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AFAIK, there was no Jackson commentary on that specific scene, so one can only speculate.

As for "Why", the most cogent speculation I have seen on the forums is that the scene served to:

• Highlight Witch-King's power

• Therefore make Merry's and Eowyn's takedown of him all the more heroic.

A second theory was that this was to highlight the power and contribution of the World of Men - Gandalf is almost beaten and can be killed by such a powerful adversary, yet saved by the fact that WK needs to go away and deal with Rohirrim - which, if you know the backstory of Istari, actually jibes with Tolkien's overall vision of the order of things (Olorin's mission is to inspire Middle Earthers to fight Sauron, not to fight him himself with his Mayar powers).

This has further symbolic significance in that this mirrors Gandalf the White's breaking of Saruman's staff.

As for "How", there just isn't any info. WK holds a flaming sword, stares at Gandalf, and the staff explodes.

As far as I know, there was no Jackson commentary on that specific scene, so one can only speculate.

As for "why", the most cogent speculation I have seen on the forums is that the scene served to:

• Highlight the Witch-king's power

• Therefore make Merry's and Éowyn's takedown of him all the more heroic.

A second theory was that this was to highlight the power and contribution of the World of Men - Gandalf is almost beaten and can be killed by such a powerful adversary, yet saved by the fact that Witch-king needs to go away and deal with Rohirrim - which, if you know the backstory of Istari, actually jibes with Tolkien's overall vision of the order of things (Olórin's mission is to inspire Middle-earthers to fight Sauron, not to fight him himself with his Maiar powers).

This has further symbolic significance in that this mirrors Gandalf the White's breaking of Saruman's staff.

As for "how", there just isn't any info. The Witch-king holds a flaming sword, stares at Gandalf, and the staff explodes.

AFAIK, there was no Jackson commentary on that specific scene, so one can only speculate.

The most cogent speculation I have seen on the forums is that the scene served to:

• Highlight Witch-King's power

• Therefore make Merry's and Eowyn's takedown of him all the more heroic.

A second theory was that this was to highlight the power and contribution of the World of Men - Gandalf is almost beaten and can be killed by such a powerful adversary, yet saved by the fact that WK needs to go away and deal with Rohirrim - which, if you know the backstory of Istari, actually jibes with Tolkien's overall vision of the order of things (Olorin's mission is to inspire Middle Earthers to fight Sauron, not to fight him himself with his Mayar powers).

This has further symbolic significance in that this mirrors Gandalf the White's breaking of Saruman's staff.

AFAIK, there was no Jackson commentary on that specific scene, so one can only speculate.

As for "Why", the most cogent speculation I have seen on the forums is that the scene served to:

• Highlight Witch-King's power

• Therefore make Merry's and Eowyn's takedown of him all the more heroic.

A second theory was that this was to highlight the power and contribution of the World of Men - Gandalf is almost beaten and can be killed by such a powerful adversary, yet saved by the fact that WK needs to go away and deal with Rohirrim - which, if you know the backstory of Istari, actually jibes with Tolkien's overall vision of the order of things (Olorin's mission is to inspire Middle Earthers to fight Sauron, not to fight him himself with his Mayar powers).

This has further symbolic significance in that this mirrors Gandalf the White's breaking of Saruman's staff.

As for "How", there just isn't any info. WK holds a flaming sword, stares at Gandalf, and the staff explodes.

AFAIK, there was no Jackson commentary on that specific scene, so one can only speculate.

Most cogent speculation I have seen on the forums is that the scene served to:

• Highlight Witch-King's power

• Therefore make Merry's and Eowyn's takedown of him all the more heroic.

A second theory was that this was to highlight the power and contribution of the World of Men - Gandalf is almost beaten and can be killed by such a powerful adversary, yet saved by the fact that WK needs to go away and deal with Rohirrim - which, if you know the backstory of Istari, actually jibes with Tolkien's overall vision of the order of things (Olorin's mission is to inspire Middle Earthers to fight Sauron, not to fight him himself with his Mayar powers).

One more simbolic significance is that this mirrors Gandalf the White's breaking of Saruman's staff.

AFAIK, there was no Jackson commentary on that specific scene, so one can only speculate.

The most cogent speculation I have seen on the forums is that the scene served to:

• Highlight Witch-King's power

• Therefore make Merry's and Eowyn's takedown of him all the more heroic.

A second theory was that this was to highlight the power and contribution of the World of Men - Gandalf is almost beaten and can be killed by such a powerful adversary, yet saved by the fact that WK needs to go away and deal with Rohirrim - which, if you know the backstory of Istari, actually jibes with Tolkien's overall vision of the order of things (Olorin's mission is to inspire Middle Earthers to fight Sauron, not to fight him himself with his Mayar powers).

This has further symbolic significance in that this mirrors Gandalf the White's breaking of Saruman's staff.