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Description
...the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. Only Gandalf could be seen, standing white and tall before the blackened hearth.
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Another awesome Gandalf moment for my list of Two Towers scenes. This is a moment that I appreciate more in the films than in the novels. In the texts Tolkien gives conflicting accounts on what exactly afflicts King Théoden: wether he is merely ill and in despair, or being given bad advice by Wormtongue, or bewitched by Saruman, or a combination of all three. Consequently, it's not altogether clear what it takes for Gandalf to heal him: wether if it's his display of power at the hall of Meduseld, or his words of hope and encouragement to the king afterwards, or again, a combination of those two factors. I like in the films that there's no room for doubt that Théoden is under an actual spell, and that it takes, for want of a better word, for Gandalf to "exorcise" Saruman out to restore him to his strength.

Another thing that I really love about this scene is that, short of Sauron dragging him to thralldom in Mordor, this is a realization of Saruman's worst possible nightmare. In his heart he always knew that Gandalf always had greater inner power and wisdom than he, but up until that point he could always lord his higher station over him. Not anymore. Now Gandalf outranks him in every possible way.

Description
...the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. Only Gandalf could be seen, standing white and tall before the blackened hearth.
.
Another awesome Gandalf moment for my list of Two Towers scenes. This is a moment that I appreciate more in the films than in the novels. In the texts Tolkien gives conflicting accounts on what exactly afflicts King Théoden: wether he is merely ill and in despair, or being given bad advice by Wormtongue, or bewitched by Saruman, or a combination of all three. Consequently, it's not altogether clear what it takes for Gandalf to heal him: wether if it's his display of power at the hall of Meduseld, or his words of hope and encouragement to the king afterwards, or again, a combination of those two factors. I like in the films that there's no room for doubt that Théoden is under an actual spell, and that it takes, for want of a better word, for Gandalf to "exorcise" Saruman out to restore him to his strength.

Another thing that I really love about this scene is that, short of Sauron dragging him to thralldom in Mordor, this is a realization of Saruman's worst possible nightmare. In his heart he always knew that Gandalf always had greater inner power and wisdom than he, but up until that point he could always lord his higher station over him. Not anymore. Now Gandalf outranks him in every possible way.