The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 narrowed down the options for who the Dark Wizard could be, but it may end up being way more complicated than this. The Prime video series has depended heavily on the mystery box trope, setting up various original characters to connect to Tolkien’s canon creations. Season 2 confirmed the identity of the Stranger and dropped a handful more hints about who the Dark Wizard is and how he connects to Gandalf. However, even with these clues, Rings of Power could take advantage of some features of Tolkien’s work to trick audiences.

The Stranger being Gandalf resolved one of the greater mysteries of Rings of Power season 1, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding the Prime Video series’ version of the Istari. There were theories that Rings of Power had invented its own Istar with the Dark Wizard and that he wouldn’t end up being a character mentioned in Tolkien’s works. However, this character confirmed in season 2 that he was one of the “five” Istari, proving that he must either be Saruman, Radagast, or one of the two Blue Wizards. Still, there may be a technicality involved here.

Rings Of Power May Take Advantage Of Istari Reincarnation To Trick Audiences

The Dark Wizard’s Identity Could Technically Change

Rings of Power‘s showrunners teased that the Dark Wizard being Saruman would be highly “unlikely,” and it has been assumed that this character couldn’t possibly be Radagast the Brown. Since the Dark Wizard confirmed that five Maiar were sent to Middle-earth to become wizards, this must mean he is one of the two Blue Wizards. However, the fact that Rings of Power hasn’t come out and confirmed what seems to be an obvious fact is surprising. It’s possible that the series has another trick up its sleep, and it may revolve around an Istar’s ability to reincarnate to a new wizarding form.

Like all immortal beings in Lord of the Rings, Istari’s soul can be placed in a new body if the previous one is killed. This happened to Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers when he returned as Gandalf the White. Because of this, it’s possible that the Dark Wizard is actually an original character but that he will die and return as one of the canon Istari. Or, the Prime Video series may establish that he is one of the Blue Wizards, but kill him off and bring him back as Radagast or Saruman. Of course, this would mean less than five Maiar were sent to Middle-earth.

The Dark Wizard Could Have Been Lying About Being One Of The Five

Audiences Could Be Barking Up The Wrong Tree Entirely

Custom image by Simone Ashmoore

Another common theory regarding the Dark Wizard is that he isn’t an Istar at all. In canon, the Blue Wizards taught the Men of Rhûn magic, and it has been considered that the Dark Wizard is actually just a human pretending to be an immortal wizard. He might have learned from the true Blue Wizards how many Istari had been sent to Middle-earth and used this information to take advantage of the Stranger, knowing he would still be disoriented from taking a new form. Of course, Gandalf didn’t trust the Dark Wizard even after he shared this information, so Rings of Power season 3 may reveal this villain’s true identity.

Gandalf had partially forgotten his past life after he was reincarnated as the White Wizard, a detail which Rings of Power has embraced for its Istari characters.

Rings Of Power May Be Taking Its Character-Identity Mysteries Too Far

Constantly Guess The Characters’ Canon Identities Is Getting Old

It’s certainly possible that that Dark Wizard really is a Blue Wizard, and that is the end of it. However, it’s a bit frustrating that Rings of Power season 2 wouldn’t just confirm this. By keeping the characters’ true identities a secret, it looks as if the Prime Video series is using audience expectations based on canon as a red herring with a plan to trick them at the last moment. However, the fact that the Stranger was confirmed to be Gandalf after two seasons of beating around the bush could indicate that the Dark Wizard will be precisely who everyone expects him to be—no tricks.

The fact that the Stranger was confirmed to be Gandalf after two seasons of beating around the bush could indicate that the Dark Wizard will be precisely who everyone expects him to be—no tricks.

Regardless, Rings of Power‘s dependence on these character-identity mysteries is a bit frustrating. Without any surprising twists, there is no real reason to draw out the answers. Doing so leads audiences to tie themselves up in knots, coming up with fruitless theories, just as they did with the Stranger. The Dark Wizard being reincarnated into Saruman or Radagast, or his turning out to be only a human pretending to be a wizard, would be rather uncomfortable twists contradicting Tolkien canon, just for the sake of surprises. It may be time for Rings of Power to just clearly state who these characters are without any further games.