Warning! Spoilers for The rings of power Season 2, Episode 8, Up!
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Finally confirmed that the stranger is Gandalf, officially breaking the canon version of the wizard’s story. The Prime Video series has been beating around the bush up to this point, revealing that the stranger is an Istar but nothing more. This left a variety of options, with some theorizing that he was one of two blue wizards rather than Gandalf the Grey. If that were the case, it would be a minor breach of canon. however, Rings of power‘s final answer about the stranger’s identity significantly shifts the timeline of the Istar.
Rings of power Season 1 has already laid the hints pretty thick about the stranger. Some of his lines are exactly the same as what Gandalf said in The Lord of the RingsAnd his friendship with Norrie was further evidence that this was the hobbit-loving wizard. However, season 2 bringing the Stranger to Rhûn to confront another Istar implies that the Stranger and the Dark Wizard are Tolkien’s Blue Wizards. This, of course, was a red herring. Rings of power Again Canon uses details to subvert the audiences expectationsChanging Tolkien’s original story.
Gandalf should not arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age
Rings of Power moved Gandalf’s Middle-earth debut
The entire story of the alien ship Gandalf’s canon story in middle-earth, with the most obvious difference being the period of middle-earth history during which the wizard arrived. Rings of power is set in the second age, which stretches 3,441 years. According to Tolkien canon, Gandalf did not arrive in Middle-earth as a wizard until about 1,000 years into the Third Age. It was the blue wizards who came into the second age, and Rings of power Seemed to use this detail to keep audiences on their toes. Of course, the timing isn’t the only thing different about Gandalf’s arrival.
Gandalf’s arrival in Tolkien’s books is very different
The stranger arrived as a meteor – Gandalf arrived on a boat
Gandalf arrived in Middle-earth in a blaze of glory in The rings of power Season 1. He crashed to Earth as a meteor, where he was discovered by Norrie the Harfoot and helped as he tried to remember who he was and identify his purpose. This is completely different from how the wizard arrived in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Although, again, the author did not provide many details about his journey, it is stated that Gandalf left Valinor by much more typical means. He went on a ship, landed in the Gray Havenwhere he was met by CÃrdan the shipwright (who is also introduced in Rings of power).
Over the following centuries, Gandalf wandered Middle-earth, exploring and learning more about the free nations. It wasn’t until the long winter in Third Age 2758 that he met the hobbits. The other Istari completely overlooked the beings, but Gandalf was fascinated by their surprising strength and endurance, praising their sense of community as they helped each other survive the brutal weather of that year. Rings of power Gives Gandalf a very unique introduction to The HobbitOf course, bring him to Norrie long before even the word “Hobbit“was accepted by their people.
Gandalf already knows that one of the Istari is bad at the Rings of Power
Gandalf meeting the Dark Wizard breaks canon (regardless of the villain’s identity)
Another significant change in Rings of power Revolves around the relationship between the Istari. In season 2, Gandalf confronts the Dark Wizard, who mentions that there were five Istari sent to Middle-earth (which is true to Tolkien canon). The villain Trying to convince his comrade that he is on his side and that they will take down Sauron together But replace him as Dark Lords. Gandalf sees the Dark Wizard for what he is and turns against him to instead save his friends and set out on his own journey.
This is an interesting change, especially since the Dark Wizard’s true identity has yet to be revealed. Since the villain confirms that there are only five Istari, He must be either Saruman or a blue wizard (The Dark Wizard being Radagast would be too outrageous a change). If this is Saruman, vi Rings of power is trying to imply, then it is strange that Gandalf would know this early that he is evil because this is a major twist in Lord of the Rings. Even if the Dark Wizard is a Blue Wizard, Gandalf knowing that one of his kind was evil takes wind of Saruman’s later twist.
It’s not the true story, but Rings of Power at least gives audiences a chance to better understand where Gandalf came from.
It’s clear that Prime Video is telling its own version of Gandalf’s story, and it differs significantly from JRR Tolkien’s. The timeline is still condensed, and the way Gandalf discovers his identity and those he meets along the way is changed. While Rings of powerThe adaptations to the tale are sure to be controversial, this is an effective way to bring Gandalf’s story to the Lord of the Rings Prequel. It is not these True History, however Rings of power At least gives an opportunity for audience to understand better where Gandalf came from.