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Ever since its announcement, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy has been a topic of mass debate. It’s based mostly on the appendices of Tolkien’s trilogy, versus the trilogy itself, and set throughout the Second Age, an period for which we have now an in depth chronology of historic occasions however far much less data of how stated occasions transpired. And alongside well-loved characters like Elrond and Galadriel, it’s introducing its personal authentic gamers with Arondir, Bronwyn, and extra.
One can parse the varied strands of lore with the suitable Tolkien references, however there’s one particular factor of The Rings of Energy that has left each students and sockpuppets stumped: the Stranger, or the wizard-like determine who crash-lands in Center-earth through molten meteorite.
Viewers have been first launched to the Stranger (generally known as Meteor Man) in a trailer for The Rings of Energy, throughout which a number of figures throughout Center-earth could possibly be seen watching a meteorite soar by way of the sky. Some folks suppose that is The Rings of Energy’s Sauron, which is probably going fallacious. Others are satisfied that it’s Gandalf, which additionally doesn’t add up.
After watching the primary two episodes of The Rings of Energy, we’ve discovered just a little bit extra about this mysterious determine — though this data has solely served to additional our conviction that neither the Darkish Lord nor Mithrandir is our man. So, to evaluate who our magical pal could possibly be, we first must debunk who it virtually actually isn’t.
The Tolkien lore that may reveal the Stranger’s identification
Picture: Prime Video
One of many major causes that persons are satisfied that that is both Gandalf or Sauron is as a result of showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne all however confirmed it to be a determine of comparable standing in Self-importance Honest’s 10 Burning Questions interview:
Effectively, I’d say [Gandalf, Radagast, and Saruman] usually are not the one beings, these names, in that class. So possibly, however possibly not. And the thriller and the journey of it’s all the enjoyable, I’d say.
That is an fascinating reply, as a result of it factors to the opposite “beings” and “names” of the category the wizards — generally known as Istari — share: They’re all Maiar, that means they’re form of like angels. The Valar, who’re above them, are nearer to gods or celestial beings. To place it as plainly as doable, Meteor Man might be a Maiar spirit, which is what each Gandalf and Sauron are. However so are the opposite Istari, together with the mysterious Blue Wizards, in addition to the Balrogs, amongst others. Meteor Man might due to this fact be certainly one of many individuals — that’s to not point out the likelihood he is also a very authentic character.
Is the Stranger Sauron?
Picture: New Line Cinema
However once more, the perfect plan of action right here is to argue why it most likely isn’t Sauron and undoubtedly isn’t Gandalf. The previous returns to Center-earth 500 years into the Second Age, skulking round like a nasty odor. After his grasp’s defeat within the First Age, Sauron is compelled to rebuild his energy and military discreetly, so rocketing his method again to Center-earth in a literal fireball would most likely be fairly counterintuitive. In Tolkien’s writing, he returns as Annatar, dubbed the “Lord of Presents,” and tips the Elves of Eregion into forging the Rings of Energy — which, you realize, is type of the identify of the present, and due to this fact more likely to be an vital a part of it.
There’s an argument that viewers will acknowledge “Annatar” as Sauron the deceiver, and so the onus could also be on Amazon to introduce him otherwise. Some folks suppose that Halbrand, Galadriel’s new pal, will find yourself turning into the Darkish Lord in his stead. It’s not the cleverest principle — Galadriel is the one individual in Eregion to mistrust Annatar within the books, so having her be the one who’s betrayed within the present could be a disservice to her character. Clearly, an concept being dangerous doesn’t fully low cost it from being realized — however McKay and Payne have confirmed time and time once more that they’re avid Tolkien followers in the beginning, so whereas sure liberties is perhaps taken in response to the established lore, it’s unlikely that it is going to be completely dismissed.
So whether or not Sauron is Annatar, Halbrand, or another person, what we all know is that he’s not allowed into the Elven kingdom of Lindon, based by Excessive King Gil-galad in the beginning of the Second Age. It is because each Elrond and Gil-galad himself are in a position to odor his evilness from a mile away.
One other fascinating factor is that this model of Galadriel can be actively looking Sauron. She refuses to return to Aman, swimming again towards Center-earth shortly earlier than being accepted into Valinor, and she or he won’t relaxation till she avenges her brother. There’s additionally some humorous enterprise occurring in Arondir and Bronwyn’s arc, in that they’re based mostly in a brand new village created by Amazon that’s set in west-central Mordor. Sauron’s orcs are gathering power, which is indicative of the key development of Barad-dur (depicted in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy because the tower with Sauron’s eye) from round S.A. 1000 onward. Mainly, Sauron is being very quiet, and the one transfer left in his playbook is to make use of his appeal and attractiveness to intensify his aptitude for persuasion (this can be a massive deal, as a result of it is just when Sauron is defeated on the finish of the collection that he’s not in a position to tackle a “truthful” look).
Merely put: Why on Center-earth would Sauron announce his return by remodeling himself right into a taking pictures star seen by mainly everybody on the continent? Not a really Darkish Lord transfer.
That’s to not point out the very fact the form of the influence crater resembles the Eye of Sauron from Jackson’s trilogy, which might be an egregiously, condescendingly apparent reference. Normally, when a present introduces a number of pink herrings — lots of which contradict one another — probably the most logical plan of action is to ignore all of them equally.
Which brings us to Gandalf.
So is the meteor Stranger Gandalf?
Picture: Mark Pokorny/Warner Bros. Photos
In some ways, Gandalf looks like the plain identification of this mysterious determine. He’s discovered and helped by harfoots, which neatly aligns along with his later affection for hobbits. The character of his arrival through flaming meteorite can be apt, in that he’s the Istar related to hearth. He’s, fairly clearly, a frail previous man with lengthy gray hair and a formidable beard — all options of the fana, or bodily manifestation, of the Maiar who change into Istari.
However the hobbit level is way too apparent a pink herring. His affinity for hearth is referenced a number of occasions in Tolkien’s writing (probably the most well-known instance being on the Bridge of Khazad-dum the place, after saying “You can not cross!” he says, “I’m the servant of the Secret Hearth, wielder of the Flame of Anor!”), that means he fairly actually wields the fiery wrath of the solar.
However the largest foil right here is the timeline. Gandalf arrives in Center-earth in across the tenth century of the Third Age, which is roughly three millennia after the occasions we’re witnessing in The Rings of Energy. Certain, time compression could possibly be at play — and certain might be given the emphasis on Elrond’s recognition of 20 years as fleeting — however that’s quite a lot of time to breeze previous. Additionally, the harfoots and Elves see the meteor on the similar time, and are additionally geographically fairly shut to 1 one other in that solely the backbone of the Misty Mountains separates Eregion from the Gladden River. All of which is to say: Gandalf receiving Narya, the Elven Ring of Hearth, when he landed in Center-earth is an important half not simply of Tolkien’s legendarium, however of his identification because the Istar of Hearth. That burning crater could also be a transparent visible reference to Gandalf, however in-universe it’s additionally too early in his timeline to have such a connection.
Additionally, let’s zoom in on Gandalf, probably the most humble of the Istari and the one one who finally succeeds in his mission, regardless of initially wanting to remain in Aman resulting from his worry of Sauron. You suppose this man is making probably the most audacious entrance within the historical past of Center-earth? Nah. He sails throughout, like the opposite Istari, and wanders round making associates with little hobbits. He doesn’t hurtle headlong by way of the sky in an precise meteorite. And by way of the Stranger’s look as an previous man… Numerous persons are previous. Center-earth doesn’t perform on the idea of “Previous man with a beard? Wizard confirmed.”
The Stranger is perhaps another person completely
Picture: Prime Video
With all of this being stated, it is sensible for the Stranger to be a brand new character, of which we have already got just a few. Tolkien as soon as stated that the hobbits weren’t as much as a lot throughout the Second Age, so the spotlighting of the harfoots is an effective solution to improve their significance alongside an authentic wizard (he’s, in fact, some form of wizard or magical, what with the bizarre Stormcrow shouting that apparently impacts the climate).
It’s additionally doable that he could possibly be a conflation of the 2 Blue Wizards, who initially ventured to Center-earth within the Third Age, however have been later retconned into the Second Age by Tolkien himself. The Stranger’s nakedness and clear lapses in reminiscence are aligned with this.
Within the books, Gandalf speaks to his personal nakedness previous his resurrection as Gandalf the White, noting, “Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I cannot inform. Bare I used to be despatched again — for a quick time, till my activity is completed.” In the meantime, Tolkien wrote about Maiar having to get used to their corporeal our bodies, which makes the sending of the 2 Blue Wizards — or an authentic character — pretty credible, in that it might have been a form of prototype, experiment sort of factor. This explains the Stranger’s reminiscence loss, incapability to talk, speedy fatigue, and superior magical energy in a single fell swoop. It’s additionally a bit foolish.
Personally, I’m into the concept of it being Glorfindel, who dies combating a Balrog within the First Age and is introduced again as an emissary of the Valar in S.A. 1600. That is unlikely in that Meteor Man is, you realize, a person, versus a classically good-looking elf. The principle motive this may be cool is as a result of Glorfindel was completed soiled in Jackson’s trilogy, and completely deserves to be in The Rings of Energy regardless of at present not being listed within the solid. However once more, the Stranger’s look doesn’t precisely scream “elf who was allowed to dwell with gods earlier than being despatched again as an angelic emissary to domesticate lasting peace all through the realm.” Disappointing.
The final chance for who this could possibly be if it isn’t an authentic character is Tilion, a minor Maiar spirit who controls the moon. There are two poems about him in Tolkien’s legendarium — one from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, the opposite from The Fellowship of the Ring. These are referred to as “The Man within the Moon Got here Down Too Quickly” and “The Man within the Moon Stayed Up Too Late,” and the previous incorporates the next stanza:
He twinkled his ft, as he considered the meat,of pepper, and punch galore;And he tripped unaware on his slanting stair,and like a meteor,A star in flight, ere Xmas one nightflickering down he fellFrom his laddery path to a foaming bathin the windy Bay of Bel.
The meteor on this poem lands far-off from our harfoot associates, and whereas the Stranger seems to be in a stupor, he’s unlikely to have been overindulging in punch. It’s, nonetheless, one of many solely mentions of an precise meteor in Tolkien, and Tilion is a Maiar, making McKay and Payne’s standing as lore specialists and feedback concerning the Maiar as a “class” fascinating, on the very least. Once more although, it’s unlikely to be Tilion — largely as a result of there’s little motive to introduce him.
Or possibly it’s Tom Bombadil, misunderstanding his personal powers and unintentionally summoning a meteor that carries him midway throughout Center-earth earlier than crashing into the bottom someplace east of the Misty Mountains. Possibly he befriends the harfoots right here and migrates west to The Shire alongside them — which might make sense! It will clarify their absence from S.A. historical past, in that he might assist them consciously keep out of it, whereas this overarching setup might doubtlessly present some fascinating backstory for why the One Ring has no management over Tom.
I imply, it’s most likely not Tom Bombadil, however rattling, I want it was.
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