Gandalf’s staff in the rings of power explained

Warning! This article contains spoilers for the Rings of Power season 2 finale!

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Wasn’t afraid to make changes to the lore established in JRR Tolkien’s original book series, but this created exciting mystery and intrigue in the series. One of the letters in The rings of power Season 2 is The Stranger, played by Daniel Wyman, who is revealed to be the one and only Gandalf the Grey. A large part of how the show establishes this fact is through its slow development of magical skills and the appearance of the iconic staff that Gandalf wields. The Lord of the Rings.

Now that The rings of power Season 2 has confirmed the stranger is Gandalf, it is likely that more explicit references and connections to the wizard that the audience knows from the books and films will be included in the show. in The rings of power Season 2, Gandalf starts to realize his purpose In Middle-earth, and the staff is elevated to a level of importance beyond what is seen in the books. How this differs from the information about the staff provided by Tolkien in the novels The rings of power To distinguish his version of Gandalf.

How Gandalf Gets His Staff in the Rings of Power (Compared to the Books)

The Lord of the Rings provides wiggle room for the Rings of Power to create new storylines

Not much is known about how Gandalf got his first staff in Tolkien’s books, as it is one of the few aspects of learning that the author leaves open. On the one hand, giving a more concrete answer to how Gandalf is united with his powerful magical tool is a powerful storyline to include in The rings of power. Throughout Season 2, The Stranger is consistently trying, and failing, to find the right staff, leading the crowd to believe that the Valar placed him with a special instrument to find when he arrived in Middle-earth of Valinor.

During the stranger’s time with Tom Bombadil in season 2, He learns that he will not find his name or his staff, but that the two crucial parts of his identity will find him. One of the defining parts of Gandalf’s character is how dedicated he is to the hobbits and the stores. The stranger finds his staff in a store village after choosing to save his friends over developing his power. moreover, The rings of power Gives Gandalf an origin story for his name, and while it’s not canonically accurate, it still has the heart of Tolkien’s writing in it.

Is Gandalf’s staff in The Rings of Power the same one from The Lord of the Rings?

Gandalf’s staff is always at his side throughout The Lord of the Rings

Based on the information established in The Hobbit films, The staff the stranger finds is not the one audiences see with Gandalf when he first appears on screen. in The Fellowship of the Ring. However, it is likely the same staff that Gandalf uses in the first one Hobbit movie, An unexpected journey. Unfortunately, this was eventually destroyed in The Desolation of SmaugAnd Gandalf must borrow Radagast the Brown’s staff, one of the other Istari. In the continuity of the films, it can be assumed that Radagast’s staff is what Gandalf has in it The Fellowship of the Ring.

however, The changes and destruction of the staff are something that the films use as pieces of drama and conflict in the story. Additionally, since the Istari do not canonically arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age, there is little canonical evidence that the Staff would have been waiting for Gandalf during this time. in this way, The rings of power Embellishes Tolkien’s magic system for narrative impact. In the movies, Gandalf wields five staffs The Lord of the Rings All in all, and the one who finds him in The rings of power Can now be added to the list.

Why Gandalf and the other wizards need to use a staff for magic

Every Istari wizard is seen with a staff

While Gandalf is quick to play the role of the innocent old man when he needs to, the wizard relies on his staff as much more than a walking stick. Gandalf inherently has magic within him and much more power than a typical inhabitant of Middle-earth because he is a Maiar of Valinor. However, the staff is important because It is similar to a wand in other fantasy magic systems. The staff focuses the wizards’ power and makes their magic easier to control. Gandalf is still the source of the magic, but the staff completes it.

This is confirmed by how Saruman is treated after he is captured. He still has power and is someone to be feared and contained, so he cannot give his strength to Sauron. There is a significant difference between when Gandalf’s staff breaks while fighting the Balrog, although it is lost, not broken in the movies, and when Gandalf strips Saruman of his rank and title, then breaks Saruman’s staff. The actions show that The staff can also be interpreted as part of the identity of the wizards And a way of linking them back to their origins in Valinor.

What happens to Gandalf’s staff in The Lord of the Rings

Through his many travels and fights, Gandalf always finds his way back to a staff

There are many memorable moments in The Lord of the Rings Original trilogy, and many of them revolve around Gandalf, as he is a major source of power. His magic is reliant on the other characters, and they are well aware of how important his staff is. in The Fellowship of the RingGandalf’s staff goes through a lot, as he is imprisoned by Saruman and then receives a new staff from the elves. after that, Gandalf has his epic battle with the Balrog, which sees him lose his staff once again, Lost in the movies and destroyed in the books.

Galadriel gives Gandalf his white staff, the most powerful of his instruments After he returns from his battle with the Balrog and is upgraded to the title of Gandalf the White. Although the Witch-king of Angmar does not break Gandalf’s staff in the books, the monster destroys it in The return of the king. However, Gandalf is restored to full power with an even more brilliant white staff, which is seen as he helps Frodo and Bilbo prepare to go to Valinor. This later connection with Galadriel and the intervention of the elves, in general, should be explored by the show.

It will be interesting to see what the changes in staff mean for the future of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Many questions remain in the air despite the confirmation of the stranger’s identity as Gandalf. How he will come into contact with the other characters, and what the series will do to justify his presence. Now that Gandalf has come into his own, the chance to see him join forces with the elves and eventually confront Sauron in battle will likely be the series’ endpoint.