All The Signs That Point To The Stranger Being This Character
Image Source: IMDb
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR SEASON ONE OF AMAZON PRIME’S THE RINGS OF POWER
Amazon Prime’s The Rings of Power was well received by most fans of both the books and Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films. The series not only gave us a look at fan-favorite characters in their younger years, such as Galadriel and Elrond, but it also introduced fans to new characters like the Harfoots. While the show was routinely compared to HBO’s House of the Dragon, The Rings of Power held its own week after week. One of the main reasons was fans were awaiting the jaw-dropping reveal of which character was actually Sauron. The other reason was the identity of The Stranger. Was he Sauron? Was he someone fans had met in the Peter Jackson films? While the answer was never explicitly given, many fans like myself are confident that he is a young Gandalf. Buckle up, everybody, because I have compiled reasons why I believe The Stranger is Gandalf.
An argument that I have seen for why this character cannot be Gandalf is because, according to his timeline, Gandalf does not arrive until later in the Third Age when we also get Saruman and Radagast. The Rings of Power are set during the Second Age, so at first glance, it would not make sense for The Stranger to be Gandalf since it would disrupt the already cemented timeline. The reason that this does not sway my opinion of The Stranger’s identity is that the showrunners addressed the fact that they would be condensing the timeline. This is why, we have Isildur as a major player in Season One when in the official timeline, he is not born until roughly one thousand years after the events of the show.
Image Source: Insider
RELATED:
One of the biggest things that stuck out to me and most fans was a moment between The Stranger and Nori. When he tells her that he will follow her, she tells him that she doesn’t know which way to go. He then tells her, “When in doubt, Elanor Brandyfoot, always follow your nose.” This is one of Gandalf’s most recognizable lines from The Fellowship of the Ring when the fellowship is lost in Moria. I have seen many fans argue that the creators just wanted to pay homage to the original film, but that does not make sense. This line, in my opinion, was a way for the showrunners to tell us his true identity without saying it outright.
Another major clue was that we see The Stranger using moths in his magic. This is huge because, in the Peter Jackson films, this was the way that Gandalf would communicate with Galadriel when he was in danger or had urgent news that she needed to know. It is also how he called to the Lord of the Great Eagles during the final moments of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Like the quote mentioned above, this is something that was specific to Gandalf and would not make sense for another character to use them.
Image Source: IMDb
The last major clue that I will mention in this article is The Stranger’s love and instant connection to the Harfoots. One of Gandalf’s most unique qualities is his love and respect for the “halflings.” This is something that is brought up throughout the films as those around Gandalf cannot understand why he spends time with them or trusts them in every adventure he goes on. The decision to place The Stranger with the Harfoots seemed like a clear connection to the character of Gandalf and his future connection to the Harfoot’s descendants, the Hobbits.
Image Source: IMDb
We still don’t know for sure who The Stranger is, but I personally feel that it is inherently clear that all signs point to him being a young Gandalf. Since the canon timeline is not a restraint on the series, Gandalf seems like the perfect character to bring in since he is so well-loved by fans of both the books and the films.
Season One of The Rings of Power is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
READ NEXT:
Source(s): One Wiki to Rule Them All, ScreenRant
Latest News
Featured
