The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 made another massive change to canon, and though controversial, the prequel series just wouldn’t have been worth making without it. Of course, this particular change was teased from the very beginning of Rings of Power season 1, but it was only confirmed in the finale of season 2. The backlash this inspired has been fierce, but it ultimately seems that the Prime Video series simply couldn’t have gotten away with sticking to Tolkien canon in this case. Such an iconic character needed to be involved in a Lord of the Rings prequel.

Of course, the change in question involves the Stranger of Rings of Power being confirmed as Gandalf the Grey. In canon, this Istar didn’t arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age, and he most certainly didn’t crash down in the form of a flaming meteor. Everything from his meeting with Tom Bombadil in Rhûn to his confrontation with the Dark Wizard is an invention of the Prime Video series, and this is a topic of incredible frustration for many Tolkien purists. However, this was a change that was completely worth making since a Lord of the Rings prequel like Rings of Power needed a Gandalf backstory.

Rings Of Power Just Wouldn’t Be Worth It Without A Gandalf Backstory

Gandalf’s Story Is Necessary To Fully Understanding Lord Of The Rings

Gandalf is arguably the most crucial character of The Lord of the Rings. His guidance, sacrifice, and belief in Middle-earth’s smallest, most insignificant beings is the only reason Sauron was defeated. Despite this, the primary stories of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings provide very little in the way of Gandalf’s backstory. Only fans who have done further research, such as reading the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King or The Silmarillion, would know precisely who and what this wizard is. For this reason, Gandalf is a massively misunderstood character.

Since Rings of Power is set entirely in the Second Age, a faithful adaptation would be forced to leave out any organic explanation of Gandalf’s role in the fight against Sauron. This would mean yet another screen adaption lacking the necessary context to understand this character. The entire purpose of a prequel is to add context to familiar and beloved events. Sure, knowing more about Sauron’s reign in the Second Age is essential, but it doesn’t pack the same punch without knowledge of the greatest weapon against the Dark Lord in Middle-earth’s history—Gandalf.

Rings Of Power’s Timeline Changes Are Controversial But Necessary

A Condensed Prequel Story Was The Best Way To Cover Thousands Of Years

Custom image by Nick Bythrow

The biggest point of complaint regarding Gandalf being in Rings of Power is the shift in the timeline. However, this is far from the first time Prime Video adjusted Tolkien’s order of events. The entirety of the Second Age was greatly condensed. This period is canonically 3,441 years long, with the Rings of Power forged around SA 1500 and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men formed near the final years. Ultimately, this means that things like Sauron’s time in Eregion go by much faster than canon (a matter of weeks rather than centuries).

The Lord of the Rings is set at the end of the Third Age, which spanned 3,021 years.

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Though this is frustrating for a variety of reasons, Prime Video could not avoid condensing the timeline. Rings of Power is, rightfully, a character-driven series. In order for all the important characters of Lord of the Rings‘ history to be included, adjustments to the when and where had to happen. Otherwise, the uncomfortable pacing of season 1 (which was a significant criticism of the series in 2022) would have been repeated across every installment.

Rings Of Power Just Can’t Take Gandalf Changes Too Far

There’s A Line Prime Video Must Be Cautious Not To Cross

Gandalf being included in Rings of Power was the right move. This is the first opportunity for Lord of the Rings movie fans to understand the full extent of this Istar’s story. He was never just a magical old man but an angelic shapeshifter on a unique journey of temptation, compassion, and heroism—and such a story will be a significant asset to Prime Video’s prequel. However, the series does need to proceed with caution. Gandalf is a necessity, but the importance of his character would be completely wasted if Rings of Power made fundamental changes to his role in Middle-earth.

Gandalf is a necessity, but the importance of his character would be completely wasted if Rings of Power made fundamental changes to his role in Middle-earth.

So far, Rings of Power has played on the border of what is and is not acceptable. Gandalf meeting Hobbit ancestors in the Second Age is another significant change, but it further reinforces the importance of this Middle-earth race in his story. Meeting Tom Bombadil in Rhûn is another mildly uncomfortable change since the pair never went to this region in canon. However, Gandalf was known to be a friend of Bombadil and even met with the strange being following Sauron’s downfall. So far, the most puzzling change has been Gandalf’s confrontation with the Dark Wizard.

Gandalf famously becomes a rival to Saruman in The Lord of the Rings, and it seems that Rings of Power is trying to create parallels between this moment and the Dark Wizard. This villainous character is likely a Blue Wizard whom Gandalf never met in canon. It’s strange that Gandalf would be set against another Istar since this somewhat takes the wind out of the sails of his future Lord of the Rings conflict. Still, if Rings of Power season 3 handles this carefully, the story could be pulled off without issue. Now that Prime Video has rightfully brought Gandalf into the mix, it must only proceed with caution.