The Stranger story in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 presents some additional Lord of the Rings mysteries now that he is confirmed to be Gandalf. Like any prequel, Prime Video’s series makes many retroactive adjustments to the story audiences already know and love. The subtlest change to a character or event can have profound implications for the future story, whether they can be considered canon or not. As Rings of Power dives into its version of Gandalf’s Second Age story, new questions about the character’s goings-on during Lord of the Rings are bound to pop up.

Though Rings of Power season 1 initially beat around the bush with the Stranger character, season 2 has officially confirmed that he is Gandalf. Nearly every detail regarding how and when this wizard arrived in Middle-earth was changed. In Tolkien canon, Gandalf came to Middle-earth in the Third Age, while Amazon has brought him into the mix during the Second. What’s more, Gandalf was introduced to Tom Bombadil in Rhûn while traveling with some Harfoots—all of which is different from canon. Still, it’s one of the smaller details regarding Gandalf’s Rings of Power story that has greater implications for his future tale.

The Stranger Had To Find His Own Staff In Rings Of Power Season 2

Gandalf Went On A Whole Journey To Earn His Staff

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The Stranger’s primary goal in Rings of Power season 2 was to find a name and a staff. Tom Bombadil told the wizard that a staff would make itself available to him once he proved himself worthy, and this is precisely what happened. Only once the Stranger chose to save his friends rather than focus wholly on stopping the Dark Wizard did the perfect staff appear to him. He had proven himself by passing the universe’s big test, and his reward was a name given by the Stoors he had saved (Gandalf) and a staff that had fallen from the Stoors’ precious tree.

The idea presented by Rings of Power here is good, though not strictly canon. Tolkien made it clear throughout Lord of the Rings that a wizard’s staff is an essential tool, but there was no indication that they needed to go on a spiritual journey to claim one. Still, it’s fun to consider that Gandalf would have needed almost to piece himself together bit by bit to become the wise being of Frodo’s story. Still, the idea that finding a staff is a necessary part of any wizard’s journey brings up a mystery regarding Gandalf’s future adventures.

Rings Of Power’s Version Of Gandalf Would Have To Find A “White” Staff In the Third Age

Wizards Having To Work So Hard For Their Staffs Changes Gandalf’s Two Towers Story

Gandalf lost everything when he fell to the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, including his clothing, body, and, of course, staff. When he returned, Gandalf was reincarnated into a new body, and he appeared before Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas in white robes and with a new white staff. The standard explanation for Gandalf’s new clothes and staff in Lord of the Rings was that he had received them from Galadriel following his return. However, Rings of Power‘s retcon would imply that it couldn’t have worked this way.
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According to Rings of Power, this future reincarnated version of Gandalf (because he wasn’t quite Gandalf anymore) would have to earn a new staff through a new spiritual journey. Though not necessarily canon, it’s interesting to consider what this might have looked like. Similar to the Stranger, the White Wizard of Lord of the Rings had only hazy memories of his life before his reincarnation, forgetting momentarily that he had been called Gandalf. Perhaps, when he awoke, he went on a similar journey to the one seen in Rings of Power, aided by a Third-Age Tom Bombadil.

Gandalf’s adventures with Tom Bombadil in Rhûn never happened in Tolkien’s works, but it’s true that the wizard would sometimes commune with the strange being in the Old Forest.

Other Ways Rings Of Power’s Gandalf Retcon Alter’s His Future Story

Rings Of Power Provides A New Angle To Look At Gandalf’s Story

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By bringing Gandalf into the Second Age, Rings of Power has retconned multiple aspects of this character’s Lord of the Rings story. This is, of course, a controversial choice, but it’s interesting to consider how this impacts the version of the tale audiences are most familiar with. Gandalf’s relationship with the Hobbits has always been meaningful since he was really the only being of significance in Middle-earth who recognized their value. Rings of Power has retroactively explained why by making Hobbit ancestors save Gandalf when he first arrived in Middle-earth.

Gandalf’s new rivalry with the Dark Wizard in Rings of Power season 2 is another way this prequel alters the wizard’s future story.

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Gandalf’s new rivalry with the Dark Wizard in Rings of Power season 2 is another way this prequel alters the wizard’s future story. The Grey Wizard’s surprise conflict with Saruman in The Lord of the Rings is one of the greater twists of his overarching story, but the impact is altered slightly by the reveal that he had faced off with another corrupted Istar in the past. This indicates that Gandalf should have known better than to trust Saruman so wholeheartedly. Of course, just how much this Rings of Power retcon alters Gandalf’s story in the future will depend on how the Dark Wizard is handled in the next seasons—only time will tell.