For much of its first season, The Rings of Power has used a number of mysteries to drive its plot forward. One of the most fascinating, and frustrating, of these is the identity of the Stranger, who came crashing to earth in a giant meteor.
Fans have spent many hours speculating on just who he is, since his identity will clearly play a major role in the events of the Second Age. The users of Reddit, in particular, have come up with a number of compelling theories as to who this person is and what he is now doing in Middle-earth.
Gandalf
During The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf is one of the most powerful beings in Middle-earth. He also happens to be one of the most compelling candidates for being the Stranger. ProgressMom68 writes: “It’s definitely Gandalf. The big tell was how he talked to the fireflies.”
This is an apt remark, as it is a clear parallel to the moments in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit where Gandalf is shown to have a strong relationship with the moth. What’s more, the Stranger being Gandalf would help to explain why the wizard has such a strong connection and fondness for the hobbits of the Third Age.
Tom Bombadil
Few characters in Tolkien’s legendarium are quite as strange, enigmatic, and entertaining as Tom Bombadil. Though excised from Jackson’s films, he has long continued to be a fan favorite.
Pitbulljones thinks that he stands a good chance of being the Stranger: “My immediate thoughts were he’s Tom Bombadil. Does it make sense? Not at all. But he’s regarded as being of from someplace beyond all realms, attuned to nature and of incomprehensible power. It’s one character many have wanted to see portrayed on screen.” While this might flout some of the established rules of Tolkiens’ universe, there is no doubt that it would be a balm to many fans’ souls to see Bombadil at last brought to life on screen.
Sauron
Sauron is one of the most iconic and powerful fantasy villains. He is also the major antagonist of the Second Age, since he is the one who encourages the Elves to craft the Rings of Power. Emilior11 writes: “Other evidence that he is Sauron – or at least a force of evil – is the moment where the Hobbits enter the crater of fire and find it cool.”
This is, indeed, a compelling piece of evidence. Among other things, it is important to remember that the One Ring similarly feels cool to the touch when Frodo encounters it in Fellowship.
Radagast
Radagast is one of the best characters in The Hobbit. Zany and quite unusual, he is one of those characters who comes closest to the spirit of the original novel. He is also a leading candidate for the Stranger.
Jummas has this to say: “ It could also be Radagast before he abandoned his mission.” This theory has a lot going for it. Among other things, the Stranger’s obvious connection to nature–shown in his bond with the fireflies and in his ability to bring the scorched grove back to life–are exactly those traits with which Radagast would come to be associated in the Third Age.
The Blue Wizards
The Blue Wizards have often exerted a powerful hold on the fandom’s imagination. Much of this stems from the fact that there is so little known about them. They are often only briefly mentioned in the canonical writings, and this is precisely why so many Redditors believe they might actually be the Stranger.
OriginalToIgnition writes: “Your points combined with a Tolkien revision stating the blue wizards showed up around the time of the forging of the rings really has me convinced this is Alatar or Pallando.” Given that the Blue Wizards, like Gandalf and the others, were sent to counter the power of Sauron as he began to rise again, this definitely seems like it could be proven true in the rest of the season.
The Man In The Moon
Those who have read The Lord of the Rings no doubt fondly remember the moment when Frodo sings the elaborate song about the Man in the Moon, who is known elsewhere as Tilion. Though it’s a moment of levity in the books, there are those in the Reddit community who think this character might be the Stranger.
Vgkosmoes has this to say: “What if the folklore is based on the actual meeting between Tilion and the Harfoots?” This is arguably one of the most interesting theories, as it thinks outside the box of the established lore and mythology of Middle-earth as most viewers have come to understand it.
A Balrog
Many fascinating creatures occupy Middle-earth, and one of the most terrifying is the Balrog. One has already been revealed in The Rings of Power, and there are those who think that the Stranger might also be one of these winged monsters, though in a different form.
Scorpio989 theorizes that the Stranger is a “Fallen Maiar. The sword will probably corrupt/restore his memories, and show us he is the Balrog shown in the trailer.” They also point out the heavy symbolism of the apple, one of the most notorious symbols of betrayal in western iconography.
Saruman
Saruman is one of the most notable villains of The Lord of the Rings. Like Gandalf and Radagast, he was one of those who was sent to Middle-earth to fight against Sauron, so it makes sense that he might be the Stranger.
Danny_tooine has a very interesting theory of why this might be the case, as the Stranger being Saruman “Explains why there’s both good guy and bad guy vibes from him.” Given the significant role that Saruman will come to play, both in the lives of the hobbits and in the affairs of the Third Age, it would be fascinating to see him emerge as a character in the Rings of Power.
An Invented Maia
Among the many beings created by Tolkien, the Maiar are among the most important. Thus, it’s inevitable that some would see the Stranger as potentially being one of these entities, given how much power he wields.
Haradan-Thalion puts it this way: “I still believe that the Stranger is some kind of first attempt to send maiar to Middle-earth in the 2nd age (invented by the show).” This is arguably one of the most compelling theories, becaus it would bypass the problem of the Stranger being an already-established character, and it would allow it to have a bit more freedom when it comes to what he is capable of doing plot-wise.
Olórin
According to Tolkien’s writings, Gandalf (as one of the Istari), Saruman and Radagast did not arrive until the Third Age, once Sauron had begun to rise again. To this end, Redditors have come up with some clever explanations for how the series might bypass this narrative roadblock.
kpsIndy says: “Who’s to say meteor man isn’t Olórin, but in another form? This canonically keeps “Gandalf” out of Middle Earth but allows for a sort of proto-Istari to show up in the 2A.” This is a very clever theory, as it helps to explain why Gandalf would take such a special interest in hobbits without making too flagrant a violation of the established lore.
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