The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is set to dive into an unresolved mystery in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world. The Rings of Power arrived in 2022 to mixed reviews, but one thing it did without question was show some of Tolkien’s most famous settings and stories on screen for the first time. The show adapts source material associated with author J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age of Middle-earth, mostly taken from the appendices to the novel The Return of the King. Unprecedentedly, the show will cover one famous mystery from the book.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s work was pioneering in the fantasy genre, establishing the literary norms perpetuated by thousands of writers today. Beyond this, his work remains unique as a lifetime’s worth of writing set mostly in one world, spread across multiple formats and perspectives. Tolkien wrote novels, poetry, and essays on Middle-earth, from both his own perspective and that of his characters. This created a “legendarium” style body of work – a fictionalized set of myths that took glee in mysteries and contradictions. For better or worse, Rings of Power season 2 may uncover one of these mysteries.

The Rings Of Power’s Tom Bombadil Debut May Answer Key Questions About The Character

The Rings of Power Season 2 Will Feature Tom Bombadil

Lord of the Rings character Tom Bombadil will appear in The Rings of Power season 2, and the show may answer the question of his origins and identity. This will mark Bombadil’s first appearance on screen. Tom Bombadil is one of the most loved characters in Tolkien’s work, playing a unique role in The Fellowship of the Ring that was left out of Peter Jackson’s film of the same name. Jackson didn’t include Bombadil because he didn’t take sides in the War of the Ring, so he didn’t drive the narrative in an adaptation-friendly way. This left Bombadil’s mystery undisturbed.

Tom Bombadil’s powers, origins, and identity were enigmatic in The Lord of the Rings. Despite Gandalf beating a Balrog, and Galadriel reading minds, Tom Bombadil may be second only to Sauron in terms of power. The One Ring didn’t affect him, he was older than Middle-earth itself and “masterof wood, water and hill.” Yet, nowhere did Tolkien confirm if he was Wizard, Maia, or Man. It may be hard for the show to introduce this character without expanding on the limited detail Tolkien provided, especially knowing that some audiences are unfamiliar with the books.

Tolkien Deliberately Didn’t Reveal Who Tom Bombadil Really Was

Tom Bombadil Was Meant To Be Mysterious

Tom Bombadil’s mystery was, in fact, the joy of his character. Perhaps this factored into Peter Jackson’s decision not to include him in his movies. As epic high fantasy, Lord of the Rings spanned adventure and war, with the members of the fellowship driving a focused plot. Tom Bombadil in canon was not a part of this focused plot, he was nature’s protector and a spiritual symbol of indiscriminate nature. In keeping with Tolkien’s Christian beliefs, exposing the inscrutable power and mystery of Bombadil was not just superfluous to the narrative, but contrary to it.

In keeping Tom Bombadil an enigma, Tolkien was imploring readers to have a little faith. His message was that true power is above politics and concerned only with the fundamental continuation of all life, and that it feels right – seeking to understand true power is unnecessary. No matter how little the Hobbits knew about Tom, they always felt at home in his company. Tom Bombadil’s singing, levity, and pacifism showed that he himself had more “estel” than most. This Elvish word means “hope” or “trust” in the plan of Eru – Middle-earth’s God. Finrod explained this in Morgoth’s Ring:

Estel we call it, that is “trust”. It is not defeated by the ways of the world, for it does not come from experience, but from our nature and first being. If we are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any Enemy, not even by ourselves. This is the last foundation of Estel, which we keep even when we contemplate the End: of all His designs the issue must be for His Children’s joy.

Tom’s Mission Means The Rings Of Power Will Struggle To Keep Him A Mystery

Tom Bombadil Will Have An Original Storyline In Season 2

Custom image by Alfredo Alvarado.

Showrunner J.D. Payne revealed to Vanity Fair that Tom Bombadil will be given an original storyline in The Rings of Power season 2 – this arc could reveal a lot about Tom Bombadil. Tom will be situated in the eastern part of Middle-earth called Rhûn, in a second home that is not a part of canon. Tom’s home in The Fellowship of the Ring was his cottage in the Old Forest, where he tended to nature with his wife. In season 2, Tom will investigate the decline of nature eastwards and the encroaching darkness that threatens the land.

Tom kept himself to himself in the books, refusing to participate in war councils and staying within his realm. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself or expose much information about himself, which he achieved with his peaceful, simple life by the river. Tom venturing outside of his realm would risk this anonymity, and his venturing into lands influenced by Sauron would risk it even more. In Rhûn, Tom may face suspicion, questioning, or pursuit, all of which could prompt him to reveal magical powers or details about his past.

Tom will meet the Stranger in Rhûn, who may turn out to be Gandalf, throwing Tom deeper into the struggle between light and dark – this will endanger Tom’s impartiality, anonymity, and general mystery as a character. Tom’s reconnaissance in Rhûn is true to his drive to protect nature, but the show should ensure that his storyline doesn’t stray into politics or involvement in the war. It would be against Tom’s character to fight heroic battles with villains, or even counsel those who will. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power would do well to avoid these pitfalls.