The Real Gandalf Still Won’t Appear In The Rings Of Power Season 3

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Even though the ending of season 2 was surprising, the actual Gandalf won’t show up in season 3 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The show does feature many characters we already know from Middle-earth lore, like Galadriel, Sauron, and Elrond, and they all play significant parts throughout the history of this fantasy world.

The mysterious character known as the Stranger also has a complex backstory. He first appears with no memory of his past, but quickly forms a bond with the Harfoots, an early group related to the Hobbits. While season one of The Rings of Power established him as an Istar – a Wizard – season two delved deeper, finally revealing his true identity and offering clues about where he came from.

At the end of season 2 of The Rings of Power, the Stranger rescues Nori and Poppy from the Dark Wizard. Afterwards, they travel with the Stoors to help them find a new place to live. The Stranger remains behind to study with Tom Bombadil, hoping to learn how to defeat the Dark Wizard and prevent him from spreading darkness throughout Middle-earth.

The Stranger introduces himself as Gandalf, a name he adopted after being called a ‘great Elf’ by the Stoors. This strongly suggests he’s the same Gandalf we know from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. However, even though he confirms his identity as Gandalf, he’s not exactly the same character as before – he’s different in some way.

Why The Rings Of Power Hasn’t Shown The Real Gandalf (& Can’t)

Though currently known as The Stranger, the character won’t be called Gandalf in future seasons of The Rings of Power. He’s currently focused on fighting the Dark Wizard and preventing his evil from spreading beyond Rhǔn.

This highlights that he remains committed to protecting the vulnerable and fighting against evil in Middle-earth. However, Gandalf’s personality is largely defined by his experiences throughout the Third Age, including his relationships with Hobbits, Elves, and Dwarves, as well as his struggles against Sauron.

The Gandalf we see in The Rings of Power is an earlier version of the character, existing before the events of The Lord of the Rings. Because he hasn’t lived through the experiences that shaped the Gandalf most people know, this version is naturally quite different. He’s not the same Gandalf, as he hasn’t had the chance to become him yet.

Why Gandalf Being In The Rings Of Power Creates A Canon Plot Hole

Adding Gandalf to the story of The Rings of Power creates a problem with established lore, as it doesn’t quite fit with the broader history of Middle-earth. According to J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, Gandalf began as a celestial being named Olórin in Valinor before being sent to Middle-earth in the guise of an old man.

As a huge Tolkien fan, I always understood Gandalf to show up in Middle-earth during the Third Age, as one of the last of the five Wizards. Apparently, he was given the Ring of Fire, Narya, by the Elf Círdan early on – that was one of his first big moments when he arrived. But the new show, The Rings of Power, totally changes things! They show him arriving way earlier, in the Second Age, falling from the sky and keeping to himself with the Harfoots. It’s a pretty different take on his beginnings!

As a viewer, I think The Rings of Power could cleverly sidestep the issue of Gandalf’s early arrival by going one of two routes. Either they could have him spend a good portion of the story off in Rhûn, keeping his return to Middle-earth a secret from everyone except the Hobbits. Or, they could bring him into the story later, but under a different name – essentially laying the groundwork for the Gandalf we know, allowing him to age and become the familiar figure we recognize when he officially arrives.

Regardless of how the story unfolds, the Gandalf we see in The Rings of Power will inevitably be distinct from the Gandalf known from the later stories. The series can certainly show him growing into some of the traits we associate with him, but the show’s version of Gandalf is ultimately set to be quite different from the one experienced in Middle-earth’s Third Age.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 arrives on Prime Video in late 2026.

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2026-04-24 18:41