By Amanda Mullen
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Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Rings of Power season 2, episodes 1-3.The Rings of Power still hasn't confirmed the identity of the Stranger, but after season 2's first three episodes, I'm even more convinced that he's Gandalf. Daniel Wayman's character makes a memorable entrance in The Rings of Power season 1, crashing to Middle-earth inside a meteor during the show's premiere. It seems obvious that Weyman is one of the Lord of the Rings' Istari, as he possesses magic and doesn't remember anything about himself. After The Rings of Power season 1's ending, many viewers became convinced that he was Gandalf — including myself.
Unfortunately, the Amazon show hasn't confirmed or denied this popular Stranger theory just yet. During The Rings of Power season 2's three-episode premiere, Nori tries to give the wizard a name — but he's still without one when episode 3 comes to a close. The Lord of the Rings show is intentionally keeping the Stranger's identity under wraps, perhaps building anticipation for the big reveal. However, looking at the character's portrayal in The Rings of Power season 2, I'm almost certain that he's Gandalf.
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The Stranger Is Acting Much More Like Gandalf In The Rings Of Power Season 2
His Dialogue & Personality Match That Of The Grey Wizard
The Rings of Power season 1 makes it difficult to reconcile the idea of the Stranger being Gandalf, as Weyman's character is so different from the wizard we know and love. The Stranger can hardly speak when he first crash-lands on Middle-earth, and he doesn't know much — from how to interact with others to how to use his own powers. The Gandalf we see in The Lord of the Rings is charming and has a good grip on his abilities. He's a far cry from Weyman's awkward, often out-of-control wizard.
His interactions with Nori and Poppy feel far more natural in season 2, with the Stranger treating the Harfoots warmly — almost like a grandfather.
That said, The Rings of Power season 2 takes a big step forward when it comes to the Stranger's characterization. After seeing how the new episodes depict him, I'm more convinced that the series is building to a Gandalf reveal. His interactions with Nori and Poppy feel far more natural in season 2, with the Stranger treating the Harfoots warmly — almost like a grandfather. He banters with them and goes out of his way to ensure they're safe, things Gandalf does for Frodo and his friends in Lord of the Rings. This makes the Stranger feel more like the Grey Wizard.
The Rings Of Power Already Hinted The Stranger Is Gandalf
Season 1 Draws Connections To The Lord Of The Rings Character
There are numerous signs that the Stranger is Gandalf throughout The Rings of Power season 1, so it's no surprise he's starting to act more like the Lord of the Rings character. Even if his personality isn't in line with Gandalf's in the first outing, the Stranger bears striking similarities to Frodo's mentor. His physical appearance mirrors that of Gandalf the Grey, and he also develops an easy friendship with the Harfoots, much like Gandalf does with the Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings.
The Stranger's magic also resembles that of Gandalf, as we see him whispering to fireflies in The Rings of Power season 1. This moment feels like a nod to Gandalf whispering to the moths in The Fellowship of the Ring. The Stranger also turns particles into moths in The Rings of Power episode "Alloyed." The character's final line in The Rings of Power season 1 is also a reference to Gandalf's advice to Merry in the first Lord of the Rings movie. He tells Nori to "always follow your nose," just as he tells the other Hobbit years and years later.
Is The Rings Of Power Trying To Trick Us About The Stranger's Identity?
The Show's Allusions To Gandalf Feel A Bit Obvious
.jpg "I'm Even More Convinced The Stranger Is Gandalf After The Rings Of Power Season 2's First 3 Episodes (5)")
The Rings of Power hints at the Stranger being Gandalf numerous times during its first season, but I have to wonder if the series is trying to trick us by being so direct. With the show going to great lengths to keep his identity a secret, it seems odd that it would tease the Stranger's connection to Gandalf so heavily. This takes away from the impact of the surprise, which is the only reason to keep the Stranger nameless in The Rings of Power season 2.
The Rings of Power season 1's Sauron reveal also wasn't that shocking, so perhaps the writers really are following the same trajectory with the Stranger.
Of course, The Rings of Power season 1's Sauron reveal also isn't that shocking, so perhaps the writers are following the same trajectory with the Stranger. The Lord of the Rings series doesn't go out of its way to capitalize on shock value, so it might be building to its Gandalf revelation more intentionally. It's hard to imagine who else the Stranger might be, though there are other Istari to choose from. I'm hoping The Rings of Power season 2 confirms the Stranger's identity soon, as there's little reason to drag out the suspense.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history for the very first time. Set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Power will explore a time in the franchise where kingdoms rose and fell, where The One Ring itself was forged and tells the tale of the rise of the greatest foe in the Lord of the Rings Franchise, the Dark Lord Sauron. Beginning in a time of peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of familiar and new characters as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil in Middle-earth. From the depths of the Misty Mountains to the forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, The Rings of Power promises to condense the extended works of Tolkien in a condensed but all-encompassing TV show format. The first season of The Rings of Power began airing exclusively on Prime Video on September 2, 2022..
- Cast
- Morfydd Clark , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Charlie Vickers , Markella Kavenagh , Megan Richards , Sara Zwangobani , Daniel Weyman , Cynthia Addai-Robinson , Lenny Henry , Lloyd Owen , Nazanin Boniadi , Dylan Smith , Alex Tarrant , Tyroe Muhafidin , Robert Aramayo , Geoff Morrell , Thusitha Jayasundera , Maxine Cunliffe
- Release Date
- September 1, 2022
- Seasons
- 2
- Network
- Amazon Prime Video
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
- Franchise(s)
- The Lord of the Rings
- Writers
- Patrick McKay , John D. Payne , J.R.R. Tolkien , Justin Doble , Jason Cahill , Gennifer Hutchison , Stephany Folsom , Nicholas Adams
- Directors
- J.A. Bayona , Sanaa Hamri
- Showrunner
- John D. Payne , Patrick McKay , Louise Hooper , Charlotte Brändström , Wayne Yip
