yeah i’ve actually been thinking about this exact thing for a while lately… that the Balrog wasn’t there for the Ring and Frodo… it actually came for Gandalf, because he was announcing himself as the real Big Boss around… and that’s why Gandalf is Grey… he’s conflicted about his relationship to The Ring, and whether he feels like it’s his responsibility… he’s showing it in how he deals with Pippin’s tomfoolery…

basically Gandalf had already claimed The Ring from Frodo, and the Balrog knew he was the one to take down… this is why Gandalf had to be tested…