Amazon Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerhas introduced Gandalf into proceedings, and now may look toThe Hobbitfor inspiration on how to handle him in season 1. WhileThe Rings of Powerseason 1 endingrevealed original character Halbrand as Sauron, the season 2 ending revealed the Stranger as Gandalf, leaving audiences to wonder about the extent of his memory loss throughout season 1. Peter Jackson’sThe Hobbitmovies may be able to offer some explanation around this pushing ahead into further seasons.
As one ofLord of the Rings’five Istari, Gandalf was a powerful demigod Maia, the order just under the Valar, who were second only to the God of Middle-earth himself. Although the idea of an elderly man stumbling along leaning on a walking stick is now associated with Wizards, at the time J.R.R. Tolkien first publishedLord of the Rings, this was a delightfully new concept to most. Veiling divine power is key to the concept of real magic inLotR.The Hobbitexplained how this was related to Gandalf and his past, whichThe Rings of Powermay refer to.
There’s A Canon Explanation For Why Gandalf Forgets The Blue Wizards' Names In The Hobbit
Gandalf Wasn’t Just Senile In The Hobbit Movies
Gandalf hilariously forgot the names of his fellow IstariinThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but there was a canon reason for this. This relates back toThe Rings of Power, as it may suggest a way forward for the Stranger’s journey. Fans ofPeter Jackson’sHobbitandLord of the Ringstrilogiesor otherwise eagle-eyed viewers may have picked up on the behind-the-scenes relevance of Gandalf forgetting the names of the Blue Wizards. While riding toward their mission, Bilbo was asking Gandalf about his past, necessitating him to explain about the other wizards.
Unfinished Taleswas compiled of finished and unfinished Tolkien works from various times in his life and was published in 1980.
While Gandalf was able to mention Saruman, he wasn’t able to remember the names of theLord of the Rings’Blue Wizards. Since the Blues weren’t mentioned by name in eitherThe HobbitorThe Lord of the Rings, which Peter Jackson had the full rights to adapt,Jackson couldn’t use their names. These names were only mentioned inUnfinished Talesand some parts ofThe History of Middle-earth. However, canonically, the Istari “had need to learn much anew by slow experience,” according toUnfinished Tales. They lost some of their memory, which is far easier to adapt than names.
The Rings Of Power Can Use The Same Reasoning To Explain The Stranger Not Recognizing Rhûn’s Dark Wizard
If The Stranger And The Dark Wizard Are Both Istari, They Might Recognize Each Other
While adapting a Blue Wizards' name would be a clear breach of a rights agreement, adapting forgetfulness is far easier to argue as an idea in one’s own right, which could support the Stranger’s arc inRings of Power. Like theLotRmovies,The Rings of Powerisn’t allowed to contradict the canon written by legendary British writer J.R.R. Tolkien any more than it is allowed to use vetoed material, existing in a fragile balance.Gandalf not recognizing the Dark Wizard inRings of Powercould be a canon-backed rights move, much likeGandalf’s forgetting the Blue Wizards' names inThe Hobbit.
How The Valar & Maiar Are Different In The Lord Of The Rings Explained
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the Valar and the Maiar have a mysterious presence and the difference between the two is often confused.
The Rings of Powerhas full rights to the same material as the movies, and therefore finds itself in the same quandary as the movies regarding the Blue Wizards' names or the name of any other Istar.Rings of Power’sDark Wizarddeclared himself an Istar, keeping his name to himself.The Istari were all Maiar working together under the Valarbefore the Valar sent them all to Middle-earth to oppose Sauron, so it really stands to reason that the Stranger would recall the Dark Wizard. But the show can use the same rationale asThe Hobbitfor its forgetful Gandalf.
The Rings Of Power’s Gandalf Story Is Already Leaning Into This Bit Of Tolkien Lore
The Stranger In Rings Of Power Is Forgetful
Gandalf may have forgotten his fellow Wizards inThe Rings of Power, but the show has not forgotten the key Tolkien lore behind it. InUnfinished Tales, it is stated of the Istari (Wizards inLord of the Rings’Elvish language of Quenya) that “the Blessed Realm was to them a vision from afar off.” The Blessed Realm being Valinor, located in Aman, the Istari were only dimly in remembrance of their former lives when they arrived in Middle-earth. As per this lore inUnfinished Tales,the Stranger clearly can’t remember his pastat first inRings of Power.
Daniel Weyman plays the Stranger inRings of Power, while Ciarán Hinds plays the Dark Wizard.
This lore fueled one of the main arcs ofRings of Powerseason 2- Nori helped the Stranger investigate his identity and what urgent errand he was sent on. Traveling to Rhûn, this heartwarming double act found more than they bargained for in the form of the Stoors, the Gaudrim, and the Dark Wizard. Yet, it took a cameo from Tom Bombadil for the Stranger’s penny to truly drop. The Stoors' “Grand-Elf” nickname for the Stranger andTom Bombadil’s council led to the Stranger finally understanding that he was to be called Gandalf, but he hasn’t quite recalled his compatriot Istar.
The Istari came into a greater understanding of themselves and their pasts gradually.
Given thatThe Rings of Powerseason 1 ended with the Sauron identity reveal and season 2 ended with the Gandalf identity reveal, season 3 will probably unveil the identity of the Dark Wizard. While the show can canonically support Gandalf’s poor memory for now, it would make sense for him to eventually remember who the other Wizards were. As per the books, the Istari came into a greater understanding of themselves and their pasts gradually. But thankfully forThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,The Hobbitset the stage already for this long-running character development.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
