Amazon Prime Video The rings of power Continue to hint that the stranger is Gandalf, with some new pieces added to the puzzle in season 2. Daniel Wyman plays the stranger in The rings of power Cast, a character that is a bit of a question mark between famous characters of Tolkien lore, like Galadriel, Elrond or Sauron. The finale of Season 1 practically confirmed that he is Gandalf with the “Follow your nose” lineBut without irrefutable confirmation, there is still some debate. This is mostly because Gandalf doesn’t arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age in Tolkien’s writing.
The rings of power Season 2 takes place at the end of the Second Age of Middle-earth, so it doesn’t quite make sense for Gandalf to be there. However, the show has notably made changes in its adaptation of the lore and doesn’t seem like the kind of story that would throw audiences through such a loop with a shocking twist. One way to look at it is that it is not that the writers are trying to play with the audience by not confirming that he is Gandalf, but rather that They are trying to slowly lay down the foundations of his character.
The stranger is not Gandalf. At least not yet. He is sent to Middle-earth, and Tom Bombadil seems to believe that his job is to repel the evil of Sauron. This is why the Istari were sent to Middle-earth in Tolkien’s world. However, Gandalf has particular ways of repelling evil that differentiate him from the likes of Saruman. The rings of power Many hints seem to show the character slowly growing in the Gandalf audience knowledge and love of The Lord of the Rings Books and movies.
7
The stranger’s choice between Destiny and Nori
Working alongside the Harfouts would be Gandalf’s destiny
The rings of power Season 2, episode 6 presents The Stranger with an important dilemma. He met Tom Bombadil, who allowed him the rare opportunity to discuss his power with another mystical being who knew more than he did. With this in mind, the foreigner is keen to learn as much as he can. He wants to use his power for good and to protect his friends, and Tom Bombadil suggests that his destiny is to train so he will be prepared to defeat Sauron in the West and the Dark Wizard in the East.
He can either return to Nori and the Stewards and do his best to protect them with what little he knows, or he can stay with Tom and train to defeat Sauron.
The stranger is afraid that Nori and Pappy will be hurt before he is ready, establishing his main choice for the last two episodes of the season. He can either return to Nori and the Stewards and do his best to protect them with what little he knows, or he can stay with Tom and train to defeat Sauron. It seems vital in this situation that the stranger chooses Norrie, establishing his identity as the Gandalf of The Lord of the RingsWho would never see such an ultimatum with the utilitarian perspective as Tom seems to.
Related
Gandalf is a great and powerful being, but his true power comes from knowing the strength of goodness. As he says in The Hobbit Kino, while Saruman believes in great power, Gandalf believes in simple acts of kindness and love. This choice in The rings of power The stranger is determined to choose Nori, which will also, incidentally, bring him closer to his destiny.
6
The stars call the foreigners “Grand-Eleven”
Gundab teases the Gandalf name reveal
one of The rings of power More direct hints that the stranger is Gandalf occur when Norrie is brought to the storehouse. The leader of the Storks, Gundabel, is in conflict with Norrie and Poppy’s giant companion, trying to convince him of his species, calling him a “great great grand elf,” Which many perceived as another clear hint. First of all, there is no subspecies in Tolkien’s world called “Grand Elf,” so the dialogue must have been written with the express intention of implying an upcoming Gandalf reveal.
Interestingly enough, the phrase ties to Gandalf’s original etymology, viz In the language of people in Tolkien’s world, Gandalf means “stick-elf” or “elf-of-the-stick”. Because he was immortal, a common misconception in Middle-earth was that many believed Gandalf to be an elf, even though he clearly resembled a man. The rings of power Can tie this idea into his name selection, as the Storrs seemed to have mistaken him for an elf due to his height. If he returns to their home with his new staff, the stewards assigning him a name, meaning “Wand-Eleven,” may be perfect.
5
The Stranger and Tom Bombadil discuss the “Secret Fire”
Gandalf refers to the secret fire in the Fellowship of the Ring
When talking to Tom Bombadil, Tom mentions the “secret fire” several times, hinting that the stranger can learn to control its power. This is a strange new concept, as the series suggests that the source of the Istari’s magic would be the Secret Fire, which is unclear in the books. But there is another important hint, because the term will most commonly be associated with Gandalf. famous, Gandalf talks about the secret fire in his monologue The Fellowship of the Ring As he faces the Balrog On the bridge of Khazad-Dum. Read his full quote below:
“You cannot pass,” he said, the orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. “I am a servant of the secret fire, again of the flame of honor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not help you, flame of Odeon. Go back to the shadows! You cannot pass.”
of The SilmarillionIt can be assumed that the secret fire was ignited by Ilúvatar, the creator of Arda (the world Middle-earth resides in). It is used for the purpose of creating life, which only Ilúvatar is truly capable of. In the First Age, Melkor was angry that only Ilúvatar could create life, and he created orcs in defiance of this idea. The rings of power Seems to imply that the secret fire is a vast life force of power and that the Istari can wield a small fragment as their form of magic. So, the stranger is undoubtedly an Istar.
4
Nori refers to a stick as a “skin”.
The Norse word Gand is part of Gandalf’s etymology
The rings of power Season 2, episode 4, makes another tease to the etymology of Gandalf. In this episode, you might ask why the stranger won’t just magically make food for them, why? Norrie explains that he is “He is afraid that he will lose control again without a word.” The use of the term “gun” is too specific not to be a reference, because it is not even an English word. “Gander” is an Old Norse word for “rod” or “staff,” which plays into the etymology of Gandalf’s name.
The TV series using this term is a bit strange if it is not built to the stranger being Gandalf. It seems like another hint that the stranger will find his staff at the end of the season, allowing him to control his powers, which was hinted at more in his scenes around Tom Bombadil’s house. It wouldn’t be surprising if the season ends with the stranger wielding his first official wizard’s staff and declaring his name to be Gandalf.
3
Tom Bombadil uses a classic Gandalf quote
Gandalf reverses the quote and says it to Frodo in fellowship
in The rings of power Season 2, Episode 6, Tom Bombadil uses an altered classic Gandalf Fellowship of the Ring Quote when talking to the stranger. He says, “Many who die deserve life, some who live deserve death. Who are you to give it to them?“ This is the reversed version of a line movie fans will recognize that Gandalf says to Frodo on their journey through Moria after Frodo suggests Bilbo should have killed Gollum. The original line suggests that all life has a purpose and that by taking away life, one is rid of the opportunity for a positive impact.
Related
The line is finally critical in The Lord of the RingsHow Frodo decides to spare Gollum, ultimately leading to the destruction of the One Ring. Without Gollum trying to steal the ring at the last moment, Frodo probably wouldn’t have found the strength to throw it into the fire. The repetition of this quote in The rings of power Implies that Gandalf has heard Tom Bombadil’s philosophy and made changes based on how he views life. Again, their dichotomy seems to imply a sort of conflict of utilitarianism, with Tom seeing less value in individual life.
2
Nori, Poppy, & The Stranger discuss names
The power of the name is important
The rings of power Season 2 sees Nori, Poppy and The Stranger discussing potential names for the character, with nothing really landing. There seems to be some lead-in here about the power and feeling of a name. He doesn’t just want to pick a name out of a hat; The stranger wants to choose the name that feels assigned to him Through the stars and the other powers of this world. This is crucial to his character development, as season 2 is about him finding his identity and philosophy.
The stranger knows that he is a force for good, but now he is learning more specifically what kind of force he will be. Gandalf is a character of great wisdom and intelligence, but he is also a man who follows his heart, selecting the likes of hobbits for great tasks. He believes in greater powers at work, knowing that there is more than just evil that governs the fate of Middle-earth. For him, the selection of a name can be equally spiritual. Perhaps, by saving the Storks and earning their respect, he will be given a name by them.
This explains Gandalf’s love for the hobbits
A huge part of the stranger’s arc in The rings of power Seems to be about his growing fondness for the hubs, or Harfouts in this case. in The HobbitGandalf appears to recruit Bilbo for the quest to the Lonely Mountain, and his admiration for the Shire folk continues to grow as The Lord of the Rings Progress. Gandalf is known to be a wanderer of Middle-earth who traveled and dealt with great kings of men, elves and dwarves, but His love for the hobbits is even more distinct.
The rings of power is heading in the direction of developing concrete reasoning for Gandalf’s love for the hobbits. Rather than just a broad love for their culture of peace, the stranger will be directly saved by Harfouts At his entrance to Middle-earth. Characters like Nori and Poppy will be instrumental to his character growth, blatantly showing him the strength and beauty that can come from any being that inhabits Middle-earth beyond just the notably powerful. The Harfouts are key to The Stranger’s arc The rings of power.