The Rings of Power is a step closer to unmasking the identity of the Stranger with a very subtle The Lord of the Rings reference. While Daniel Weyman plays the character of "The Stranger," this character is certainly one of the show's biggest mysteries.
In the latest and the final episode of The Rings of Power season 2, the show confirms The Stranger is a wizard. Also previously, when Tom Bombadil and the Stranger appear briefly in season 2, episode 6, titled, "Where Is He?", the wise Middle-earth dweller attempts to guide the Istari to their destiny.
They make their way to the woods, where the Stranger is supposed to find a staff. Yet he fears that this will take his attention from saving Nori and Poppy, who are in growing danger. In response, Bombadil tells him;
"Many that die deserve life, some that live deserve death. Who are you to give it to them?"
This reminds the viewers of one of the quotes of Gandalf, in J.R.R. Tolkien's book, Lord of the Rings books. This therefore poses the possibility that the showrunners are, indirectly suggesting that The Stranger is Gandalf.
How does The Rings of Power hint that The Stranger is Gandalf?
By the end of season 2 of The Rings of Power, it is revealed that the Stranger is indeed an Istar. In The Lord of the Rings, the Istari refers to the five wizards who make their way to Middle-earth to fight Sauron.
Another notable clue lies in the Stranger's relationship with the Harfoots which is something akin to Gandalf's friendship with the Hobbits, add to that the large extent of magic, the desire to save Middle-earth, and whisper spells to insects, and it gets very hard for the viewers who are familiar with the past shows, movies and the books to not draw parallels.
Even when the Dweller and her folk confirm that the Stranger is an Istar, he doesn't remember his name or life before arriving in Middle-earth. At the end of episode 8 of The Rings of Power, when he talks to Nori, he gets a hint about his identity.
“Always follow your nose."
Gandalf says the same thing in The Fellowship of the Ring when talking to Merry, which strongly suggests that he and the Stranger are the same person.
Fans reacting to The Rings of Power hinting The Stranger is Gandalf
Istar presented himself for the first time in season 1. The viewers of The Rings of Power have had a long road since then to decode his real identity. From finding his voice, discovering his magical powers, and making new friendships amid his journey through Rhûn, the character has been discovering himself.
Viewers of the show realize that the Stranger is Gandalf at the end of season 1. However, he somehow still remains a mystery, and the question about his actual identity has never been answered. While season 2 still hasn't shed much light on the mystery, it has shown some hints, and here’s how our viewers build their opinion around the character of The Stranger.
One Reddit user wrote;
“It’s Gandalf. Some people won’t accept that until he does Ancestry DNA on the show… but its Gandalf. Looks like Gandalf acts like Gandalf, sounds like Gandalf, talks like Gandalf… it’s Gandalf.”
A second user commented on The Stranger's relationship with the Hobbits saying;
“Also his connection to the Hobbits is very Gandalf-like. Is such a Gandalf thing to do to take a hobbit on an adventure.”
Another Reddit user commented on how the creators of the show have revolved two seasons creating suspense on the user's identity.
“They spent a whole season making a mystery of who he is and isn't. If it isn't Gandalf then the writers are just here to jerk the lot of us around. It is Gandalf by a mile.”
If you want to solve the mystery behind finding out the identity of The Stranger. Follow The Rings of Powers available to stream on Prime Video.
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