Theory: The Stranger is a Blue Wizard, not Gandalf | The Rings of Power
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- While many have concluded The Stranger (Meteor Man) is confirmed to be Gandalf, I'm not so sure. I think there's a good chance he could still be a blue wizard - what do you think?
Hit subscribe - and the bell!
Nerd of the Rings on PATREON: / nerdoftherings
To purchase artist work, check out these amazing artists!
Tulikoura - www.deviantart...
Matthew Stewart - www.matthew-ste...
BellaBergolts - www.deviantart...
Magdalena Katanska - www.artstation... / qualiney
Jerry Vanderstelt - store.vanderst...
Anna Podedworna - www.artstation...
Jenny Dolfen - goldseven.wordpress.com/
Turner Mohan - turner_mohan
Ted Nasmith - www.tednasmith.com/shop/
Anke Eissmann - anke.edoras-art...
Aronja Art - / aronjaart
Ivan Cavini - / ivan_cavini
Sara Morello - www.artstation...
Matěj Čadil - www.etsy.com/p...
Tulikoura - www.deviantart...
Aegeri - www.deviantart...
Noe Leyva - / noeleyvart
Clemence Morisseau - www.artstation...
Edvige Faini - www.edvigefaini.com , edvige.faini , edvige_faini
The Blue Wizards Journeying East - Ted Nasmith
Gandalf, A light in the dark - Matthew Stewart
Gandalf - Ralph Damiani
Aragorn on a mission - Kip Rasmussen
Glorfindel's Arrival - Ralph Damiani
The Blue Wizards - Ralph Damiani
The Blue Wizards - Turner Mohan
The Blue Wizards - Aegeri
Gandalf - John Howe
Radagast - Ralph Damiani
Gandalf comes to Bag End - Aegeri
A Very Snowy Hobbiton - Emily Austin
Frozen Helm Hammerhand - War of the Rohirrim
#theringsofpower #lordoftherings #gandalf
Are there other topics/theories you'd like me to cover about the show?
NO
yes , why rings of power series sucks?
The back stories, in show context, of all main characters? Thanks.
Talking about the music would be interesting. I had a thought the other day....why is the main theme an intro so "boring" and forgettable when compared to other similar shows like GOT. Thats just my opinion but for the life of me I can't remember any of the music from this show
When it comes out in November, you might do a review of the Fall of Numenor book.
I think regardless if is Gandalf or a Blue wizard, the series would show the blue wizards, it can't be just a coincidence that the stranger is going to Rhûn, a location that Tolkien specifically pointed to be the blue wizards location.
The "Mystics" also seemed to intend that Sauron - as they thought the Stranger - should go to Rhûn. What's there?, I wonder.
If it is
@@tsuchan the Easterlings
Yes
This seems like a reasonable compromise: Have Gandalf interact with the Blue Wizards and adventures in the East, while the main storyline progresses in the West. It would explain Gandalf's absence in the Second Age. Then, in the final season, Gandalf can arrive with an army of Easterlings to aid the Last Alliance, which will tie into the show's themes around redemption for the peoples of the South and the East.
I REALLY hope it is a blue wizard. I think they deserve some screen time.
Agreed!
They do, but Amazon isn't up to the task. They're writing for the lowest common denominator. Halbrand our "not Sauron" which was obviously Sauron turned out to be Sauron. They're not subtle at all. The line of always follow your nose is almost verbatim of what Gandalf says to Merry in Moria in Peter Jackson's Fellowship. He's obviously Gandalf and after how they handled Sauron I have zero hope for the Stranger being anything other than Gandalf.
@@Elazul2k I hope they they are inconsistent and that won't happen hahaha.
I would have argued it was a blue wizard until he quoted a Gandalf quote about follow your nose and his friendliness in halflings
@@Elazul2k I think most casual viewers didn't anticipate the Halbrand twist. My mom (pure movie fan) was convinced that Adar was Sauron, and I heard that from others too.
Tolkien wrote that Gandalf appeared in a boat at The Grey Havens, where Cirdan gave him his ring - in the Third Age. So I really hope this isn't Gandalf.
Of course, why would any of the wizards arrive via meteor and lose their memories?
I mean, the Istari did lose a good deal of memory. Such is the natural consequence of being a minor god stuffed into a human brain (e.g. Gandalf the White forgetting who he was and having to spend months with Galadriel to reorient himself somewhat before appearing to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.) But the memory loss wouldn't be complete, he'd have a general idea of who/what he was. And of course, the meteor thing is ridiculous.
They would arrive my amnesia meteor because it drives up engagement on social media whipping up millions in earned media publicity for the show.
That is to say, because it encourages guy like NotR to make vids and for us make comments!
Amnesia seems to be a common trope when sending a being thats godlike to the mortal realm, its more so used to prevent them from misusing their abilities by making them have to remember that they have the abilities and how they work, to also make sure they take the time to understand the world they are now in which is different from the world they were from.
Oh they wrote him as Gandalf. And now they’re scratching out 8 episodes of Gandalf to another thing that’s not Gandalf.
But why do what Tolkien did when you can do a significantly worse take that everyone will hate and will bring nothing to the story or lore?
- Some dude working on this show
Another theory: he's Saruman. We really didn't hear him speak until the last episode but notice that his magic seems to coincide with his voice - a power that was Saruman's. The last line may very well be a Red Herring. But remember that Gandalf comes back as Saruman "as he should have been" (per the movie and the book phrase is about the same). Saruman (Curumo ) volunteered to go to Middle Earth whereas Gandalf (Olórin) was told to go. We know that Saruman spent a lot of time in Rhun studying ring lore so we know he has gone East. And while he was haughty towards some of the other wizards, he wasn't necessarily evil. And that wasn't his first trip to Middle Earth. He was one of the 5 guardians to protect the elves in Cuiviénen. He doesn't come to Middle Earth corrupted. In fact, he has been to Middle Earth before and performed a noble task. He becomes corrupted.
In fact, making him Saruman would be a very interesting twist - starting off nicely and at the end starting the slow journey into corruption by his pursuit of knowledge about the One Ring. It would make quite the interesting journey, all the more so when he starts out by befriending the hobbits (Harfoots) and then later discounts them when all the while they have the one thing he was searching for.
I'm not saying that's what the writers of the show will do but it actually fits a bit, makes for a very interesting character arc and the irony would be delicious.
I read an interesting topic on twitter : Nori says that the Stranger is "here to help", and he's meant to go east. The perfect depiction of Romestamo, the East-Helper
you give the writers too much credit lool
I thought the exact same thing! They mention him being here to help several times actually!
@@philipdipaula9393 I think you have a too low opinion on the writer
@@Cremig with an audience score of 39%, i think my opinion of the writers is fairly representative.
Thought it was Radagast..but...i'm wrong.....pretty certain you are Right.
I wouldn't be surprised if the showrunners haven't decided if he is a Blue Wizard or Gandalf.
Supposedly they laid out their entire 5 season malarkey storyline when they pitched the show, so they ought to know who they/he/it is.
What if istari didn't told the showrunners that who is he!!!
MYSTERY BOX
@@VijaySingh-ht7sy - What?
I highly suspect the show will end up having him be both. We see in the LotR that Gandalf can change from being the Grey wizard to being the White wizard, and we know from the lore that Gandalf is a name given to him by others in his current "Grey" incarnation. Who is to say that Gandalf's first form was not as a Blue Wizard who was killed in the East and reincarnated as "the Grey" and renamed Gandalf?
In the final episode I noticed the Harfoots seem to wear different colours based on their family, of which the family of Nori wear Blue. So I was certain they were gonna give The Stranger a blue item of clothing but that sadly didn’t happen. But they did pack an extra blanket into Nori’s backpack, which is probably blue and she may potentially give to the stranger in a later season.
Wouldn't want to give it away too quickly
It’s literally Gandalf. He directly quotes him about 4 times. It also would explain why Gandalf loves hobbits so much. Oh and also Amazon doesn’t think the audience knows enough about Tolkien lore so they would never waste an opportunity to make it Gandalf.
I noticed that too. Here's hoping for a blue wizard.
Have you even watched the show? You're giving the show creators WAYYYY too much credit.
@@whitelightning2100 Which anyone with a shared cultural background might do. Not unreasonable to think that all the Wizards might have that.
I think he is Gandalf because of the follow your nose comment, but also the way Nori goes with him to lead him on their journey and looks to him to tell her which way they should go is a nod to Gandalf telling Frodo which way to go when they leave Rivendell. It seems they are trying display how Gandalf came to love the Hobbits.
I've also noticed Meteor Man using hand gestures that are very similar to certain ones we see Gandalf use in the Peter Jackson movies.
I think is Gandalf aswell. “When in Doubt, Always Follow Your Nose.” - is what Gandalf said in Moria
This was the confirmation that this is almost 100% Gandalf. Anything else would be intentionally misleading and just be silly.
@@djmehs But could the phrase not be considered equivalent to many words of wisdom such as "go with your gut"? Phrases that wise people would use, such as the Istari, but not uniquely tethered to anyone in particular.
@@dylandickie2013 I suppose it’s possible, it’s just odd to me that he says EXACTLY the same think Gandalf says word for word in Fellowship of the Ring. Again, it would seem for them to use that line and have it not be Gandalf would be intentionally misleading the audience.
I really hope its not gandalf or a wizard we’ve already seen. A blue wizard would really bring a new perspective we never had the chance to experience
They were both nowhere near this part of middle earth.
@@Myjungleloveoeoeoe You are completely incorrect. Go back and do more research. He is leaving to the the lands of Rhuun, in the far East.... that's literally where the Blue Wizards went to try to influence people against evil and Sauron.
I think it's safe to say that the writers aren't going 100% with the lore.
Making him a Blue Wizard would be a good decision by the writers. So it won’t happen.
Hopefully the wizard has a subtle nuance that connects him to some trendy agenda or a protected class type of character.
I personally feel like the Stranger being a blue wizard makes more sense from a lore perspective and would probably be a better story overall but my gut tells me they'll make him Gandalf for the popularity bonus.
its Gandalf. He's dressed in grey and says Gandalf's lines
Remember this is not a show for the hardcore fans but for people who barely know/know nothing about The Lord of the Rings and other books/adaptations.
They won't call him Gandalf. Apparently they don't have the rights to that name and the tolkein institute asked them not to use gandalf, so he will not be gandalf, maybe one of the other names he has but it won't be gandalf.
@@smithical100 Amazon bought the television rights for The Lord of the Rings from the Tolkien Estate in November 2017. They own the rights to Gandalf. Hell they only put together this show from the appendices of Return of the King. Its Gandalf in the show and yes its dumb as hell.
Keeping my fingers crossed for The Stranger being a blue wizard! I agree with the fact that being a blue wizard would allow for a lot more narrative flexibility and character development different than the other 3 wizards we’ve seen through film
I only believe that he's the blue wizard if he show the famous trick of detaching thumb and re-attaching thumb to sauron
Blue wizard or not this show is crap
@@DarkSide_Gaming21338 it’s definitely not a masterpiece or anything but I still really enjoyed most of the show. Currently re-watching to analyze some segments a little more and see if it holds up better watching it all together :)
@@Tatertot006 well good luck to you I personally will never rewatch it because of its lack of care for tolkiens works. Along with that just the bad writing, logic breaking writing, people pulling things out of thin air for information and last but not lest people just teleporting where they need to be when the plot demands it even if the timelines don’t match up. It all just feels very season 8 for game of thrones and this was even more painful to get through than that for me.
@@DarkSide_Gaming21338 Thank you! I agree with you though. I did get some GOT Season 8 vibes for sure from bits of it with the writing :) I wonder if it's due to having a different director every few episodes or so? I remember similarly with the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy it feeling really disjointed with the writing due to the director changes. It would be interesting to see just 1 director for season 2
Reasons offf the top of my head he is probably not a blue wizard:
-Studio doesn't own the rights to use them in the show (as far as we know)
-The blue wizards wear blue, they were sent to middle earth together, and are friends.
-They are sent to the east, not the west.
-They are sent much earlier than Gandalf. Gandalf is the last of the 5 wizards to arrive.
-The show is called Rings of Power and seems to revolve around characters that inherit the rings of power. Galadriel, Elrond, etc....probably Gandalf.
yeah its before the movies
I'm really hoping he's a Blue Wizard. Lots of storytelling possibilities and room for interpretation. Plus it wouldn't break the lore by having Gandalf in the Second Age.
They only have the rights to the second age. They can’t use material from the third age
nothing prevents the arrival of a Blue Wizard in the remaining 4 seasons. But this one is Gandalf.
Sure...but it would break the lore in every other way possible!!!
There is an actual year that Gandalf showed up in Middle Earth…. This whole show breaks the Lore
I’m pretty sure the writers of this series are in no way concerned about being faithful to Tolkien. They may have just invented a new wizard, it would be a lesser infraction than a bunch of other inventions they came up with.
The thing that really makes it feel like it is Gandalf for me is this feels like it is a foundation for his fondness for Harfoots and subsequently Hobbits. I really hope it is a blue wizard that would be better for the story I think.
Its the moths when he banishes the mystics. Like you said his love for Harfoots. And when he tells Nori to follow her nose. Thats his line from LoTR.
@@yeoy2004 Exact in the caves!
@@yeoy2004 he quotes Fellowship roughly in his battle with the mystics as well. When he tells them to “return to shadow” that is pretty much the thing he tells the Balrog on the bridge in Khazad Dum
@@yeoy2004 that means that they have to change the lore from the already out bc ive been hearing he comes at the 3rd age and this is only the second. so they would have to completly wipe those movies to follow that
After the way they so heavily hinted at Sauron and it turned out to be Sauron, I really don't think it's anyone but Gandalf.
Would be clever and interesting if Nori Brandyfoot was the one who eventually crosses path with Gandalf and tells him the "Always follow your nose" line, which he would later share with the Hobbits.
I’m not sure, with Tolkien’s own writings, (considering the timeline) that she would ever meet Gandalf.
@@justintegtmeier Or maybe it's a saying that was shared from generation to generation and, at some point, a Harfoot or a Hobbit shares it with Gandalf. I'd rather the stranger not be Gandalf.
@@justintegtmeier Well, the timeline of the show's Second Age was already blending thousands of years together. I could see them putting Gandalf at the end of the show as a sort of nod, skipping the fact he arrived in 1000TA
I'm a 100% on board with you. I was also confused why they would enter gandalf into the second age. I had a passing thought on this, so I say thanks, I'm now hoping for a blue wizard. A brand new wizard on screen, one we have only read about. They have a chance to steer his character in any way they want. Great video!
The only issue is the Blues were said to arrive together, so unless the other blue somehow landed somewhere else... Those oracle girl characters said he is not the one they were looking for but is the other one.
I always watch with Korean subtitles because of my wife and when talking to Nori, about the Astari, he mentions there are others, but in the Korean translation, it says 1 of 2. I thought that was interesting and leans me to think he's a blue wizard.
Oh, that's interesting! Thank you for a good hint.
Well that's interesting. Though I wouldn't be suprised IF that was mis-translated. In the german dub for example it is clearly said that Celeborn is dead and NOT just MIA. Although you would presume as a viewer that missing in action for multiple hundreds of years basically means dead it isn't clearly said in the original dub.
I have LONG thought that the blue wizards should be a focus of an adaptation because of the freedom creators would have both from a character standpoint and the world in the east. And I also think it would be interesting to have one fall into darkness and betray the other and becoming one of the big bads of the series. I think it has some real potential!
Meh
Think with me. No one knows what happened to the Blues, so it would make it difficult for the writers to break the lore. BUT, if any of the Blues meets any of the other characters in the show, then the knowledge of their whereabouts would at some point reach The Wise, and we would’ve been told. So, they would end up breaking the lore anyway.
Unless the Stranger IS one of the Blue Wizards, and gets to discover in the East that the other had allied himself with Sauron and they end up fighting and getting both killed, for example. But then the Stranger CANNOT meet ANY of our known characters, because no one ever knew what happened to the Blues.
One becoming evil and the other remaining good sounds just like Saruman and Gandalf. That would be a very meh direction if they choose to go that way.
@@Saadsaif It would. Actually it is said of the Blues that “their works delayed and weakened the works of Sauron”, so it would be weird if they turned evil
Maybe the Stranger desperately needs to go East so he can find his friend, the other Blue, and maybe they both become the “Eastern front” of the fight against the Darkness, of which no one knows about
Maybe the storyline of the Stranger could introduce characters from the East, like Khamul, a man who ends up being one of the Nazgul 😁
@@sionnachrealta5534 if he’s a blue wizard I expect he’ll be heading east, since wether they choose success or failure(Tolkien had thought both at different points), it’s always them operating in the east. And I still think it would be possible to write a good betrayal story, despite the parallels to Gandalf and Saruman IF they were to spend a good amount of time developing their friendship ahead of time… which I think would be harder to develop starting them off separately. But in the end, if they didn’t do that I wouldn’t be heartbroken. I’d really just be excited to have some blue wizard content and see how they exercised the freedom of having less developed characters AND less developed regions to play with.
"The Other" to me is significant. Rather than "Another", this specifically says he is THE other. Other implies the existence of one besides him. If he is THE other, then there is most likely ONE other being like him. I personally think this is the second blue wizard, and they are calling him "The other" to mean "The other of the two", where they either just know about the other wizard, or were told by the other wizard of this man appearing soon who was like him. That is a good reason to call him "The other".
But why do the mystics first believe he is Sauron? With the power of the one in the middle, do they really have to „search“ for either Sauron or „The Other“
@@matz666 Not sauron, the other blue wizard
@@WeyounSix yes, in the end. But in the first scene they still believe he is Sauron. So for whom did the search for?
@@WeyounSix they believe he was Sauron until the halfoots and Nori came and helped him. Then they said he is the other.
So if they knew the other blue wizard they would call him the another one not the other according to your explanation.
When Gandalf arrived, he came in the Third Age, and arrived at the Gray Havens. Cirdan recognized him, and even gave him the Ring of Fire, saying he would need it more in the trials to come.
Gotta love hindsight ay!! ROP bought Netds!! Now He’s reverting back lol.
Yes but have you watched the show? What makes you think Amazon is going to stick to how the books go? I would be surprised if he wasn't Gandalf at this point, it's almost too obvious putting his story with the Harfoots, Gandalf was the only one who gave much attention to the Hobbits in the Third Age. If it is Gandalf I really don't like what they did with him in this show.
Timeline doesn’t matter, the show doesn’t follow books, lore, timeline or anything. Stop speculating about it, that stranger has a better chance to be Smaug than not being Gandalf.
@@micahwendell he said follow your nose, the exact same thing gandolf said in Moria. They literally told us it's gandolf
From what I could find, all the wizards arrived about 1000 TA, and they either arrived as a group and then split off, or arrived close enough together for it not to be worth mentioning. Of course, we're also not dealing with the "official" timeline, since the Elvish Rings should've been forged 1500 years prior to Isildur being born, and Galadriel should've already been settled in Lothlorien with Celeborn (supposedly dead in the show, though we all know that isn't true) and their daughter.
So, yeah, not really evidence that this isn't him.
Another point someone just mentioned to me: Nori says on a couple of occasions that The Stranger is there "to help". One of the blue wizards is Rómestámo, which means "East-helper."
I've been telling people this
I'm pretty sure the direct rip-off quote from Gandalf at the end says more, than an out of context "help".
I doubt the show runners even know who the blue wizards are.
All the wizards came to help. This is wizard is very clearly Gandalf.
I wanted it to be Gandalf.... now I hope it's a blue, and doesn't have to follow Gandalf canon.
Jackson never had the rights to use the blues iirc. So their storyline can go anywhere.... dancing around canon if need be.
How many folks off the street, could even name both blues, and their small mentions in LOTR.... I just know them as two blue wizards who went east.
Maybe when it came to wondering... Saruman was the odd duckling that laid down roots. Content to surround himself by nature...before the corruption. The other four.... wagons and horses or sleds and rabbits.... Rhosgobel rabbits.🙃
A blue wizard is what I hope for as well. The arrival of the second would be a great storyline but I love the theory that the other blue wizard has already arrived, fallen, and sent the mystics. And it would also be intriguing to see a story about a blue wizard fall.
why would he sent the mystics? the mystics searched for sauron
Did you watch the show. I know its boring so I also missed stuff
isildur already born. so that should be gandalf. in the series they skipped thousands of years
@@cankoca9251 The original commentor said that the blue wizard sent the mystics... they were searching for sauron as their lord
@@cankoca9251 i wouldn´t even say "skipped", more like weirdly merged events. But hey, expecting the directors to depict everything would take like 40 seasons or something :D
I honestly feel like it's Saruman, they're setting up his fall perfectly. We will journey with him, he meets the blue Wizards. Has a wonderful Character arc where we see him grow in strength and kindness, and Gandalf will show up. Immediately beloved by everyone he has built a connection with, and even being chosen to bear a ring. This would plant such an amazing seed of resentment within Saruman only seen in the subtext of the writing. Imagine befreidning every race, and suddenly a version exactly like you shows up and everyone loves him more for no apparent reason. Even god himself chose this guy while you had to volunteer.
Given Gandalf says he never goes into the East, that's a strong blow against the idea of the Stranger being Gandalf.
Not really. The fact that he says that sets up for a backstory of WHY he would never go east.
Yeah and the rest of this show closely follows lore so it makes no sense if they would deviate here.
absolutely, dunno where the idea came from he cxould be gandalf lol
And dwarven women have beards. Amazon doesn't care that much about the small details
@@joetjoep8408 I hope that's sarcasm...
I agree, with the possibility of a Blue Wizard ( and it not being Gandalf ) for all reasons you mention. The search for the stars too, (constellation ) I got a feeling, could be a "Where is my friend" which might nod to Pallando looking for Alatar, as we know Alatar asked for his friend Pallando to join him.
Istar, means "one of the Wise" more or less, and not just "Istari, the wizards" This could be maiar-folk as well.
One thought that intrigues me, is the idea, that songs which play a strong point in this series, will be the answer.
I have been told that this idea is just a "stupid one" but, The more I entertain it, the more reason, to believe it could be Tilion. "The man in the moon that fell down too soon."
The hobbits, had song and poem, of the Man in the Moon. Tilion, the maiar, that would pretty much take clippings of the silver tree he cared for, and take them to the moon, often chose form as an old man, or an old elf. He was a huntsman also, so fending of the wolf-were cultists with his powers make sense. The Stranger had an affinity with growth, in healing the wood, which Tilion would have as a caretaker of the Silver Tree. When the Stranger heals the one tree, it leaves a small sapling that was unlike the other parts of the tree. perhaps from the silver tree?
In the over all story, this could play into things, and a realisation, that it isn't mithril that is needed to save the elves and the world, but life, and growth, and the plantings of images of the silver tree? Speculation there.
More though, This 'Istar" fell down, and I'd wager too soon, as he arrived by meteor. Which leads me to believe perhaps a celestial 'brush' with moon and sun might have knocked him down? Hmm...
What I like about this series, is that if we are guessing, we are intrigued. And, that is good writing.
The Halbrand/Sauron was unexpected by me, because it didn't fit. I had expected him to be one of the kings of Men that recieved a ring. I am not dissapointed by this, though.
We still have the other rings, to be forged, so we'll see more I'd wager.
So, like you, I agree there is plenty evidence, that he is a blue wizard ( or perhaps the Man in the Moon, Tilion ) and if it isn't they definetly will have 'missed some great story possibilities'
Like you say, a better chance to make a story your own is if you aren't a solidly defined character.
Such an intriguing theory!!!
I stand with you completely in the optimistic Team Blue &/or Team Tilion! The Man In the Moon could be the legendary fable describing a certain maiar who just happened to decide to stay on Middle Earth as an Istar…even though I have a nagging doubt that the writers would not want to delve this deep in the lore to create such a connection.
Wow, that's a really intriguing theory! 🤩
Well written comment. I would truly be so impressed if this theory turned out to be true. Not only impressed by your brilliant prediction but the writers of this show. If the stranger is a blue wizard, I would also be impressed with the writers. However, if the stranger does indeed turn out to be Gandalf, I will likely be a bit disappointed with the writers (unless they really appeal to book lore somehow). No matter what happens though, I really enjoyed your comment and I think what you said about all of us making guesses correlating with this show being written well so far is actually a good point. As much as some stuff frustrates the heck out of me, I really did enjoy the guessing game.
I wondered if it’d be a blue wizard or maybe even Saruman. However, ‘always follow your nose’ is a Gandalf quote, and they still want to have parallels to the films in more than one sense.
like Gandalf, Saruman doesn't arrive until the 3rd age. it would be a massive deviation.
I fully think its Gandalf, the writers have already shown to have very little respect for the source material and severely lacking in originality.
@@gurdyghost I'm pretty the blue wizards arrive in the second age while gandalf and saruman arrive in the third age.
@@lohengrin5082 For real, I don't know why there's so much of a debate over his identity. He's spent almost all his screentime hanging out with the dollar store sociopathic hobbits, and put yourself in Amazon's shoes, what would a Middle-Earth show be without Gandalf regardless of what it means for the lore, which they've already demonstrated a great disrespect for
@@balashibuyeeter2704 Yes. that's my point. Saruman and Gandalf don't arrive until the 3rd age, that would be a huge deviation. I'm hoping for a blue wizard.
You offer some great insights here and I agree that it'd be great to see Daniel make a character that's fully his own. So, like you, I'm hoping they take it in the direction of the Blue Wizard. And I'd love to do a rewatch with you and listen to your interpretation and speculation from episode to episode. Looking forward to your input after the rewatch.
More mystery boxes! What fun!! It sure adds more intrigue and anticipation to this series! The quality of the writers to keep the audience waiting is formidable.
What's the point of putting Gandalf's words in the character? "...Follow your nose." If not going to be Gandalf? Could it be that the showrunners intend to fix the mess they have made? Or could it be that all wizards in middle earth come set up with that cliche phrase
Like someone else said on a video, the Stranger is not a character, it's a plot device, a mystery box, designed to keep you guessing and guessing ad nauseam. The whole season his whole point of being there was to generate specualtion whether he was Sauron or a Wizard, now for the next season we will be guessing if he is Gandalf or one of the Blue Wizards, what next for season three? is he good or evil? I dunno, I just wish he was a propper character, you know, someone with agency, motivations, personality, etc.
nah
No! Just keep dragging along so you consume the next product!
Yep. The writers in this show are playing classic games of "keepaway" with the plot. It's one of the biggest gripes I have with the show, because Tolkien never wrote his stories like that. He didn't beat around the bush like this. He just... told you what was happening. My second major gripe with the show was the fact that *every single line of dialogue* involved arguing or squabbling in one way or another. It soured the vibe so bad. Even when characters are supposed to be friends, the writers would make them say petty and sarcastic lines to each other. It really made Middle Earth feel like a supremely unpleasant place to live and I felt no sense of joy or longing while watching it. Is this Tolkien or is this a high school drama?
I figured his name out already! It's "McGuffin". His first name I sadly don't remember...
I'm pretty sure it's actually Saruman. I believe the blue wizards are already present in Rhun and started a magic cult and sent the three magic ladies to find Sauron. There are a lot of clues pointing towards Sauruman: His initial scene where he is surrounded by fire is both a reference to his eventual fall to Sauron's corruption, as well as a reference to his background as the smith Curumo working with Aule. He has a very powerful voice, and that's the first thing they show you about him after he wakes up. He has a connection to trees and plants, until he began raising his army of uruk-hai, Orthanc was a verdant place, and Treebeard mentions in the books that he used to walk through the forest and talk to the trees. His whole plot line revolves around whether he is good or evil, and while we know Saruman eventually succumbs to evil, he was known to be good for quite some time. I believe the vision the three showed him of him ruling over Middle-Earth may eventually be a source of why he was corrupted. Also, when he takes the magic lady's staff, it really does look a lot like Saruman's staff. And finally, Saruman did canonically travel to Rhun. So I'm leaning hard towards the Gandalf teases being red herrings, and this dude is Saruman. Who will go and confront the Blue Wizards in Rhun.
Damn, I only know the movies and the show lol. That was pretty cool dude. Definitely got me convinced
@@Shiny101 you're missing whole lotta good stuff if you don't know the books. I'd recommend them
Saruman is a morally gray character. The Stranger shouts "I am good!" in the last episode.
In LOTR The Fellowship of the Rings, Gandalf says "When in doubt, always follow your nose, Meriadoc". In the last episode the Stranger says "when in doubt, Elanor Brandyfoot, always follow your nose".
The Stranger quickly became friends with the Harfoots. Gandalf was friends with many of the Hobbits.
Don't apply any logical reason,this show does what it wants. Season 1 has ruined the real lore
my (admittedly silly) reason he's Saruman is that he could pass like a younger Christopher Lee. Of course Elrond looks nowhere near like Hugo Weaving so that would seam the producers didn't look that much at the Jackson movies to typecast actors who look like the movie characters.
As much as I want more blue wizard content I think it’s really going to be Gandalf and I’m happy for that. In addition to all the clues in his scenes if you study the actors performance it really seemed like he studied Ian’s performances as Gandalf.
The throwaway line "follow your nose" makes him 100% gandalf in my mind. Like Halbrands "consider it a gift"....
Yes, that sealed the deal
Im done hoping on theories.. expect the worse
The thing here is "a gift" its stuff from the books, but the line of the nose is for the fans of the movies.
hopefully they want to do it differently this time
@@Kynokefalos I know but you can see their shitty writting pattern quite clearly
They definitely nodded to him with the whole, “When in doubt, always follow your nose.”.
Which would be dumb if it wasn't him.
@@emz2969 well there isn’t a shortage of dumb in this show
Could just be a wise wizardly saying 😅
@@indianasquatchunters 🙄 die mad
@@mephostopheles3752 I’ll die quite content. Expressing an opinion that I think a show has dumb parts doesn’t at all mean I’m angry. If that’s what you get from my comment I hope you find a way to see the world in a better way before you die.
I'm 100% on board with him being a blue wizard, and really hope he is! Here are the things that make me believe he's a blue wizard:
- The mystics said the stranger is "the other one," so maybe Alatar is already in middle earth and ran into or escaped from the mystics somehow, and the stranger is actually Pallando
- Obvious one, all of the talk about going east (only the blue wizards and saruman went east)
- Gandalf arrived last of all the wizards in middle earth, by ship, and was given Narya from Círdan the shipwright
- The stranger does not look like gandalf, Tolkien says the wizards don't age much from when they arrive, and the stranger does not have grey/white hair
- Gandalf's wizard powers revolve around fire and light, here we see the stranger manipulating water/ice
These are the main points off the top of my head. Here is to hoping a new story about the wizards will come!!
you are writing all this like the writers care about Tolkien's lore. Look how they treated Sauron. HOw was Sauron portrayed in contributing to the fall of Numenor? The 3 elve rings made first? Really?
The Stranger does look like Gandalf. The Stranger did use fire magic AND light. And he used the MOTH symbol as well, that is Gandalf's calling. I believe They will make Stranger Gandalf but under his younger name Olorin. It would be nice if the blue wizards were introduced. but making the Stranger not Gandalf after all these direct hints is the showrunners calling all the viewers that know anything about Tolkien idiots.
@@danielkim672 "But making the Stranger not Gandalf after all these direct hints is the showrunners calling all the viewers that know anything about Tolkien idiots."
Which would be totally what they would do honestly! That's why even I, who deeply dislikes this shitfest of a show, think that it's a blue wizard.
I think that the stranger is GANDALF
Because in the very last episode of the RINGS OF POWER, in the near ending part The Stranger said to NORI that " whenever you doubt always follow your nose "
And the same words we have heard by GANDALF in either THE HOBBIT or THE LORD OF THE RINGS movie
We can only hope. My guess is that he was meant to be Gandalf, but the writers may have to walk this line of planning back as Amazon implements limited damage control.
Nah, a show cant afford rewrites this big and not become a total mess. I think the references to Gandalf are just a throw off for us to comment and theorize, another mystery that will remain for the next season, and even further. I'm pretty sure they got these first characters pretty much determined in order to produce a lineout of what these 5 seasons are gonna be. I'm really hoping he'll be a blue wizard, it would be dope to finally see their story.
@@edsonfilho9429 in this case its no problem since they have similar powers and purposes!
It's Gandalf %100, he said the last quote in the mines of Moria too.
This show sucks
@@valentin7693 yeah man, that’s what I meant with references to throw us off and make us debate 😉. PS.: I liked the show, it has problems but it has certainly been positive and they have room for improvement!
I believe that will be the case now. They've messed around the timeline so much. So the argument that he's a blue wizard and not gandalf because the timeline doesnt match isnt compelling.
They just left too many clues that he's gandalf probably to pay fan service. They turned galadriel and sauron into shippers ffs. And ripped off LOTR.
This show is written by people who havent researched enough and only watched lotr to qualify for running the show.
Please do a video on how Gil Galad should be in the series. I think some of the people running the show probably pay attention to this channel. Gil Galad really, really needs to be the awesome hero he was in the books, and not a 2nd rate antagonist. I would love to see him really display some heroics and awesome leadership in future seasons.
I agree. Gil Galad comes off a bit like a used car salesman in this show.
Yes please!
I think it is very possible that the studio didn't decide yet on who the stranger is going to be. They might just wait for the reaction of the audience and work from there to check how the hardcore fans react to the concept in general and how much leeway they can permit them selfs. Also it would fit with the fact that 'it isn't confirmed yet' and they put in hints for both plots, Rhun for the BW and the 'follow your nose'-quote for the Gandalf plot. It would make sense from an economical standpoint and also from the view of the directer. You can adapt to what your audience wants, while still obtaining some creative freedom.
That's wonderful character writing. Let's see how the fans react.
@@Fintanflaherty That was Disney Star wars' plan and we saw how that went
Oh yea. Most likely they don’t know yet.
Marketing.
@@Fintanflaherty are you being sarcastic?
Blue wizard. Saruman didn’t know much if anything about hobbits or their location. As Gandalf himself said in the Fellowship, he’s the only one of the wise that goes in for ‘hobbit lore’. Gandalf himself did not fall from the sky but arrived at the grey havens and was not only greeted by Cirdan, but he surrendered the ring of fire to him. A pretty big occurrence given the show’s title ‘rings of power’. Also, Gandalf himself tells Faramir ‘to the east, I go not’, when discussing his many names. It would be a tragic change to the story line even when taking a wide scope of interpretation of the second age story line. Tolkien himself would rise from the grave and shove his pipe up the writers backsides.🧐
I knew gandalf didn't go east but forgot that line!
@@jubjub13483 it took me a while to separate the rings of power story line from Tolkien’s actual lore in my brain, but I am enjoying the series
@@rwgoodship3653 Yer some bits are good, enjoyed the stranger mystery and where sauron was, elrond and durin were great also!
@@jubjub13483 I wonder if the writers of this show are actual fans of Tolkien’s writings. The Witcher series on Netflix is having this problem and now are in jeopardy of losing Henry Cavill as the Witcher. He is a huge fan of the original stories and the video games and it seems he has gotten into a bit of a row with writers who are taking the story line away…. If you haven’t seen The Witcher, I highly recommend it. Cheers from Canada
My dude this show has nothing to do with Tolkien lore give up trying to explain it from the source material you will only be disappointed:(
When the Stranger expell the cultists, it's magic effects are in the shape of moths. I believe this may also be a reference to Gandalfs use of moths to send messages in Peter Jackson movies
Plus he says some lines that are direct references to Gandalf’s lines in the movies. “Always follow your nose”
@@SKRicochet sure, but that is said in the video
@@SKRicochet Maybe he's Toucan Sam
@@youthactionpact lmao
Yeah, there is too much Gandalf symbolism. Fire, moths, follow your nose, etc
I thought that having the constellation named "the peregrine's hat" was a tell tale sign that the stranger is, in fact, a blue wizard. People over Rhun had to be familiar with some peregrine that wore a strange hat in order to be able to name a constellation "peregrine's hat". To be worthy of having a constellation named after him, the hatted peregrine has to be someone powerful and old (as an istar always is). Another clue is the stranger's instinctive draw to the constellation, signalling that he's seeking someone he has a deep connection with.
It is correct that Gandalf says in the lore: .... where the stars are strange.
but it is obvious that's the case in the South as many Medieval Europeans experienced that the constelletion were different for the North, but the same when traveling East or West.
An area where the stars are strange is not Rhun, that just BS Amazon style.
Btw the Peregrine Hat looks most like Gemini to me, a constellation that is not tied to any of the constellaions Tolkien named.
Peregrine's hat?......
*Peregrin's* hat?
*Dang, Pippin has been haunting Gandalf for years! No wonder Gandalf feels the need to call him a "Fool of a Took!" every chance he gets!!!* 😂😂😂
@@bridgerhibbert2993 LOL
Peregrine, Latin Peregrinus, is a name originally meaning "one from abroad", that is, a foreigner, traveller, or pilgrim.
in Latin Galdalf's name should be:
griseo peregrinus
I'm quite sure Tolkien knew this when he nailed Pippin to Gandalf.
Based on what they’ve said about what season 2 will be, this is going to be a Galadriel dream.
I agree with this 100%.
As far as I'm concerned, The Stranger is Blue until proven Grey.
When the show runners think that they were being clever with Halbrand's character, I wouldn't be surprised if the stranger is in fact Gandalf
Based on halbrand, then gandalf is 100 % confirmed
Agreed, I think they will want to bait people who like Peter Jackson's trilogy but don't know any lore with a prequel of Gandalf. They are too cheap and creatively bankrupt from a writing perspective to make him a blue wizard. Look at how they already ignored so much lore as well.
They clearly dgaf about lore, so it might be Gandalf despite him not being born for a thousand years.
They said Halbrand being Sauron was only a twist for non book readers and all the clues were deliberate for people who know the lore. They wanted to focus on the characters more than twists.
@@JPISME91 I guess. The show did have it's moments, but overall I was personally very underwhelmed
I think the whole "follow your nose" line is a nice tribute to the LOTR books/movies. I hope hes a Blue Wizard.
Maybe Manwe gave all wizards this advice.
I more get the feeling that "follow your nose" is the showrunners saying to the audience: "better follow it because we are leading you by the nose."
I think your theory about The Stranger being the second blue wizard makes a lot of sense, Matt. I would like to see that. Then we would get to see both of them!
The later writing of Tolkien was most likely what was the focus of the wizard .. they made the audience beleive he was possibly sauron .. then made them beleive he was possibly gandalf with the " Smell " thing .. But those who knows about the East and the land of Rhun knows that the blue wizard were tasked to go there and find Sauron and disrupt its influence ! Wich is exactly what the Wizard from ring of power was tasked to do !
Oh Matt, I really admire the strength of your hope! 😂 There’s just no way it isn’t Gandalf - I can literally watch the showrunners having a “brain”storm meeting saying it would “make sense” to “give the origin story” of Gandalf. Most of the show’s first season has JJ Abrams written all over it and this definetely sounds like something from his “creative” toolbox
I agree... I and many others wouldn't believe Halbrand was Sauron because it was too obvious of a red herring (much like the Stranger), but then they went ahead and did it. But now they're suddenly supposed to be 4D-chess writers with this wizard? No, he's Gandalf. And that's just fine. Let's hope they don't change their minds half-way through the series and prioritize being subversive, because that's how Game of Thrones went down.
Game of Thrones never went down. People just did not like the ending bcs they don't understand writing of clasics
@@mattteomatei3610 - LOL no, people disliked it because they messed up the characters in the name of subverting the viewer. You don't even know what the "writing of clasics[sic]" is.
@@mokarokas-1727 Maybe you don't. I have been a publicist for 50 years.
@@mattteomatei3610 - Assuming that's even true (I think you'd be better at spelling then), that has NOTHING to do with writing classic literature.
I would be shocked if the writers understood enough of Tolkien lore to know the blue wizards ever existed.
You're one of those
funny
The guys who work on the show got the job because they're friends with the overrated jj abrams
@@jackd6148 Film Sponsor: "Your films have no discernable plot, depth of character, and are devoid of narrative elegance. Why should I cover your new venture?"
JJ: "CGI explosions and '90s RPG video game quality dialogue?"
Sponsor: "Son of a b****, I'm in."
This Was so Well done Matt! I Totally agree with your assessment and theory. I hope this is the Case for Season 2 It would make me super Happy and Excited!
That is my initial thought too. the star map seems weird for gandalf to need but as a meeting place for the 2 blue wizards seems logical. it could also easily be that the blue wizards passed on some of their sayings and love for the hobbits to Gandalf as well later when they see each other years later.
I really hope it's one of the blue wizards, but the butterfly when he banished the wraith is a classic Gandalf's move. I don't know if Istari can have the same skills, but I hope they can, so Rings of Power can make the Stranger as one of the blue wizards and exploring more of their lore.
Well, technically, if you look at the Gandalf vs Saruman fight, do you see them doing different magic? I see it as a really similar use of their powers.
The butterfly/moth is how he communicated with Radagast. I think it points more to Radagast than Gandalf.
I think the “when in doubt, always trust your nose” settles it.
Its only a classic move in the films. Tolkien never wrote anything about moths.
@@jkhristian9603 Thank you! I think some people screaming about how things “ought to be” are unconsciously taking it from the films.
Gandalf was met in Lindon by Cirdan, who recognized him, having known him in Aman. Not by falling out of the sky. That's Tolkien canon.
Is this show particularly true to canon?
@@pninnannot at all
It is canon that the wizards have been to middle earth during second age. In the third age they returned, although without memory of their first deployment
I really hope you are right
I wouldn’t feed any storylines to the show runners; if they haven’t read Tolkien yet, why give them any plot points or credibility? They deserve nothing from us but scorn.
I think they purposely didn’t commit to him being Gandalf to see reactions. And they’ve left enough room to reveal him as whichever wizard makes sense. I imagine they see that if it was Gandalf, a lot of people are going to be cheesed
They committed to him being Galdalf pretty hard. You people are just simping for bad writing.
My eyes are still healing from how far they rolled when the stranger said "I am good"
I’d love to see a video about Gandalf’s first encounter with the Hobbits and his general opinion of them.
Amazon, please hire this guy. You need it.
Ahhh I was sure he was Saruman. I thought the balance of good and evil was there, and especially the actor that plays the stranger looks like he could grow old and become Christopher Lee 😅
I think its quite clear from S1 that they intended for this to be gandalf, saying the follow your nose line, turning the evil eminems into a moth with his magic (similar to how gandalf talked to the moths in lotr), and immediately started speaking in riddles similar to gandalf when he learned english overnight. Maybe they will change their minds because of how badly it was received for season 2.
Yeah exactly its Gandalf
evil eminems LOLOL!
Nah I thought they were Eminems at first too 😂
@@mallex9310 Hahaha that is literally what they look like... eminem doing an evil face.
Because Gandalf doesn't come to middle earth for *many centuries* after RoP takes place. Gandalf as well as the other 4 Wizards are sent to middle earth by the Valor in the *third age* .
People don't like it (that know the lore) because it's not possible, at least not that it's Gandalf. IMO, people are assuming because of the 'follow your noise' line. It could just be a line, nothing more. It definitely shouldn't be Gandalf if following actual text/lore.
I could not agree more with your thesis, which echoes my own exactly. I've contended and hoped all along that the Stranger would turn out to be one of the Blue Wizards. As you point out, this would be a far more intriguing, original, and liberating artistic decision for the writers. I'll only add that in LOTR, Faramir quotes Gandalf as saying " to the East I go not."
But the writers gave the Stranger one of Gandalf's iconic lines "When it doubt, follow your nose, Meriadoc" as "when in doubt, Elanor Brandyfoot, follow your nose".
He also wears grey and became friends with the Harfoots, just like Gandalf's friends with the Hobbits.
@@drogadepc They have thrown lots of Peter Jackson film quotes into the show and attributed them to other characters, i dont think that proves anything, also the follow your nose quote isnt actually in the LOTR's book, it was created by Jackson so again im not sure that is proof that it is Gandalf.
"to the East I go not" is a present tense clause, it says nothing about whether Gandalf has been to the East in the past, and doesn't anyone think it is weird for Gandalf to say it if he had never been to the East? I mean why wouldn't Gandalf go there?
ARGUMENT FOR THE STRANGER BEING GANDALF or SARUMAN
GANDALF:
The Stranger is with and likes Hobbits, Saruman discarded them, while Gandalf gravitated to them.
The actor for the Stranger has blue eyes, like Gandalf, Saruman's eyes are dark brown.
The Stranger, like Gandalf, was sent to Middle Earth from "above" to help. (So far, yes.)
It was set up story-wise well to be Gandalf, one of the few things, if so, the show got right.
SARUMAN:
The Stranger likes the "Control Weather" spell a lot. Gandalf never used it, if he had it, but Saruman did.
The Stranger also likes the "Eldritch Blast" (force) spell. Saruman used it more than Gandalf, and better.
The writers seem to enjoy subverting viewer expectations a lot. Most would expect Gandalf, so, let's make it Saruman.
MAYBE:
The show itself (at time of production) probably hasn't decided yet who the Stranger is... they may wait for feedback and then throw everyone a curve ball and make it... Tom Bombadil?!
DEFINITELY:
We all want this show to be better. We're all routing for it... Hopefully, the writers and directors won't continue to waste the talents of the actors and the visual effects. The acting is great, it's visually stunning, but that only goes so far, and not very. The story and directing has to get better, or this will be known as an epic failure, that shouldn't have.
If the writers go for the cheap bait and switch, the good money is on Sarumon. And actually it would probably make more sense.
Gandalf doesn't go that far as much as we know, but we do know Sarumon did. Having him arrive first sets him up for seniority sort of. All of them should arrive with the same goal before any of them fall to Sauron's influence. Basically they make the villain a tragic character which is what Hollywood likes to do with villains. They can have him corrupted by their new villains instead. It echoes the "can he be trusted" thing we see in LotR.
I think it's more consistent with the way these people seem to think to have the Dark Lords arrive together. It gives them the chance to actually surprise us with Gandalf from out of no where at some point. Having Sarumon arrive and corrupted before the other four would allow them to have him be manipulating them from the beginning. They could even have him sending the Blue wizards into the lion's den hoping to help corrupt them. Having Gandalf and Radagast never go that far East also works as an explanation for why they were never corrupted.
I think your suggestion of Sarumon makes the most sense.
@@BeteBlanc Yeah, arguments can be made both ways, as I showed. Quite frankly, I don't really care who it is, I just want the writing and directing to get much better. IMO the show isn't bad, but... it isn't good either, and considering the source material, that's a crime. The jump plots and writing are the format and caliber of a bad soap opera, (amnesia included) and the Tolkien fans will rebel, if this insult to his legacy continues.
It's like knowing you're going to have steak for dinner as a carnivore. You're excited leading up to it, but when dinner-time finally comes... it's mostly just grizzle. And finding the scarce delicious tidbits of actual meat, is too much of a chore, so you order a pizza. (something else)
I think they put themselves in a lose-lose situation. Either gave too many hints at him being Gandalf (friendship with hobbits, fire, the nose quote...) for then pulling out him being a blue wizard. Or if he's gandalf he's there way too soon and they should explain how he gets Narya which would further bother hardcore fans.
Well the shipwright of the gray havens hasn't even been mentioned let alone that he gets a ring. Really hoping for blue idk how you could love up to sir Ian's performance.
When he said "always follow your nose", it cemented the idea that he is a blue wizard for me. At this point Gandalf's arrival will be 2-3000 years from now. I think this blue wizard will succeed in his mission and be ready to leave when Gandalf arrives. At that point he'll tell Gandalf to trust the halflings and to always follow your nose.
I have never really thought that the Stranger is Gandalf, although I sort of ceded to the point after he is identified as an Istar. One of the several references in Tolkien is that Gandalf is met by CIrdan and that the 3 Rings have already been in existence. Cirdan gives Gandalf the Ring Narya. This is one of my favs from the earlier lore. I've always thought Narya probably helped Gandalf stay on track and complete his mission. If ROP was going to address Gandalf coming to ME I would really prefer they tell the story as it was written. It's a good one and doesn't need any help.
As people who love Tolkien and have to create new storylines, how could they NOT want to delve into a completely new wizard that has little to no restrictions for them? I hope they embrace that. If this turns out to be Gandalf, it will be a hit to the credibility of the show and it's ability to call itself Lord of the Rings.
This show has already ruined its credibility.
@@ODST_Republic Not for me. Not yet. Though it has taken a few hits. A shame for you. I hope you'll still find reason to watch season 2 and hope they will do a better job.
@@tomradcliff6859 it seems like they might just reboot it, I've seena few articles
@@ODST_Republic That's about as likely as Lucasfilm and Disney rebooting or retconning the sequel trilogy. It won't happen. You can't do that without having everything you do everafter questioned.
@@tomradcliff6859 I mean, they are being questioned now, I for one think if they reboot season 1, and make it a million times better, more lore accurate, and less Karen, and less side stories that don't really need to be there, itll be better. Its better to admit they are wrong then lose even more money with a 2nd season even with a little improvements. If they make a reboot, and its better, they won't lose audience every week like they did with this series, and actually sell merch unlike this series which probably have abysmal sales
I really hope he is a blue wizard. Would love to know their side of the story so much. As usual, your videos give my own guesses a solid backing for I do not think this Wizard is Gandalf either.
This video aged too well hahahah!
After the reveal of the Dark Wizard in the newest trailers, your theory of them knowing another wizard is literally confirmed (including confirmed by the description of the character) and the Blue Wizards theory got stronger.
And I would fing very interesting if they adapt one of them as a Blue Wizard of the early writings and the other (aka The Stranger) as a Blue Wizard of the later writings.
I'm still holding on to a hope that none of them are either Gandalf or Saruman as many people are stating because of the visual similarities. I feel like they could do Gandalf, but I don't think they would risk both of them. From next week on, maybe we'll learn.
The stranger having the same lines as Gandalf is NOT a guarantee that the stranger is Gandalf. We see a lot of examples where lotr characters get their lines from other characters. Just look at Galadriels queen monologue and how many of those lines were taken from Sauron on the raft. My guess is, the Stranger will meet Gandalf later down the line
I really really hope you’re right and that it’s a blue wizard. But given how the writing of season 1 has been and how heavy handed some of it was, I can’t put any faith in the writers. I can absolutely see them just having him be Gandalf.
and they'll pat themselves in the back for it if they do because they would be oh so clever...
surely blue, he even goes to the east wtf
This has to be the best theory thus far. I was super into the idea of Gandalf, because who doesn’t love Gandalf… but I’d much much rather them leave all of that lore alone and bring on the Blue Wizards.
Initially I thought the clues he was Gandalf were just easer-eggs and that he is a blue wizard, however the more I think about it, the more I think that the writers arent capable of that kind of writing and this is very likely going to be Gandalf
Yup, exactly my thoughts. I hoped so strongly that Halbrand wouldn't be Sauron because it's just dumping so many possibilities and creating so many problems (like the 1k years extinct royal line), but they still did it. Will be the same here. The writers wouldn't recognize potential if materialized spelled out floating in front of them.
This is Nerd of the Rings, he doesn’t have the balls to flat-out call this show what it is. Absolute garbage.
It’s Treebeard. It’s why he’s so for nature and wrapped in it. Something will happen to make him be the Treebeard we know from LOTR and protector of the lands.
Wow, this thought hardly crossed me, but now I'm convinced. I really hope the next season plays out like this.
I desperately want him to be a blue wizard... however, throwing all those Gandalf lines and references into his character in the final episode is a point that they can hardly explain if he turns out to be someone else.
… which would not be the showrunners‘ first ignorant blunder… 😂
The issue with it being a Blue is the fact its the Blue Wizards, they are a duo and even said they arrived together.
I'm surprised the connection with the Harfoots wasn't explored more as a reason for this to be Gandalf. You have to wonder why Gandalf paid such attention to hobbits in the third age, unless he had some intimate prior knowledge of their strength of character. The blue wizards might be more accurate from a timeline perspective, and more interesting to develop because we know so little about them, but I do think this story provides a plausible explanation for why Gandalf knew to look for a Bilbo-type hobbit to go with the dwarves to Erebor.
I'm hoping he's Radagast (because of all the moths, who we connect to Gandalf but actually, It was R that thought him and Saruman how to speak to animals) and that the "Dark Wizard" is a Blue Wizard turned evil, (because we don't have a lot of lore on them). Its would be really great if it was Alatar, because it sounds like Annatar, that mirrors the Sarmuan Sauron confusion in the 80's :D EDIT: 03:50 this picture fits quite nicely with that theory!
I never have enjoyed reading and I’ve always liked the Lord of the rings series, but I now feel like I am somewhat a part of the fandom because of all these awesome videos you make going over the books, the movies, the series. This channel is awesome and thank you so much for everything you’ve done! Great attention to detail.
I used to think that return of the King was way too long of a movie but now after watching a lot of your videos I understand it all and think it’s awesome
Gandolf has always been so subtle about his magic it’s hard to believe this character could be the same one unless he learns some sort of lesson. He’s been quite open about magic use until now.
Exactly
Gandalf used his magic to light fires, to light the way in Moria and refers rather explicitly about spells and incantations in many tongues. He's a classic wizard, if there has ever been one. If anyone is subtle about their magic, it would be Saruman
They could end up saying his experiences now are why he uses magic sparingly
This show has completely changed everything from Tolkien except names. Why do you think they would have Gandalf be subtle in his magic or not switch his place with a blue wizard? It’s possible they do damage control and make him a blue wizard for this reason, but he’s clearly supposed to be Gandalf. This show is garbage.
Here the Istar struugle with his identity and controlling his powers so it wouldn't really be a suprise that a amnesic younger Gandalf not yet use to the physical world and having a body would do inadvertently do harm without meaning it.
I thought it was pretty clear the stranger was Saruman as he was the first wizard to travel to middle earth. The flashes in the final episode of his magic have a white glow felt like an obvious nod to this.
Saruman was not the first wizard in Middle-Earth. Unless you mean that he was the first to get off the boat they all arrived on, and thus was first by a matter of minutes. They all arrived at the same time in 1000 of the Third Age.
Except for the two Blue Wizards who, in different parts of Tolkien's work, either arrived with the other wizards, or arrived much earlier in 1600 of the Second Age.
If you stick to Tolkien's lore, none of the Istari fit Stranger's story arch.
He can't be Gandalf, because Gandalf never went to Rhûn and he arrives in Middle-earth in the third age, not second.
He can't be Saruman, because he also arrives in the TA. Although Sauruman did venture to Rhûn...
Radagast also doesn't fit, because Radagast stayed near Mirkwood and arrived with Gandalf and Saruman in the TA.
He could be a blue wizzard, beause they did go to Rhûn and they did arrive in the SA, but they went together. In the second season of the show, we are introduced to a "dark wizzard", who already resides in Rhûn. If the Stranger was a blue wizzard, that would mean teh blue wizzards would have had to arrive separately, which we are specifically told they went together (originally only one was supposed to go and he took a friend with him).
But then again, Tolkien wrote that the Istari came from Valinor by boat to the Grey Havens and spoke to Círdan. The show shows the Stranger arrive in a colossal fireball-like crash and he has no staff or memory of magic or his purpose, so I guess the Stranger could be anyone, since the producers obviously took many of Tolkien's works as suggestions and remade them (e.g. Galadriel's story, the entire character of Halbrand, ...)
I'm a diehard fan since I was 13 and still: I would absolutely love The Stranger to be Gandalf. I understand the frustration of the Blue Wizards absence, specially because they belong to the timeline, but The Stranger's relationship to the Harfoots makes me wish he is Gandalf just so we can witness the beginnings of a relationship that will eventually take Sauron down. We are watching the desperate attempts of Númenorians, Elves, Dwarves to take him down and, at the same time, observing the flourishings of the thing that will accomplish that.
Seeing "Gandalf" learning to walk, talk, harness his powers, learning to live through the heart of Nori is amazing.
I really wish it's true.
I thought this could be the case initially. But as the season went along, and especially after the final episode, I think it’s clear that he’s intended to be Gandalf. Given the emphasis on his friendship with the hobbits and the “foreshadowing” quotes in the last episode, if it’s not Gandalf, they’re trying incredibly hard to make us think it’s him.
Don't forget his heavy use of light to kill the bad guys in the last episode, much like what Gandalf used against the Trolls and also in the Battle Of Helm's Deep.
When we first met the wizard, he was all about showing nori the star constellation, seemingly trying to find out "where" it is.
As we learn later, this star constellation can only be seen in Rhun and was also engraved on the shield of one of the mystical peeps.
I mean they pretty much shouted it in our faces in the last episode. From my point of view this is the clearest and most compelling argument, we are looking at a blue wizard here.
It really looks like he was sent by Illuvatar himself (since the meteor indicates he is coming from "the void" directly) and is supposed to go to Rhun and "be good" ;)
I’m another one hoping he’s a Blue Wizard. That “He is the other” line REALLY points in that direction for me.
Idk, that line to me makes me feel Gandalf. To think he came to the world to be the opposite of Sauron. There is nothing saying Gandalf couldn't have showed up in the second age.
@@Thanoric Apart from Tolkien
I would love if he's a Blue Wizard, also seeing more of their story would be awesome and what I really want to see more of him.
I think because he was introduced in the center of a flaming ring that he's Saruman and he'll be our 'fallen hero' of the series.
It is my belief that the Stranger is Saruman. According to the Silmerillian, in "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," Tolkien writes that "Of these Curumir (Saruman) was the oldest and came first . . ."
That’s been my thought as well!
the fact that we can see Elendil, Isildur and Anárion before the rings have been forged shows us how they respect the timeline or the general lore. So he is probably Gandalf, but prove me wrong.
When they called him the istar, I immediately thought that he's a blue wizard. But at the end of the episode, when istar and Nori was talking, he said 'always follow your nose' which is a really cute phrase of Gandalf. This made me confused whether he's a blue one or just Gandalf. His connection with the hobbits and this "nose" thing made me think he's Gandalf.
That was my exact thought train too! Why put a phrase that we associate so strongly with Gandalf if in fact it's another character, I don't think they would.
Because the showruners are playing between creating their own style, making a coherent narrative connected to the Third Age, and putting a lot of stuff from Peter Jackson because it is a very expensive product and there is a lot of insecurity involved since many different audiences have to like it.
@@Jake5762 Because they have no clue what they are doing, they didn't create a character, they created a device to keep you guessing and seeing what people wanted. They are cowards in terms of writing.
It has to be a blue wizard, we’ve seen Gandalf Saruman and Radagast depicted in the films, makes sense for them to be introduced into the cinematic Tolkien world
I think this is Gandalf and its laying the ground work on how he came about the hobbits and why he likes them so much. I also think that eventually they will find Galandriel and this is where she calls him Mithrandir and by the third age his hair is gray or maybe something causes his hair to turn grey just like how it turned white when he died when he faced the Balrog.
Having him be Gandalf would establish why he’s so fond of having an emotional support hobbit every generation
For Gandalf they are like pets.. nice to have them around.. Being so Powerful makes you really lonely! I know..
@@SergheyCSA it’s like when politicians get a dog
Gandalf said he’s never been to the east, it’s definitely a blue wizard, they traveled to Rhun
So what about Nori's comment after their run in with the wraiths? "they were wrong about your name... Or..Orlion?" which means she heard his real name, Olórin, said. I rewatched and they didn't say it. But she heard it somewhere
I just watched the part you're talking about- she says "or lyin'" haha. "wrong about your name, or lying" if you say it without the harfoot accent. then NOT GANDALF aka EAST-HELPER says something about truth as a response. at first I thought the Nerd in video above was dead wrong and then I saw the light. he must be a blue. he's got slate blue eyes and him joining another istar in the east would be the exact direction he's headed.
@@patrickklouman8152 you could be right there. But if that is the case surely the showrunners should have spotted...oh wait...the showrunners have already been fired for mishandling the project! 🤦
But he tells Nori “When in doubt always follow your nose” just as he tells Merry that when they’re in the mines of Moria
In the final episode, or maybe second to last, Sadoc makes a reference to Yavanna. This, plus the Stranger healing the trees after the Mystics burned the grove, makes me think it could be Radagast.