Dungeons & Dragons Already Has Its Gandalf, But The Netflix Show Must Avoid One Mistake With The Character

TheDungeons & Dragonsshow has someone within the lore that can act as its Gandalf-eque mentor, but the upcoming series from Netflix needs to avoid this mistake if they include the character. Netflix’s series is the perfect opportunity for a studio tohighlight the underrated parts ofDungeons & Dragons,asHonor Among Thievesonly really scratched the surface of the tabletop’s expansive settings, lore, and monsters. It can also feature the well-known characters within that lore, bringing them to life, in some cases, for the very first time.

Many of the NPCs withinDungeons & Dragonsare often set aside for onscreen adaptations, the nature of the game allowing studios to craft their own stories with original characters. While that has yielded some compelling narratives, it would be great for the series to include the variouscharacters from the Forgotten Realmsthat could fill in the roles of a traditional fantasy story. A major example of this could allow the Netflix series to include a mentor character on par with Gandalf the Grey or Dumbledore, with regard to both ability and temperament, who can enhance that storyline: Elminster.

Elminster in Honor Among Thieves.

Netflix’s Dungeons & Dragons Show Can Use Elminster As Its Gandalf Or Dumbledore

Elminster Was First Introduced In 1994

The upcoming NetflixDungeons & Dragonsshow could use Elminster to act as its mentor character, as he shares many similarities to Gandalf and Dumbledore.Elminster is one of the most famous wizards in the realm and the favored Chosen of Mystra, Goddess of Magic, much like Gandalf was favored by the ValarinThe Lord of the Ringsmoviesand books. He is also an active adventurer like Gandalf, protecting the realm from threats using a variety of light and fire-based spells, while also gathering fame and recognition everywhere he goes.

Elminster’s temperament, though, is closer to Dumbledore’s, as he can be both fearsome and gentledepending on the situation. He often extols the virtues of peace and freedom, his wonderment at the world a mirror to Hogwarts' Headmaster. This combination of traits makes Elminster a great mentor character for theDungeons & Dragonsseries, especially as he has had so little screen time in recent adaptations. That being said, his characterization could lead the series to make a mistake that could hurt the legendary Forgotten Realms characters' arc if they are not careful.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) Movie Poster

The Upcoming Series Must Avoid One Mistake With The Forgotten Realms Character

Elminster Could Become Forgettable If Played Too Close To The Archetype

Netflix’sDungeons & Dragonsseries needs to make sure Elminster’s arc and personality do not follow too closely to the mentor archetype, as it would result in him becoming a carbon copy of other characters. As mentioned,Elminster does share some details with other wizard mentors, but the series needs to add a twist that would let him stand apart from them.Otherwise, he will simply be yet another kind mentor who ends up getting forgotten about despite his power and reputation in favor of other characters in the story.

Leaning into his powerful reputation inDungeons & Dragonscould do this as well, showcasing why Elminster is so well-known and creating many amazing moments for his arc beyond the tropes.

To avoid this,the Netflix show needs to balance humor and fantasy, subverting the tropes by either making fun of them or making Elminster a more active party member. The series could easily go the parody route as Elminster’s humor is just as legendary as his power, so making him more of a trickster archetype could add a new twist while still being true to the source material. Leaning into his powerful reputation inDungeons & Dragonscould do this as well, showcasing why Elminster is so well-known and creating many amazing moments for his arc beyond the tropes.