While it might appear that the change from Gandalf the Grey vs White in Lord of the Rings is little more than aesthetic, the significance of Gandalf returning in a new form after defeating the Balrog is much deeper. J.R.R. Tolkien is known for his extensive lore and encyclopedic extended writings in The Similarilion, and between those writings and the original book, there is a lot more than can be understood about the change that Gandalf undergoes.