Tolkien writes of a mysterious pair of “Blue Wizards.” Are they the real identities of the Stranger and the Dark Wizard in Rings of Power season 2?
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power features some characters that fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth know well – Galadriel, Elrond, and Sauron being among them. But there two characters in the show’s second season that we only might know, and both of them just happen to be wizards – The Stranger and the Dark Wizard, to be specific. Now, when you use the phrase “two wizards in Lord of the Rings,” most fans’ minds jump to a possible, if obvious, answer to their identities. But is that obvious answer the correct one?
Let’s put on our pointy thinking caps and discuss.
Is the Stranger actually Gandalf, and is the Dark Wizard actually Saruman?
There are a whole bunch of reasons to believe that Daniel Weyman’s The Stranger is actually an amnesiac Gandalf; his appearance, love of halflings, and obvious wizard power among them. Perhaps most convincing of all is the fact that The Stranger is referred to as Olórin in the first season, which is a name for Gandalf. Ciarán Hinds’s Dark Wizard, on the other hand, is harder to make the case for as being Saruman, as the character was certainly not evil at the time of Rings of Power. Besides bearing a certain likeness to him, there’s not much that ties this Dark Wizard to Saruman.
But the thing is, a likeness to a known character is something that Rings of Power has played on before. Think of the character of Halbrand in the first season, how Aragorn-esque he appeared when we first encountered the “lost king of the Southlands.” We know now, however, that that was just a diversion – and we can’t help but wonder if the similarities to Gandalf and Saruman that the wizards exude is just another wool thrown over our eyes.
Still, if they aren’t the future White Wizards, who could these characters be? Well, J.R.R. Tolkien might’ve already told us.
Who are the Blue Wizards in Lord of the Rings
In Tolkien’s Unfinished Tales and The Simarillion, which are books set in Middle-Earth that occasionally expand upon the events of Lord of the Rings, the seminal fantasy author makes mention of a pair of mysterious “Blue Wizards” that come from Valinor just like Gandalf, Saruman, and Radaghast. The author gives very little explanation as to what role the wizards play in the history of Middle-Earth, in fact, he was known to have rewritten their histories at least two times.
What we know for sure of the Blue Wizards is that they were called Alatar and Pallando, which translate to “Darkness Slayer” and “East-Helper” respectively (more on that in a sec). We also know that whatever mission the Valar gave them upon sending them to Middle-Earth is one that they failed, seeing as Gandalf is considered the only faithful Istari (wizard) by the end of The Lord of the Rings. But perhaps the most important thing we know about the Blue Wizards, for our purposes at least, is where their mostly-unwritten adventures take place.
That is, the eastern province of Rhûn, where both the Stranger and the Dark Wizard are spending season 2.
Are the Blue Wizards in Rings of Power?
With that in mind, we think it’s at least very possible that the Stranger and the Dark Wizard are, in fact, the Blue Wizards of Tolkien’s legendarium. From a creator’s perspective, this would leave the characters unbound by what’s already been established about Gandalf and Saruman, and with Rhûn largely unexplored in Tokien’s works, there would be plenty of new stuff to add to Amazon’s little corner of Middle-Earth, without breaking any canon. In fact, Tolkien’s canon says that Gandalf and Saruman weren’t even in Middle-Earth in the Second Age (when Rings of Power is set), but that the Blue Wizards were.
If this theory is true, it admittedly predicts a dark future for both Weyman’s and Hinds’s character. As we mentioned before, Gandalf is the only Istari to actually succeed in his mission to Middle-Earth, meaning that these potentially Blue Wizards would fail in keeping with continuity. What that failure could be, whether death or corruption toward evil, is yet to be seen.
But we sure know it won’t be good.
For more Rings of Power explainers, keep your palantir pointed toward Popverse.
News
HUMILIATED! Major newspaper reveals Harry’s PRIVATE EMAILS about his 40th birthday
Prince Harry’s recent actions have once again raised eyebrows and sparked criticism. By sending exclusive emails to People magazine about his 40th birthday plans and personal reflections, he has seemingly contradicted his previous stance on media privacy. This move, coupled…
PAY UP! Emotional fallout of Harry and Meghan’s £100,000 tax crisis revealed
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s financial struggles in Montecito Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move to Montecito, California, was met with much fanfare and speculation. The couple purchased a $14 million mansion, and many people assumed that they would be…
Prince Harry scrapped his birthday plan ‘last minute due to Kate Middleton’
Prince Harry, turning 40, will celebrate with Meghan Markle and their children, Archie and Lilibet, unlike his 30th birthday. Prince Harry is turning 40, and will celebrate the birthday with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, who will…
Prince William mimics Prince Harry, causing fans to go wild over the royal family’s “stunning new look”
Prince William has remained by Kate Middleton’s side throughout her cancer battle Prince William embraced the last few moments of a cool summer with an edgy look rarely seen on royal men. The Prince of Wales showed off his new…
Meghan Markle unfazed by trauma she inflicted on Royal family
Meghan Markle comes under fire for having no regrets over Royal family attacks Meghan Markle appears unfazed by the trauma she has inflicted on the members of the royal family with his antics, a royal commentator has pointed out. Speaking…
Meghan Markle recalls trying to sneak around NYC incognito without Harry: ‘So uncomfortable being out in the world’
Meghan Markle recalled having to sneak off incognito to New York City in a desperate bid to find “safety” during her time as a senior member of the royal family. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, made a surprise appearance at the…
End of content
No more pages to load