Who is the Dark Wizard in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? The options:
As a die-hard fan with over two decades of immersion in the magical realm of Middle-earth, I must say that the second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has me both enthralled and slightly perplexed.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video is the second season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” Already accessible for viewing are the initial three episodes. In one of the series’ intriguing storylines, a character shrouded in mystery called simply The Stranger embarks on a journey to the desert realm of Rhûn accompanied by his companions Nori and Poppy, the harfeet. There, he encounters lieutenants of another enigmatic figure locally known as the Dark Wizard, with whom he engages in a confrontation.
The enigmatic figures of the Stranger and the Dark Wizard remain cloaked in secrecy, which admittedly grows tedious. One might wonder how many nameless magical beings with wands can a story contain? Yet, delving into the lore of The Lord of the Rings, there are limited possibilities for who these characters could be.
In the realm of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” there are five enigmatic beings referred to as the Istari: Gandalf, who is most renowned; Saruman, initially a leader among the Istari but later allies with Sauron; Radagast, who has a deep affinity for nature and was a significant figure in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” films; and two lesser-known wizards named Alatar and Pallando, whose histories are largely unknown.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s book “The Silmarillion,” the Istari are divine beings who assume the appearance of old men. They were dispatched from the sacred land of Aman (the destination for elves when they depart from Middle-earth) to assist the inhabitants of Middle-earth in their battle against Sauron. Mostly confined to the western part of Middle-earth, Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast were present, but Alatar and Pallando are believed to have ventured eastward, aiming to curtail Sauron’s power in that region. It is also worth noting that Rhûn, a land situated in the eastern part of Middle-earth, may be affected by their absence or influence.
Could it be that the enigmatic character known as The Stranger and the ominous figure called The Dark Wizard are in fact Alatar and Pallando? These wizards, who have the least information surrounding them, offer the creators of The Rings of Power the greatest flexibility when constructing their narratives. I strongly believe that this possibility is not far-fetched at all.
To put it another way, if these two wizards are indeed Alatar and Pallando, then the storyline has already been established in canon. In “The Silmarillion,” we discover that Alatar and Pallando arrived in Middle-earth simultaneously, and there’s no indication of either one experiencing amnesia.
Additionally, the series has given several indications that the enigmatic figure could be none other than Gandalf, as he has been known to utter phrases similar to “follow your nose,” which is something Gandalf says in “The Fellowship of the Ring.” However, this interpretation contradicts the original source material, as there’s no evidence in Tolkien’s books suggesting that Gandalf engages in such activities. It seems plausible that the creators are simply expanding upon the storyline, but it does feel like a stretch.
Essentially, no matter what transpires in the show, it appears to deviate from established lore, making it challenging to definitively identify these characters based solely on the original sources. One theory suggests that the Dark Wizard could be Saruman, who later allies with Sauron during the War of the Ring. However, if this is true, it would imply that Saruman was initially evil in Rhûn, then switched allegiances and fought against Sauron as a member of the Istari, only to eventually betray everyone again. This seems rather convoluted. I’m inclined to believe that the Dark Wizard is not Saruman.
Currently, it seems plausible to me that the Stranger is actually Gandalf, given the numerous signs pointing in this direction, and I’m speculating that the Dark Wizard could be either Alatar or Pallando. However, the truth will only reveal itself with time. New episodes of The Rings of Power are available every Thursday on Prime Video.
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2024-08-30 19:42