The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 narrowed down the options for who the Dark Wizard could be, but it may end up being way more complicated than this. The Prime video series has depended heavily on the mystery box trope, setting up various original characters to connect to Tolkien’s canon creations. Season 2 confirmed the identity of the Stranger and dropped a handful more hints about who the Dark Wizard is and how he connects to Gandalf. However, even with these clues,Rings of Powercould take advantage of some features of Tolkien’s work to trick audiences.
The Stranger being Gandalf resolved one of the greatermysteries ofRings of Powerseason 1, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding the Prime Video series' version of the Istari.There were theories thatRings of Powerhad invented its own Istar with the Dark Wizard and that he wouldn’t end up being a character mentioned in Tolkien’s works.However, this character confirmed in season 2 that he was one ofthe “five” Istari, proving that he must either be Saruman, Radagast, or one of the two Blue Wizards. Still,there may be a technicality involved here.
Rings Of Power May Take Advantage Of Istari Reincarnation To Trick Audiences
The Dark Wizard’s Identity Could Technically Change
Rings of Power’s showrunners teasedthat the Dark Wizard being Saruman would be highly “unlikely,” and it has been assumed that this character couldn’t possibly be Radagast the Brown. Since the Dark Wizard confirmed that five Maiar were sent to Middle-earth to become wizards, this must mean he is one of the two Blue Wizards. However,the fact thatRings of Powerhasn’t come out and confirmed what seems to be an obvious fact is surprising. It’s possible that the series has another trick up its sleep, and it may revolve around an Istar’s ability to reincarnate to a new wizarding form.
Like all immortal beings inLord of the Rings, Istari’s soul can be placed in a new body if the previous one is killed.This happened to Gandalf inThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towerswhen he returned as Gandalf the White. Because of this,it’s possible that the Dark Wizardis actuallyan original character but that he will die and return as one of the canon Istari. Or, the Prime Video series may establish that he is one of the Blue Wizards, but kill him off and bring him back as Radagast or Saruman. Of course, this would mean less than five Maiar were sent to Middle-earth.
The Dark Wizard Could Have Been Lying About Being One Of The Five
Audiences Could Be Barking Up The Wrong Tree Entirely
Another common theory regarding the Dark Wizard is that he isn’t an Istar at all. In canon, the Blue Wizards taught the Men of Rhûn magic, and it has been considered thatthe Dark Wizard is actually just a human pretending to be an immortal wizard. He might have learned from the true Blue Wizards how many Istari had been sent to Middle-earth and used this information to take advantage of the Stranger, knowing he would still be disoriented from taking a new form. Of course, Gandalf didn’t trust the Dark Wizard even after he shared this information, soRings of Powerseason 3may reveal this villain’s true identity.
Gandalf had partially forgotten his past life after he was reincarnated as the White Wizard, a detail whichRings of Powerhas embraced for its Istari characters.
Rings Of Power May Be Taking Its Character-Identity Mysteries Too Far
Constantly Guess The Characters' Canon Identities Is Getting Old
It’s certainly possible that thatDark Wizard really is a Blue Wizard, and that is the end of it. However, it’s a bit frustrating thatRings of Powerseason 2 wouldn’t just confirm this. By keeping the characters' true identities a secret, it looks as if thePrime Video series is using audience expectations based on canon as a red herringwith a plan to trick them at the last moment. However, the fact that the Stranger was confirmed to be Gandalf after two seasons of beating around the bush could indicate that the Dark Wizard will be precisely who everyone expects him to be—no tricks.
The fact that the Stranger was confirmed to be Gandalf after two seasons of beating around the bush could indicate that the Dark Wizard will be precisely who everyone expects him to be—no tricks.
Regardless,Rings of Power’s dependence on these character-identity mysteries is a bit frustrating. Without any surprising twists, there is no real reason to draw out the answers. Doing so leads audiences to tie themselves up in knots, coming up with fruitless theories, just as they did with the Stranger. The Dark Wizard being reincarnated into Saruman or Radagast, or his turning out to be only a human pretending to be a wizard, would be ratheruncomfortable twists contradicting Tolkien canon, just for the sake of surprises. It may be time forRings of Powerto just clearly state who these characters are without any further games.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
