In all of The Lord of the Rings, two characters really loom large: Saruman and Gandalf. Played respectively by Christopher Lee and Ian McKellan in the movie version, these are two of the most powerful beings in Middle-earth at the time in which the main story takes place (even though the movies leave out some important details). Though they have similar origins, however, the two of them couldn’t be more different, with each taking a different path. The question inevitably arises, though: which of these imposing figures is the best wizard?
As it turns out, depending on one’s point of view, each of them has a compelling case to make.
10 Gandalf: His Honor
From the moment that he appears in both the book and the movies, Gandalf shows that he is, fundamentally, a man of honor, even if he is a bad character in some ways. After all, as he makes clear to Bilbo, he really does care deeply about the old hobbit and wants what’s best for him, even if that means convincing him to let go of the Ring that has been slowly consuming his mind. Gandalf keeps that sense of honor through the whole rest of the story, right up until he leaves Middle-earth forever
9 Saruman: His Cunning
While Gandalf may have honor, Saruman has an equally powerful attribute, his cunning. He may be evil, but no one would deny that he has a mind that knows how to adapt to any number of problems that prevent themselves. What’s more, he can see the weakness in others, which is how, in both the book and the movie, he manages to outmaneuver Gandalf and imprison him on the pinnacle of his tower of Orthanc. That takes some courage as well as cunning. As a result, Saruman ends up becoming an endlessly fascinating character.
8 Gandalf: His Defeat Of The Balrog
One of the most climactic battles to happen in the entire saga is that between Gandalf and the Balrog (that terrifying creature with a fascinating backstory) in the Mines of Moria. Fans will know that the battle is even more important than most realize, because both of them are what are called Maiar, lesser orders of angels in the Tolkien cosmology.
Despite being overmatched in terms of brute strength, Gandalf nevertheless manages to destroy the Balrog, casting him down in ruin. That’s no small thing, especially since he literally dies in the process of doing it.
7 Saruman: His Ruthlessness
Very soon after he appears, Saruman makes it abundantly clear that he’s not just cunning, he’s also absolutely ruthless. He dispatches his Uruk-Hai with specific instructions to bring him the hobbits, though they have permission to kill the others. What’s more, he also dispatches an entire army of his own creation to destroy his one-time ally Rohan. Nothing will stand in his way when it comes to conquest, and one can’t help but admire the audacity of his ambition.
6 Gandalf: His Willingness To Sacrifice Himself So Frodo Could Succeed
Once it becomes clear that Sauron has been defeated on the Pelennor Fields, Gandalf and the other leaders have to decide what’s to be done. It is Gandalf who ultimately argues that their only choice is to sacrifice themselves in an assault on Mordor, in the hope that they can distract Sauron long enough for Frodo to be able to sneak in and destroy the One Ring. It’s a breathlessly audacious plan, and it’s also a testament to Gandalf’s commitment to seeing Sauron’s evil vanquished from Middle-earth.
5 Saruman: His Ability To Create The Uruk-Hai
In The Fellowship of the Ring movie, it’s made clear that Saruman isn’t content with an army of regular Orcs. Instead, he sets about a breeding program in the pits of his domain of Isengard, and Gandalf mentions that he has created some sort of hellish cross between men and Orcs, an abomination if ever there was one. As gruesome and terrible as Saruman’s creations are, however, it’s hard to feel at least a little bit of grudging admiration for the fact that he literally managed to create his own soldiers.
4 Gandalf: His Wisdom At The Grey Havens
The departure of Frodo and the others from the Grey Havens is one of the most heart wrenching and beautiful passages in both the movie and the books, in large part because Gandalf is, as always, so full of wisdom. “I will not say do not weep,” he says, “for not all tears are an evil.”
It’s a gorgeous sentiment, and the viewer comes to realize just how much his wisdom has been necessary for the success of the Fellowship and the founding of a new Age. What's more, it's one of those moments where McKellan truly nails his performance as the wizard.
3 Saruman: His Political Savvy
Saruman is many things, but he is definitely not a fool, and he has a very good sense of how people work. In the book, this allows him to gain dominion of Rohan (though his agent Wormtongue) and the Shire, which he ultimately comes to rule before his gruesome death. Though the movie omits this latter episode, it still shows that Saruman is a shrewd political operator, able to bring even those who are unwilling under his dominion.
2 Gandalf: His Holding True To His Mission
It’s revealed in Tolkien’s writings that the wizards were sent to Middle-earth to do battle with Sauron, though they were forbidden from using force. Gandalf, as everyone knows, kept true to that mission, while Saruman did not. Though he had many opportunities to turn aside, including having a chance to seize the Ring for himself, Gandalf was the kind of person that held true right up until the very end.
1 Saruman: His Ability To Manipulate Others
It’s revealed in the books that Saruman had many skills, but one of his most formidable, and thus most dangerous, was his voice (which is why he has so many great quotes in the movies). With it, he could seduce almost anyone into thinking what he wanted them to think. In fact, it’s his voice and his ability to convince others that allowed him to ensnare even the implacable Ent Treebeard, who let Saruman escape from Orthanc, even though it would have been better had he been kept imprisoned there rather than being released in order to cause all sorts of trouble elsewhere.
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