The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will be bringing one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s most beloved characters to life in season 2, but it looks like the adaptation of this character may be ineffective and unfaithful. It remains to be seen how well The Rings of Power season 2 can tackle the source material to create a character that is not just a great representation of the one written by Tolkien, but an engaging and logical part of a TV narrative. He may prove to be the most divisive of all The Rings of Power characters.

Despite only being one season in, The Rings of Power has already demonstrated that it is unafraid to challenge key aspects of Tolkien’s lore. Several characters with established backstories have been altered to suit the plot, while some – such as the Harfoots and major antagonist Adar – were entirely invented for the show. However, while these changes were arguably minor in the grand scheme of Middle-earth’s story, one Rings of Power season 2 change looks set to transform an important and beloved character from The Lord of the Rings.

The Rings Of Power Is Making Tom Bombadil More Heroic Than He Should Be

Tom Bombadil May Be One of The Heroes Of Season 2

Custom image by Alfredo Alvarado.

In an exciting development for The Rings of Power, Tom Bombadil will appear in season 2 wearing his signature blue coat, with the brown hair and beard described in the books. However, while his arrival is intriguing, he may be more of a hero in the show than he was in the novels. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay revealed the inclusion of Tom Bombadil in The Rings of Power season 2 in an exclusive with Vanity Fair, with Payne mentioning that “There’s a reason why he hasn’t been in prior adaptations, because in some ways he’s sort of an anti-dramatic character,” alluding to why Peter Jackson didn’t include him in his trilogy.

Hinting at his role in the story, Payne has described how Tom Bombadil and the Stranger interact in season 2. As Payne explained, they meet and Tom “nudges the Stranger along his journey, which he knows will eventually protect the larger natural world that he cares about.” Although the details of their interaction are left vague, it seems like Tom Bombadil could play an active role in the plot, moving events in the struggle between Sauron and his opponents. By contrast, Tolkien’s original character was marginalized and would have refused to participate in any war.

Tom Bombadil’s Neutrality Is An Important Part Of His Character

Tom Bombadil Is A Pacifist In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Books

The magic of Tom in the books was that he was more of a symbol than a hero. Tom Bombadil’s interlude in The Fellowship of the Ring was a moment of levity in an otherwise dark story, bringing song, light, hope, and humor to proceedings. He provided an important moral and emotional counterpoint to the warring factions in the books. Despite being so powerful that even Gandalf believed he would be the last one standing in the face of Sauron’s assault, Bombadil was above and beyond war, rallying instead to the protection of nature.

If The Rings of Power has him actively fighting against Sauron, then the show’s Tom Bombadil will change canon. While it’s not imperative that the show follows every single element of the timeline and sequence of events described in the books to the letter, what is important is that it adheres to the themes and values of Tolkien’s work. Tom’s neutrality and levity are key elements of his character that should be adhered to in any adaptation. Ideally, Tom Bombadil will sing in Rings of Power season 2, bringing the same joyfulness that he brought to the novels.

Tom Traveling To Rhûn In The Rings Of Power Season 2 Makes No Sense

Tom Bombadil Never Went to Rhûn In The Books

Showrunners revealed that Tom will travel to Rhûn in season 2, which raises a lot of questions about how the show will manage its own original storyline against adhering to Tolkien’s work. According to the showrunners, Tom travels here as he’s concerned about the decline of nature in the area, and “he has a desire to try to keep the destruction that has happened there from spreading to his beloved lands in the West.” This seems like it may not gel with the neutral and non-interventionist aspects of his character.

Per Vanity Fair, Payne has explained: “I’d say our Tom Bombadil is slightly more interventionist than you see in the books, but only by 5% or 10%.” Navigating this slight shift from canon will involve striking a delicate balance. The show is boldly tackling a character that presents pacing issues for directors, since he won’t participate actively in the conflict. However, if the show can demonstrate that Tom’s first and last priority is nature and that he doesn’t really care about Sauron, it could create a successful, innovative version of this character.

J.R.R. Tolkien published two poems about Tom Bombadil in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil in 1962

Tom’s trip to Rhûn is a fabrication on behalf of the show – in the books, he stayed within his realm in the Old Forest, on the outskirts of the Shire. Showrunners don’t raise the level of Tom Bombadil’s power in The Rings of Power. However, in the books, Tom’s mastery is complete in the woods but fades out east – where Rhûn is. So Tom’s all-powerful magic is yet another question that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 may address.