The New Wizard of the Rings could be Gandalf the Younger or the Blue Wizard

Summary

• The Rings of Power season 1 finale confirmed that the show's mysterious Stranger is a wizard, but his identity has yet to be confirmed.
• The Rings of Power season 2 trailer suggests that the Stranger may be a young Gandalf who breaks the law but fits into Tolkien's lore.
• The Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando, are potential identities that offer a new twist to the mysterious figure in Rings of Power.

The first season The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has given fans a few key questions to answer, but the true identity of his sorcerer Stranger (Daniel Weyman) remains one of its biggest unsolved mysteries. Audiences now know that this character is a wizard who appears in a new, unwritten story in JRR Tolkien's lore. But which wizard—Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast—is now a puzzle, and it's ScreenRant's. The Rings of Power Podcast trying to answer.

closing moments of Rings of powerThe finale of the first season may have teased fans too much, leading many to take the inclusion of Gandalf's dialogue as a clear confirmation: this is the young Gandalf, appearing centuries before him (in the Third Age mission). This has yet to be confirmed to be the case, but surprisingly, it won't “disrupt the timeline” as some enthusiasts have assumed. All this is discussed at length in the latest episode The Rings of Power Podcast: “Is the Stranger Young Gandalf, the Blue Wizard, or Neither?” installed below:

Hosts Andrew Dyce and Stephen Colbert take an in-depth look at the existing lore, ideas and potential stories that Tolkien sketched or discussed during his lifetime. Rings of power writers have a place to fill their fiction. But when considering the evidence for the show's Weirdness, two main theories seem more likely to prove true.

Yes, the New Wizard of the Rings Might Be Gandalf the Younger

A new “origin story” for Gandalf may fit existing knowledge, but it's still only a theory

By necessity, any uncorrupted wizard will “act like Gandalf”, even if he simply exhibits the same qualities, knowledge, or understanding that is reserved for all five Istari.

To direct our attention directly to the big problem with this theory, it is true that Gandalf first appears in Middle-earth in the early Third Century. with Rings of Power Set in the Second Age, Gandalf's arrival would seemingly break the law. Of course, 'canon' does not refer to Tolkien's writing in general, or his writing about wizards in particular, as many ideas were suggested, revised, expanded and abandoned by the author.

For those who would argue with the obvious “violation of canon” if the Stranger turned out to be Gandalf, Tolkien teased that “Olorin” (as he was known in his pre-Istari form) was potentially chosen for the role because of his role. Love of Men and Elves, from earlier experiences in Middle Earth:

“This
Olórin had already visited Middle-earth, as was possible for one of the Maiar.
and the possibility of meeting not only Sindarin Elves and others deeper in Middle-earth, but also Humans, but nothing. [> has yet been] said about it.” – Final Writings, “The Peoples of Middle-earth” (1996)

For clarification: “As possible for Maiar” offers no limitations, but accepts Tolkien's prior knowledge that Maiar can take physical form at will or walk invisibly. The final “nothing has happened yet” the note also suggests that Tolkien intended to investigate this lost history himself. He didn't, but imagining Olori taking a physical form to “meet” the denizens of Middle-earth would tie closely to the Stranger's story thus far. So not confirmed, but within Tolkien's vision.

Given all of the Stranger's similarities to Gandalf, this connection was easily the first connection the viewer made. But there is a big problem with this way of thinking. Gandalf is the only wizard reader whose nature or behavior can be described as “wizard”. Thus, any wizard will simply “act like Gandalf”, even if they display the same qualities, knowledge, or ideas that are meant for all five Istari.

The Mystery of Tolkien's Blue Wizard May Finally Be Solved

Did the show create an answer to the many versions of Tolkien's The Blue Wizards?

The first question everyone should ask in their answer Rings of Power debut of a new wizard, “Could Tolkien have created another wizard like this?” The answer is yes, and with reports that actor Ciaran Hinds will play another wizard in season two, it makes perfect sense that Tolkien actually created two:

“…[T]hey has no other name
Ithryn Luin, “The Blue Wizards”
; Because they reached the goal they were sent to and went to the East. or perish; or…fallen into Sauron's snare and become his servants…strange as it may seem, the Istari incarnated in the bodies of Middle-earth, even Men and Elves turn from their purpose to evil, forgetting good in their search for the power to carry it out.” – Istari, “Númenor and “The Unfinished Tales of Middle-earth” (1980)

Given that Tolkien learned that there were only five Istari when Saruman referred to the “five wizards”, it is not surprising that he only managed to describe three of them in the published article. The Lord of the Rings. Gandalf, Radagast, and Saruman show three different approaches to their shared mission, but the other two “Blue Wizards” stand out as a unit (no indication of what their color refers to). All we know is that they both arrived in the Second Age, went East, or turned evil… or secretly saved Middle Earth.

Tolkien's unpublished ideas for the Blue Wizards would change over time, envisioning a unique mission for them, a connection to Saruman, and even names (listen to the full episode of The Rings of Power Podcast for the full story). as it pertains Rings of PowerTolkien also thought that on their way to the East, the Blue Wizards might be diverted from their mission to destroy Sauron's followers, but instead “founders of secret cults and 'magical' traditions” (Letter #211, “Letters of JRR Tolkien”).

None of these ideas should be considered 'canon' and they haven't been developed enough for the show to agree or disagree with them. But it seems that one wizard is now on a mission to do good in the East, while another is looking for the first way, using the followers of a mystical cult. Rings of Power writers could adapt to multiple versions rather than the single version Tolkien had in mind. If so, then the audience will receive a The Lord of the Rings The prequel adventure was the dream of its creator, but unfortunately he never wrote it himself.

Tolkien named the two Blue Wizards Alatar and Pallando, alternatively Morinehtar and Romestámo, or “dark-slayer” and “East-helper”, although it was never finalized or published.

Be sure to tune in for the full conversation and debate on this and all other topics related to the TV show The Rings of Power Podcast on your favorite podcast app and stay tuned to ScreenRant for all the coverage of the second season and beyond.