Amazon Prime Video’s The Rings of Power continues to hint that The Stranger is Gandalf, with several new pieces added to the puzzle in season 2. Daniel Weyman plays The Stranger in The Rings of Power cast, a character who’s a bit of a question mark among famous characters of Tolkien lore, like Galadriel, Elrond, or Sauron. Season 1’s finale practically confirmed that he was Gandalf with the “follow your nose” line, but without irrefutable confirmation, there’s still some amount of debate. This is mostly because Gandalf didn’t arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age in Tolkien’s writing.
The Rings of Power season 2 takes place at the end of the Second Age of Middle-earth, so it doesn’t entirely make sense for Gandalf to be there. However, the show has notably made changes in its adaptation of the lore and doesn’t seem like the sort of narrative that would throw audiences through such a loop with a shocking twist. One way to look at it is that it’s not that the writers are trying to toy with audiences by not confirming that he’s Gandalf, but rather that they’re trying to slowly lay down the foundations of his character.
The Stranger isn’t Gandalf. At least not yet. He’s a being sent to Middle-earth, and Tom Bombadil seems to believe his task is to repel the evil of Sauron. This is why the Istari were sent to Middle-earth in Tolkien’s world. However, Gandalf has particular ways of repelling evil that differentiate him from the likes of Saruman. The Rings of Power’s many hints seem to show the character slowly growing into the Gandalf audiences know and love from The Lord of the Rings books and movies.
7 The Stranger’s Choice Between Destiny & Nori
Working Alongside The Harfoots Would Be Gandalf’s Destiny
The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6, presents The Stranger with an important dilemma. He’s met Tom Bombadil, which has allowed him the bizarre chance to discuss his power with another mystical being who knows more than he does. With that in mind, The Stranger is keen on learning as much as he can. He wants to wield his power for good and to protect his friends, and Tom Bombadil suggests that his destiny is to train so he’ll be prepared to defeat Sauron in the west and the Dark Wizard in the east.
He can either return to Nori and The Stoors and do his best to defend them with what little he knows, or he can remain with Tom and train to defeat Sauron.
The Stranger fears that Nori and Poppy will be hurt before he’s ready, establishing his major choice for the final two episodes of the season. He can either return to Nori and The Stoors and do his best to defend them with what little he knows, or he can remain with Tom and train to defeat Sauron. It seems vital in this situation that The Stranger chooses Nori, establishing his identity as the Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, who would never view such an ultimatum with the utilitarian perspective like Tom seems to.
Gandalf is a great and powerful being, but his true power comes from knowing the strength of goodness. As he says in The Hobbit movies, while Saruman believes in great power, Gandalf believes in simple acts of kindness and love. This choice in The Rings of Power is setting up The Stranger to choose Nori, which will also, incidentally, bring him closer to his destiny.
6 The Stoors Call The Stranger “Grand-Elf”
Gundabel Teases The Gandalf Name Reveal
One of The Rings of Power’s more direct hints at The Stranger being Gandalf happens when Nori is brought to the home of the Stoors. The Stoors’ leader, Gundabel, takes issue with Nori and Poppy’s giant companion, trying to ascertain his species, calling him a “great big Grand-Elf,” which many perceived as being another clear hint. First of all, there’s no subspecies in Tolkien’s world called “Grand Elf,” so this dialogue must have been written with the express intention of implying an upcoming Gandalf reveal.
Interestingly enough, the phrase ties to Gandalf’s original etymology, as in the language of men in Tolkien’s world, Gandalf means “Wand-elf” or “Elf-of-the-wand.” Because he was immortal, a common misconception in Middle-earth was that many believed Gandalf to be an elf, though he clearly resembled a man. The Rings of Power could tie this idea into his name selection, as the Stoors seemed to have mistaken him for an elf due to his height. If he returns to their home with his new staff, the Stoors assigning him a name, meaning “Wand-elf,” could be perfect.
5 The Stranger & Tom Bombadil Discuss The “Secret Fire”
Gandalf Refers To The Secret Fire In The Fellowship Of The Ring
When speaking to Tom Bombadil, Tom mentions the “secret fire” multiple times, hinting that The Stranger could learn to wield its power. This is a strange new concept, as the series suggests that the Istari’s source of magic would be the Secret Fire, which is unclear in the books. But it’s another important hint, as the term will most commonly be associated with Gandalf. Famously, Gandalf speaks of the secret fire in his monologue in The Fellowship of the Ring as he faces the Balrog on the bridge of Khazad-dum. Read his full quote below:
“You cannot pass,’ he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. “I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass”
From The Silmarillion, one could assume that the secret fire is wielded by Ilúvatar, the creator of Arda (the world Middle-earth resides in). It’s used for the purpose of creating life, which only Ilúvatar is truly capable of. In the First Age, Melkor was angry that only Ilúvatar could create life, and he made orcs in defiance of this idea. The Rings of Power seems to imply that the secret fire is a broad life force of power and that the Istari can wield a small fragment as their form of magic. So, The Stranger is undoubtedly an Istar.
4 Nori Refers To A Stick As A “Gand”
The Norse Word Gand Is Part Of Gandalf’s Etymology
The Rings of Power season 2, episode 4, makes another tease toward the etymology of Gandalf. In the episode, Poppy questions why The Stranger won’t just magically create food for them, to which Nori explains that he’s “he’s afraid he’d lose control again without a gand.” The use of the term “gand” is too specific not to be a reference, as it’s not even an English word. “Gandr” is an Old Norse word for “wand” or “staff,” which plays into the etymology of Gandalf’s name.
The TV series using this term is a bit bizarre if it’s not building toward The Stranger being Gandalf. It seems like another hint that The Stranger will find his staff by the end of the season, allowing him to control his powers, which has been hinted at more in his scenes around Tom Bombadil’s house. It wouldn’t be surprising if the season ends with The Stranger wielding his first official wizard staff and declaring his name as Gandalf.
3 Tom Bombadil Uses A Classic Gandalf Quote
Gandalf Reverses This Quote And Says It To Frodo In Fellowship
In The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6, Tom Bombadil utilizes an altered classic Gandalf Fellowship of the Ring quote when speaking to The Stranger. He says, “Many that die deserve life, some that live deserve death. Who are you to give it to them?“ This is the reversed version of a line movie fans will recognize, which Gandalf says to Frodo in their journey through Moria after Frodo suggests Bilbo should have killed Gollum. The original line suggests that all life has a purpose and that by taking away life, one is rid of the chance for a positive impact.
This line ends up being crucial in The Lord of the Rings, as Frodo decides to spare Gollum, ultimately leading to the destruction of the One Ring. Without Gollum trying to steal the ring at the last moment, Frodo likely wouldn’t have found the strength to toss it in the fire. The repetition of this quote in The Rings of Power implies that Gandalf has heard Tom Bombadil’s philosophy and made alterations based on how he views life. Again, their dichotomy seems to be implying some sort of conflict of utilitarianism, with Tom seeing less value in individual lives.
2 Nori, Poppy, & The Stranger Discuss Names
The Power Of The Name Is Important
The Rings of Power season 2 sees Nori, Poppy, and The Stranger discussing potential names for the character, with nothing really landing. There seems to be some lead-in here regarding the power and feeling of a name. He doesn’t want to just select any name out of a hat; The Stranger wants to pick the name that feels assigned to him by the stars and the other powers of this world. This is crucial for his character development, as season 2 is about him finding his identity and philosophy.
The Stranger knows he’s a force for good, but now he’s learning more specifically what type of force he’s going to be. Gandalf is a character of great wisdom and intelligence, but he’s also a man who follows his heart, selecting the likes of hobbits for great tasks. He believes in the greater powers at work, knowing that there’s more than just evil governing the fate of Middle-earth. For him, the selection of a name could be equally as spiritual. Perhaps by saving the Stoors and earning their respect, he’ll be granted a name by them.
This Explains Gandalf’s Love For The Hobbits
A huge part of The Stranger’s arc in The Rings of Power seems to be about his growing affection for the hobbits, or harfoots in this case. In The Hobbit, Gandalf shows up to recruit Bilbo for the quest to the Lonely Mountain, and his admiration for the Shire-folk continues to grow as The Lord of the Rings progresses. Gandalf is known to be a wanderer of Middle-earth who’s traveled and treated with great kings of men, elves, and dwarves, but his fondness for the hobbits is particular even still.
The Rings of Power is heading in the direction of developing concrete reasoning for Gandalf’s love for the hobbits. Rather than just a broad fondness for their culture of peace, The Stranger will have been directly saved by harfoots upon his entry to Middle-earth. Characters like Nori and Poppy are going to be instrumental to his character growth, blatantly showing him the strength and beauty that can come from every being that inhabits Middle-earth beyond just the notably powerful. The harfoots are key to The Stranger’s arc in The Rings of Power.
