The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has heavily hinted that the character known as the Stranger is really Gandalf, and the trailer for season 2 seems to have continued this. It was at first implied that this mysterious stranger was Sauron, but the eventual reveal that Halbrand was really the Dark Lord struck that theory out. Then, The Rings of Power season 1 began giving the character lines that aligned with the Wizard’s words in The Lord of the Rings, though his identity wasn’t definitively confirmed. The season 2 trailer seems to continue with these subtle hints, but this could be an issue.
The trailer for The Rings of Power season 2 dropped on May 14, 2024, and came packed with much information regarding what audiences should look forward to in the upcoming episodes. Sauron’s Elf form, Annatar, was finally unveiled, along with some of his powerful misdeeds in Middle-earth. The Dark Lord’s Rings of Power were also featured, teasing that these titular weapons would finally be made in season 2. The trailer gave a sneak peek at Galadriel, Elrond, Prince Durin, and many more, with an ever-so-brief but also telling look at the mysterious Stranger.
As implied by his name, the Stranger’s identity is still a mystery as of the end of The Rings of Power season 1. However, it was heavily implied that he was Gandalf. The dark Priestess seeking after Sauron called him an Istari, the order of which Gandalf was a part. Of course, Saruman, Radagast, and the two Blue Wizards were also Istari, so that doesn’t necessarily narrow down the Stranger’s identity. Of course, this wasn’t all.
The Stranger’s relationship with the Harfoot Nori also hints that he is Gandalf since the Grey Wizard had a fascination and deep appreciation for Hobbits during the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. What’s more, in the last episode of The Rings of Power, when the Stranger and Nori were about to set out for Rhûn, the mysterious character said, “When in doubt, Elanor Brandyfoot, always follow your nose,” which is almost precisely what Gandalf said to Pippin in The Lord of the Rings.
The Stranger was only shown for a second in the Rings of Power season 2 trailer, but the quick glimpse seemed to be a further hint regarding the Istari’s identity. In the clip, the Stranger lifts a stick into the air and dramatically slams it down into the ground, releasing a flurry of powerful magic. This is highly reminiscent of Gandalf’s “You shall not pass!” moment in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. In all, it seems that Rings of Power aims to give Gandalf’s staff an origin story, which could be interesting. Still, gandalf being present in the Second Age is a problem.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has significantly changed Middle-earth’s timeline, primarily out of the necessity of keeping mortal characters around from beginning to end. However, if the Stranger is Gandalf, this would be taking the changes rather far. The Grey Wizard didn’t come to Middle-earth in this form until the Third Age, and he said in The Lord of the Rings that he first came across Hobbits during the Long Winter, thousands of years after his arrival. The only Istari in Middle-earth in the Second Age were the Blue Wizards, and there is no indication that the Stranger could be one of these.
Given the heavy hints in The Rings of Power season 1 and the trailer for season 2, it certainly seems that Prime Video is ignoring Tolkien canon in this regard. Gandalf is an iconic Lord of the Rings character, and the showrunners likely felt that a Second Age story would do better with more familiar characters. While this may be true, Rings of Power has dug itself in pretty deep by making the Stranger/Gandalf a confused being wrapped in rags, which was certainly never part of Tolkien’s works. It’s a fun idea, but making such blatant changes to canon will surely get Rings of Power into trouble.