Warning: spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6.
The Rings of Powertakes a big step closer to confirming the Stranger’s identity thanks to a curiously-placedThe Lord of the Ringsreference. By far one of the most prevalent mysteries inThe Rings of Poweris the true identity of Daniel Weyman’s character, officially known as “the Stranger.“The Rings of Powerseason 1’s endingconfirmed the Stranger as a wizard, but since wizards should be absent from the show’sSecond Age timeline, it remains unclear whether Weyman is playing a familiar face like Gandalf or Saruman, or a wizard not mentioned inThe Lord of the Rings.
The Rings of Powerseason 2 brings the Stranger toTom Bombadil, who is seemingly a one-man Hogwarts in Amazon’s version of Middle-earth. The bearded pair discuss the “Secret Fire,” otherwise known as the Flame Imperishable or Flame of Anor, and this spiritual blaze is the source of life within Tolkien’s universe. InThe Rings of Power, the Secret Fire also serves as the root of magic, which means the Stranger is required to tame the flame before he hopes to cast a spell without hurting his friends. This training process, however, may provide a secret clue to the Stranger’s identity.
The Rings Of Power’s Secret Fire Is The Show’s Second Nod To Gandalf
A Pattern Is Emerging With The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Stranger
When facing theBalrog inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf boldly uttered the iconic passage, “I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor.“Being a servant of the Secret Fire is not an honor exclusive to Gandalf, and any wizard, Maia, or Vala who remains loyal to their original cause could rightfully be described as a “servant of the Secret Fire.”
The winds of Rhûn are only blowing in one direction duringThe Rings of Powerseason 2, and that direction is the Stranger and Gandalf being revealed as one and the same.
Ultimately, the phrase simply indicates that Gandalf is a representative of theGod ofThe Lord of the Rings' world, Eru Ilúvatar. Just becauseThe Rings of Power’s Stranger is learning the way of the Secret Fire from Tom Bombadil and Gandalf mentioned the same Secret Fire inThe Lord of the Rings, therefore, that does not prove the two characters are automatically connected.Based on the “Secret Fire” mention alone, the Stranger could just as easily be Saruman, a Blue Wizard, or an unnamed Maia, as all of the above technically serve the Secret Fire too.
Having said that,The Rings of Poweris, first and foremost, a scripted TV show packed with references, callbacks, and foreshadowing woven intoThe Lord of the Rings. While the Stranger’s education in the Secret Fire does not canonically confirm the character as Gandalf, it is entirely plausible thatThe Rings of Power’s creative minds have introduced the Secret Fire into the Stranger’s story as a small clue or Easter egg. That, in turn, would represent another small step on the path to revealingThe Rings of Power’s nameless Istar truly is Gandalf.
The Rings Of Power Detail May Reveal How Gandalf Got His Name (& Confirms He’s The Stranger)
The Rings of Power season 2 may have subtly hinted at how Gandalf got his name, taking a step closer to officially confirming the Stranger’s identity.
A similar reference previously surfaced inThe Rings of Powerseason 1, when the Stranger quoted Gandalf’s “follow your nose” line fromThe Lord of the Ringsalmost word-for-word. That clue was far more specific - and, consequently, more convincing - than season 2’s Secret Fire reference, but the two nods combine perfectly demonstrate how the winds of Rhûn are only blowing in one direction duringThe Rings of Powerseason 2, and that direction is theStranger and Gandalfbeing revealed as one and the same.
What Makes Gandalf A Servant Of The Secret Fire In The Lord Of The Rings
There’s A Lot Of Lore Behind Gandalf’s Proclamation Before The Balrog
TheSecret Fire is effectively Tolkien’s version of life and creation- the source from which Eru spawned Arda, Middle-earth, and its inhabitants. One could say that the Secret Fire is burning brightly within all of the good, living things of Middle-earth, and represents the will of Eru in its purest, most divine form. Long beforeThe Rings of Power’s timeline, heavenly battles were fought over the Secret Fire, with Morgoth seeking to possess it for himself and the Valar protecting it on behalf of their master.
The Secret Fire was initially within Eru themselves, before later being removed and placed inside the ambiguous realm known as the Void.
Before arriving in Middle-earth as a wizard,Gandalf was the Maia known as Olórin, serving directly under the Valar. The very nature of his position among the Maiar makes it Gandalf’s duty to serve and protect the Secret Fire from the likes of Morgoth, which, in a roundabout way, means protecting Eru’s will, his creation, life on Middle-earth, and all things wholesome. It is this very mission that drives Gandalf’s entire crusade to help the various races of Middle-earth bring down Sauron inThe Lord of the Rings.
There is, however, a deeper explanation as to why Gandalf would invoke the Secret Fire’s name to strike fear into Moria’s Balrog. Not only do the dark monsters, evil villains, andNameless Things of Middle-earthshun light - and the holy kind of light especially -the Secret Fire was likely the origin of Gandalf’s power as a wizard too. Fearsome powers of sorcery were bestowed upon the Maiar as part of Eru’s overall creative design, so Gandalf’s magic is, at its core, a gift from the Secret Fire.
Other Clues The Stranger Is Gandalf In The Rings Of Power
Did You Spot Them All?
CuteThe Lord of the Ringsdialogue nods are not the only indications that theStranger is Gandalf inThe Rings of Power. Daniel Weyman’s character is rapidly developing a close bond with the show’s main two Harfoots, Nori and Poppy, which would neatly explain Gandalf’s close relationship to the Hobbits inThe Lord of the Rings.
From being a silent and eccentric enigma in season 1,The Rings of Power’s Stranger is also far more Gandalf-esquein his dialogue and characterization during season 2, taking on that same grandfatherly demeanor that Ian McKellen mastered, and dishing out sage advice like a hairy self-help book. Another major clue comes inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 6, in which Tom Bombadil says, “Many that die deserve life, and some that live deserve death.” This sounds identical to a Gandalf line fromThe Fellowship of the Ring, “Many that live deserve death and some that die deserve life.”
The Rings of Poweris perhaps implying here that Gandalf originally heard this philosophical musing about life and death from Tom Bombadil, changed a few words, then recycled it as his own to sound wise in front of his friends duringThe Lord of the Rings. The close resemblance of the two quotes is certainly much too close to be dismissed as a mere coincidence. Nevertheless, the most intriguing sign of the Stranger being Gandalf actually comes fromThe Rings of Power’s Stoors.
When discussing the Stranger with Nori and Poppy, the Stoor leader jokingly describes the wizard as a “great big Grand-elf.” This scene works in tandem with a conversation from earlier in season 2 when the Harfoots were attempting to think of a more suitable name for the Stranger. It seems that, inThe Rings of Power’s near future, the Stranger could take a liking to the term “Grand-elf” and shorten it to “Gandalf,” thereby confirming the very eventuality that the “follow your nose” and Secret Fire hints have already pointed towards.
1
2
“Where the Stars are Strange”
3
“The Eagle & the Sceptre”
4
5
“Halls of Stone”
6
“Where is He?”
7
8
October 3
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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.
