While not completely flawless, Season 1 of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was a satisfactory project for many fans and it certainly did justice to J. R. R. Tolkien’s works. Yes, it suffered from noticeable drawbacks, but it also displayed great promise and potential for the future. If we ignore the controversies that surrounded it during its streaming release, there was one character who caught everyone’s attention. His name is The Stranger.
Showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay discussed how Season 2 would tackle The Stranger’s identity some time ago. In an interview with ScreenRant, McKay said the following while discussing the character’s identity.
“The end of the first season, he [The Stranger] figures out that he’s a wizard and that he’s a wizard for good, and now this season is very much sort of an origin story of a wizard. How does he become the adolescent version of himself along the way of his journey? We love the idea of an origin story for a wizard being one of the core storylines in the show, and this is a really big step in his journey. Gosh, I don’t want to spoil anything you know, but certainly, he’ll need a name at some point. Wizards typically have a hat and a staff, and wizards need to learn how to control their powers,” said McKay.
The showrunners confirmed that The Stranger was an Istari [Wizard] a long time ago. The latter fell from the sky in the form of a flaming meteor and befriended Nori, a kind-hearted Harfoot. During the final moments of the Season 1 finale, The Stranger realises that he possesses some magical powers.
In Tolkien’s works, Valar was the one who sent five Istaris (Wizards/Maiar Spirits) to the Middle-Earth to aid people in fighting against the Dark Lord, Sauron. Those five Istaris are Gandalf the Grey (later the White). Saruman the White, Radagast the Brown, Alatar (the Blue Wizard), and Pallando (the Blue Wizard). And we believe you already know who The Stranger really is.
The idea that The Stranger might be Gandalf the Grey began to circulate as soon as he appeared in the show. Throughout Season 1 of The Rings of Power, many clues point to this possibility. However, the creators of the show, Payne and McKay, have not officially confirmed whether The Stranger is indeed Gandalf. Let’s see what happens.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is all set for its three-episode premiere on Prime Video on August 29. Stay tuned for more updates.