How Did Gandalf Plan to Enter Mordor?

Throughout the Lord of the Rings we hear about how bad a given way into Mordor is, but what was Gandalf's actual plan to get to Mount Doom? Here's my theory.

[Darth_Insidious]

Gandalf has a kind of foresight, that allows him to sense the right path at times but not know any of the specifics. He displayed this with recommending Bilbo for the expedition to Erebor and with saying that he senses Gollum had a part to play. Its likely he sensed that the journey had a very good chance of working but was none the wiser to how it would be done, and was surprised and worried at news he heard about it.

[jimsterrett]

Perhaps he intended to finalize his plans after talking to Galadrial. She had been there for thousands of years, and might know the neighborhood.

[warblerblue]

How Did Gandalf Plan to Enter Mordor? Diplomatic Immunity.

[Alucia]

Galdalf was never meant to get them there but to help them to get themselves there. That was his job in middle earth to help the people of that land to figure out how to beat sauron them selves and he did that well. He pushed them in the right direction and let fate and their own will do the rest.

[ellieecthelion]

I very much enjoyed your video. Your theory is an interesting one. I actually agree with you there. I remember before the fellowship departs Elrond says "Look not too far ahead!" So I think the plan essentially was to let things naturally unfold, and inevitably happen, without trying to force or control it.

[annandune]

Some of my friends have a phrase called a 'bandit camp moment'. This was because in an RPG they once played, they came up with a plan to enter a bandit camp and it succeeded which surprised them all. They then realised that, after successfully sneaking into the camp, they had no idea what they were going to do next.

Had Gandalf survived Moria, at some point they might have had a bandit camp moment, but I am sure they would have worked something out from there.

[pwmiles]

I suppose the only morsel to add is the strange non-recognition of Gollum from the time he starts following the Company in Moria. Aragorn knows about him from the off so presumably Gandalf does too. Perhaps Gandalf guesses this is the unknown plan starting to play out, leading neither he nor Aragorn to warn Frodo about the "footpad" (who is otherwise laughably evident)

[MasterMahan-qmhu]

Great video!!! I think that maybe Gandalf was really just leaving it to fate/ divine providence. So maybe not necessarily a plot hole. Cheers

[ProfessorPotatoPhD]

Great video! Love your dedication and knowledge of and to the subject.
Keep up the great work!

[ghostbearr]

Golem was his plan. Gandolf stated, in reference to Golem, "He still has a part to play."

[jowbloe]

I know everyone hates the eagles idea, but what about a bird?
I know the moth that Gandalf uses to send messages to the eagles is only a movie thing, but couldn't he have had some influence over another creature?
A bird would be more stealthy than a hobbit (and quicker), and if the ring has been entrusted to a hobbit, why not a trustworthy bird?
Had thought that Radagast would be a perfect resource to help with this, but also read that he did not answer Elrond's summon.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, so thinking outside of the box here, but everything seemed to work alright, so we will never know.

[Micdrop]

Very interesting topic thank you for posting ☺️💯👌💙

[treebeardtheent]

‘The counsel of Gandalf was not founded on foreknowledge of safety, for himself or for others, ’ said Aragorn. ‘There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.

The excerpt above comes from the breaking of the fellowship. He was talking to Gimli, and soon the three hunters would begin their chase.

Did Gandalf forsee two hobbits meeting Treebeard? I don't think so, but neither did I sense any surprise by him that it happened. Later he is rightly angered when Pipin looks into the Palantir, but in the end again he does not appear overly suprised as if he acknowledges that some things are meant to happen.

To me it explains Gandalf enough.

What I don't know is how did Aragorn forsee the peril to Gandalf with the choice to enter Moria?
I have read the book at least a half dozen times and still have no clue what made him think such a thing that ended up proving to be true.

The one thing I do suspect is that Aaragorn deeply believed that the prophesies would either come true or he would die fighting to make it so. His doubts when they manifested, were simply the great difficulties he had to willingly confront, many of them would have been lethal to almost any other man, and he bore the strains just as any man would feel, but he did not quit.

[ShmuelSch]

Good video, but I have some thoughts:
1. I don't think you can speak about how would Gollum part work if Gandalf was there, because Gandalf falling in Moria is an act of providence too, all leading to Frodo and Sam follow Gollum.
2. Gandalf may be able to trick the orcs/whomever guarding the Black Gate to let them in and then disappearing before anyome realised what happenned.
3. If Gandalf, Gimly and Legolas are with Frodo, Shelob is a lot less scary. I don't know if Cirith Ungol can be considered worse than the path Gimly and Legolas took with Aragorn. And even if Shelob is as powerful as a balrog (and I really doubt that), Gandalf could keep her occupied long enough for the others to pass, even if he would have to sacrifice himself, like he did in Moria. And I don't think he would have to: He has his light tricks and two amazingly powerful worriors. Shelob would probably just wait for the next easy meal.
3b. The reason Gandalf was very afraid at first was that he thought Sauron got the ring, and this is the cause of the unending night. After that, Gandalf told Pippin he fears Gollum will betray Frodo, so maybe he fears Cirith Ungol that much just because he knows/suspects the alliance of Gollum and Shelob.
4. The passage through Minas Morgul seems harder. Maybe there, if they would not be able to kill everyone, they would really have to sacrifice themselves and make a huge mess so Frodo would be able to pass unnoticed.

Anyway, even if there is no other way, I would not call it a plot hole. Gandalf can understand it is the only way and still be afraid.
What do you think?

[treebeardtheent]

Re: Gandalf's comments to Pippin when they learned that Frodo took the road to the Morgul Vale - I agree with another commenter that Gandalf was more surprised that Frodo learned of that way than specific fear of the way itsef. Gandalf knew there were no safe ways.

[tominiowa]

Note if Bilbo had not felt pity and took the risk of jumping over Gollum in the tunnel instead of stabbing him with Sting, or the the Elves watching him in Mirkwood had not felt pity and let him outside where he could escape during the orc attack, he would not have been there to guide Frodo and Sam into Mordor, nor to take the Ring from Frodo so it could be cast with him into the fires of Orodruin. Could these actions have "earned credit" for the Providence shown by Eru Ilúvatar in the quest to destroy the Ring?

[lety]

What a question!Super interesting video!

[lntnchrs]

Just found your channel. This one earned you a sub👍

[Forester]

Very cool topic! I’ve always wondered this!

[nickagalidis]

Perhaps they planned to enter Mordor from the South? The Fellowship was in close proximity to Gondor so they could have taken a vessel from any one of the ports, traveled to Harondor, and then travelled northwards until they reached the borders of Mordor, going up the rivers into Southern Mordor until they were able to enter the area, then travel north until they reached Mount Doom. We know at least Aragorn would be familiar with the area because he fought alongside the Gondorian army in the South, going to Umbar and Harad as well as going further East. What are your thoughts?