Since his appearance at the beginning of season 1 of The Rings of Power, the Stranger has been at the heart of many theories. Many of them tend to suggest that he is Gandalf, especially since it has been confirmed that he was a Mage. But another theory seems much more plausible, while avoiding (too much) questioning the lore of the Middle-earth. And this could be verified as early as season 2 of the Prime Video series, which will debut on August 29, 2024.
The Stranger in the Rings of Power Isn't Gandalf
Acting as a prequel set well before the events of The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Poweris far from having achieved unanimity with its first season. But despite the many criticisms that have been leveled at it, fans cannot help but be interested in the series and multiply theories. Those about the Stranger are particularly numerous.A large part of the viewers were once convinced that it was Gandalf. Of course, this would break the lore imagined by Tolkien, but it would not be the first time, with The Rings of Power.
However, the more time passes, the more difficult it is to imagine that the Stranger is really Gandalf. In fact, more logical – and exciting – theories intrigue us. The most seductive of them is undoubtedly the one according to which the Stranger would be one of the two Ithryn Luin, the “Blue Wizards”. This theory has been popular since the end of season 1 of the Prime Video series, and it was talked about again a few weeks ago, after a rejuvenated version of Saruman was allegedly spotted in a teaser for season 2. So, the series The Rings of Poweris she introducing all the mages?
the blue mages introduced in the prequel series to the lord of the rings?
In the universe imagined by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Istari are five magicians forming the order… of the Magicians. These are Maiar,gods who took humanoid forms in order to serve the Valar. Their leader, Saruman, is well known for having allowed himself to be corrupted by Sauron. Gandalf is the most famous, since he is at the center of The Lord of the Rings and even The Hobbit. Less known to the general public, Radagast is a character about whom we nevertheless have a lot of information. On the other hand, almost nothing is known about the Ithryn Luin (the Sindarin term for “Blue Mages”).
These are said to be named Alatar and Pallando, and were sent to the East of Middle-earth as emissaries of the Vala Orome.Since this region is not explored by Tolkien in his writings, it is logical that the case of the Blue Wizards is never explored in depth. In the novels The Lord of the Rings, they are only mentioned once, indirectly, when Saruman mentions “five wizards”. In the East and South, the two Wizards are said to have founded “secret cults” as well as “magical traditions”, while fighting against the growing influence of Sauron,preventing the Eldar and Dùnedain from succumbing or joining the forces of the Dark Lord.
According to the writings collected by J.R.R. Tolkien's son Christopher, the Blue Wizards are said to have appeared during the latter half of the Second Age, and were at one time given the names Morinehtar (“Darkslayer”) and Rómestámo (“Help of the East”). But the information to their subjects being rare, not always precise, or even contradictory according to the changing ideas of the author, the Ithryn Luin could very well be introduced in The Rings of Power.In fact, it is quite possible that the Stranger is one. The actor Ciaran Hinds also appeared as a mage in the latest teaser: he could embody the second Blue Mage, and not Saruman as some imagine.