Warning! Spoilers for Rings of power Season 2, Episode 4 Ahead!
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 may have just attempted its own answer regarding Tom Bombadil’s role in Middle-earth. This Lord of the Rings Character is among the most mysterious of Tolkien’s works, and this is a large part of what he left out of Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy. There are so few answers about who and what Tom Bombadil is that including him in the screen adaptations quickly becomes complicated. However, Prime Video has tried its hand at it, with Rings of power Old Tom seems to be given a more definitive role.
Rings of power Season 2, episode 4 sees The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) run into Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) while traveling through Rhûn. It is revealed that all the visions and dreams that propelled the Istar to Rhûn actually led him to Bombadil. This means an interesting connection between the two characters, which is quite a change since Tolkien always commanded Bombadil’s neutrality. The author was purposefully elusive about how old Tom fit in The Lord of the RingsHowever Rings of power has implied more than Tolkien was ever willing to.
The Rings of Power reveals Tom Bombadil trains wizards who come to Middle-earth
Old Tom is The Stranger’s (& The Dark Wizard’s) Guide to Rings of Power
The stranger will begin receiving magic lessons from Tom Bombadil, gaining control over his powers and establishing a better understanding of his role as a wizard in Middle-earth. It is also mentioned in Rings of power Season 2, Episode 4 that Bombadil learned of the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds), who leads the evil cult in Rhûn that is eager to seek Sauron. The details combined imply that it is Old Tom’s job is to train Istari once they arrive in Middle-earth.
Although there was no implication of this in The Lord of the Rings, the end of Return of the King sees Gandalf going to the Old Forest to speak with Tom Bombadil after the destruction of the One Ring.
While there was no implication of this in The Lord of the RingsThe end of Return of the King See Gandalf going to the Old Forest to talk to Tom Bombadil after the destruction of the One Ring. This may support the idea This mysterious character was Gandalf’s mentor and teacher in Middle-earth– A figure that helped guide him so that he could continue to lead others. If that’s really what Rings of power is going for, it would not only be a potential answer for Tom Bombadil’s goal in Middle-earth, but what he is as well.
Is Tom Bombadil the source of magic in Middle-earth?
Rings of Power may be leaning into an existing Lord of the Rings theory
in Lord of the Rings, Tom Bombadil tells Frodo and his fellow hobbits that he is the oldest of the oldLiving and wandering Middle-earth before the Dark Lord Morgoth brought evil and corruption. Still, when asked what He really is, Bombadil (and Tolkien) only have his name to give in response. Tom Bombadil is just Tom Bombadil—end of story. Rings of power repeated the same feeling. However, by making the character a sort of teacher and guide for wizards, Prime Video seems to have leaned into an old Tom Bombadil theory.
Some theories about Tom Bombadil claim that he is the god of The Lord of the RingsEru e Luwtar. Others make him the humanoid embodiment of Middle-earth itself. However, another popular theory claims that Tom Bombadil is the source of all magic in Middle-earth. This seems to coincide with the story in Rings of power Season 2. If it’s Tom’s job to teach incoming wizards how to control their powers, it could be that he himself is the source of their magic. of course, This would mean for a much more definitive role and purpose than Tolkien ever gave Tom Bombadil. Furthermore, it contradicts the behavior of both Bombadil and the Istari.
Tom Bombadil’s wizard connection doesn’t fit with Tolkien’s lore
It’s not a perfect match, but it’s fun to consider
Although it is true that Gandalf understood Tom Bombadil better than other characters in Lord of the Rings, The idea that he or other Istari learned or sourced their magic from the character is not quite in line with Tolkien canon.. Wizards are incarnate forms of angel-like Maiar. Although the source of their power is never definitely stated, it is implied that the limited nature of their Istari magic was given by the god Eru Ilúvatar himself. Even if their power did need some conduit, there was never an insinuation that Gandalf or the others had to stop for lessons.
In The Lord of the Rings, Bombadil understands power and evil, but he won’t lift a finger to do anything about it outside his home of Withywindle.
what’s more, Rings of powers version of Tom Bombadil may claim to be passive, but he is no longer neutral. in The Lord of the RingsBombadil understands power and evil, but he won’t lift a finger to do anything about it outside his home of Witiwindel. This is part of why it has been theorized that he is nature itself since the earth only knows life – not good and evil. Training wizards to stand up to Sauron is still taking place. So, while it is fun to consider Rings of powers version of events, this is unlikely to be an answer Tolkien would get behind.