The first-look photos for Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 have given viewers a glimpse of all the sophomore outing has to offer, including the appearance of Tom Bombadil. Unfortunately, it seems like The Rings of Power has already botched an iconic element of J.R.R. Tolkien’s memorable character. Set to be played by Rory Michael Kinnear (Men), the mysterious Bombadil is known for being a long-living character who has experienced most of the world’s history, from Melkor’s arrival in Arda to Frodo’s quest to destroy the One Ring.

Tom Bombadil remembers “the first raindrop,” but he’s also the character that Gandalf spends time with after the destruction of the Ruling Ring. More of an observer than an active participant, Bombadil is dubbed a “strange creature“ by the likes of Elrond, who has also seen his fair share of Middle-earth’s history. Benevolent in nature, Bombadil remains more concerned with his own affairs than thwarting any of history’s Dark Lords, but he’s still an incredibly storied figure in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings franchise, making Bombadil’s upcoming live-action appearance in The Rings of Power an exciting development.

Tom Bombadil’s Costume In The Rings Of Power Is Completely Wrong

The Character’s Look Is Not What Tolkien Described

Notably absent from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Tom Bombadil doesn’t have a huge impact on the core storyline of The Fellowship, making him an easy cut. That said, Tom Bombadil’s first live-action appearance will be in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2. Unfortunately, early stills and teasers reveal a glaring issue: the character’s costume is all wrong. In Tolkien’s texts, Bombadil is described as wearing a bright blue jack with yellow boots, a green girdle, and a tall hat that boasts a swan-wing feather in its brim.

Tom Bombadil’s non-canon look isn’t the first time that Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has deviated…

The Rings of Power‘s costume designer, Luca Mosca, was reportedly inspired by Tolkien’s description of Tom Bombadil. However, the end result is a much more muted and dingy take on the iconic character’s eccentric appearance. In short, it’s nothing like Tolkien described. Tom Bombadil’s non-canon look isn’t the first time that Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has deviated from Tolkien’s source material. While a costume change-up may seem relatively inconsequential, it continues a worrying trend for the show’s upcoming sophomore outing.

Tom Bombadil’s Costume Is A Bad Sign For The Rings Of Power’s Version Of The Character

The Iconic Lord Of The Rings Character Might Be Less Whimsical

Based on the first-look photos of Tom Bombadil’s costume, it seems like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power tones down his more outlandish and whimsical elements to adhere to the show’s more serious tone. Changing Tom’s character so drastically kind of defeats the point of including him at all. Jolly, playful, and carefree, the ever-witty Tom Bombadil speaks in rhyme and often refers to himself in the third person. Needless to say, toning LOTR‘s Bombadil down in any way — costume or personality — undercuts his unique place in The Lord of the Rings franchise.