time throw yourself in and rid us of your stupidity!” (that’s from the film, but is virtually the same as what he says in the book).
He’s definitely living proof that “meddle not in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger” is a very true proverb.

And yet, at the same time, he’s capable of incredible warmth and affection. He cares a great deal for the Shire and hobbits, and Middle-Earth as a whole. He is generally good-humored in times of peace, enjoys merriment, and seems to enjoy himself thoroughly when the opportunity presents itself. He’s very much aware, though, that peace and harmony are but interludes in the eternal conflict.
Which is as it should be. After all, Gandalf is an immortal, a Maia, sent by the Valar to protect Middle-Earth along with the other wizards. He’s seen quite a bit of conflict in his long life.

And yet, he’s able to turn his mind to party games when he wants to! Take his fireworks, for example. Those are mentioned practically first thing in The Hobbit – Gandalf is famous for his fireworks, and Bilbo can’t help getting all excited when he thinks about them, even though he’s mildly disapproving of Gandalf as a disturber of the peace.
Gandalf is immensely powerful, but not all-powerful, and that helps keep him interesting. Add to that a real temper and an amazing capacity for caring, and you’ve got a great character. Gandalf rules.