Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power offers Gandalf a chance to succeed where he failed with Saruman in The Lord of the Rings. The show teased the mystery of Sauron’s true identity in season 1, the Stranger’s identity in season 2, and season 3 looks set to continue the revelatory trend by confirming who the mysterious Dark Wizard is. Showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne all but admitted that he is one of the Blue Wizards, mysterious Istari whose fates were never confirmed in LotR (Reddit). Gandalf couldn’t save Saruman from darkness, but the Dark Wizard offers him a new project.

Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast, and the Blue Wizards were the five Lord of the Rings Istari sent to Middle-earth by the Valar to oppose Sauron. Sauron corrupted Saruman, who harbored a selfish desire for power anyway, and Radagast chose the birds and the beasts over his mission. But the Blue Wizards “do not come into these tales,” although “great wisdom they had” (The Silmarillion). J.R.R. Tolkien speculated in a letter that they may have turned to Sauron, but they err on the side of good in the main texts. The Dark Wizard could be good, and Gandalf could help him get there.

Gandalf Could Save The Dark Wizard In The Rings Of Power Season 3 (Unlike Saruman)

Gandalf Couldn’t Help Saruman But Could Help The Dark Wizard

Gandalf couldn’t save his fellow Istar, Saruman, from the darkness in The Lord of the Rings, but The Rings of Power season 3 offers him a chance to save another Istar. Saruman deceived the White Council, Gandalf included, leading to his incredibly problematic rise to power in the Third Age. Like Saruman, Rings of Power’s Dark Wizard shows signs of corruption. Now that Gandalf and the Dark Wizard are on the same page about opposing Sauron, Gandalf could keep him on task in season 3, succeeding where he failed with Saruman.

Does Saruman’s Refusal To Change Prove He Was Truly Evil In The Lord Of The Rings?

Saruman’s Wrongdoing Was Different To Sauron And Morgoth’s

Gandalf has a chance to save one of the Blue Wizards from mission failure in Lord of the Rings’ Second Age in Rings of Power, but Saruman may have been beyond redemption. In the Third Age, Saruman’s behavior leading up to his demise revealed a petty, cynical, cruel personality, stuck in his ways. Gríma Wormtongue served him reluctantly but loyally and Saruman mocked him for it sadistically, arrogantly, cruelly, and mercilessly. Frodo spared his life and, instead of repenting, he hated him for it – it didn’t fit with his cynical worldview, frustrating the vindication he sought for his misdeeds.

LotR explores megalomania – hunger for power. In Morgoth’s cynical, nihilistic megalomania, he hated and destroyed what he couldn’t possess. Sauron’s megalomania was neurotically perfectionist and delusional – in his God complex, he thought he was healing the world. Saruman’s megalomania was cynical and under no delusions, but he had respect left in him. “You are wise… you have robbed my revenge of sweetness” he told Frodo with “mingled wonder and respect,” proving distant awareness of his imperfection. Saruman’s self-awareness suggested redeemability, although he remained unsaved. But Gandalf could still save the Dark Wizard in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.