Some fist-look images from Variety have given a sneak peek into the events of The Rings of Power season 2, showing Tom Bombadil, played by Rory Kinnear, standing in a quaint home opposite Daniel Weyman’s The Stranger. This is pretty big news since Bombadil’s omission from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: The Fellowshipof the Ring has long been a topic of debate. Rings of Power showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay explained that the advantage of a TV show has allowed them to bring Old Tom in on the action, and they have also noted how this will work.
Tom Bombadil Lives Near The Rings Of Power’s Main Locations
Tom Bombadil Will Have A New Home In Rings Of Power S2, & It May Inspire Him To Protect Withywindle
In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo and his fellow hobbit adventurers come across Tom Bombadil in the Old Forest, which is to the East of The Shire. During the events of The Lord of the Rings, the strange being stays exclusively within the confines of the Old Forest, where he has a home in the valley of Withywindle. This makes including Bombadil in screen adaptations difficult, but in Rings of Power, adding the character to season 2 is feasible since his home is near the growing conflicts with the Elves and Dwarves.
As the conflict grows around Withywindle in The Rings of Power season 2, Bombadil is more likely to subtly get involved.
Sauron’s influence becomes palpable in The Rings of Power season 2, and Tolkien explained that, though Bombadil was neutral in nature, the Dark Lord presented a significant threat to his way of existence. This is why Bombadil helped Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, despite his neutrality. He knew the hobbit was necessary to preserve his world. So, as the conflict grows around Withywindle in The Rings of Power season 2, Bombadil is more likely to subtly get involved.
Upon release of the Bombadil images, Payne explained that he and his fellow showrunner used the character’s love of the natural world to include him in Rings of Power season 2. They have given Bombadil a second home in Rhûn, which used to be a place of nature and beauty but has become a wasteland thanks to Sauron. This is where, as teased by the images, Old Tom will meet The Stranger and Nori in The Rings of Power season 2. It seems that Bombadil will recognize that the only way to stop the rest of Middle-earth, including Withywindle, from suffering Rhûn’s fate is by offering a nudge of help to the Istari.
The Rings of Power season 1 confirmed that the Stranger is an Instari, with heavy hints that he is Gandalf.
Tom Bombadil Is One Of The Oldest Characters In Middle-earth
Prime Video’s The Rings Of Power Must Be Careful With Such An Important LOTR Character
Tolkien said that Tom Bombadil is “older than old,” having been born when all life began. Aside from this, we know very little about the character’s origin. There have been countless theories over the years, many of them Tolkien himself shot down (he was adamant that Bombadil is not God). There is also nothing said of how long Bombadil lived in the Old Forest or how long before The Lord of the Rings he decided never to leave this region. So, it’s reasonable that Rings of Power would see Old Tom travel to Rhûn in season 2.
As one of the most mysterious and ancient Lord of the Rings characters, including Bombadil in season 2 is as good as playing with fire.
Of course, such creative liberties are likely to invite backlash. The Second Age of Middle-earth leaves much room for interpretation, and The Rings of Power‘s many adjustments to the canon timeline have been controversial. As one of the most mysterious and ancient Lord of the Rings characters, including Bombadil in season 2 is as good as playing with fire. However, as a character who has yet to appear in a screen adaptation, Tom Bombadil’s presence in the coming episodes will surely draw curiosity and interest.
