Is The Stranger in ‘The Rings of Power’ Gandalf?
Anyone watching ‘The Rings of Power’ has seen the mysterious stranger arrive. But who is this stranger? Is he Gandalf? Will Gandalf be in the Rings of Power at all?
The Stranger Sort of Looks like Gandalf
While no spitting image of Sir Ian Mckellen, our first clue that the mysterious stranger in “The Rings of Power” might be Gandalf is his looks. He sports a beard and long hair very similar to Gandalf’s, and is tall and lanky like him, too.
He’s New to Being Human
Hungry. Not used to his own powers. It’s obvious that the stranger is not used to having a physical form. And actually, Gandalf himself is not a mortal being like the other beings on Middle Earth. He is, in fact, a spiritual being given corporeal form in order to fulfill a specific task on Middle Earth.
The Stranger Has Powers
Although Gandalf does not display his powers very often, we know he has them. Very similarly, power seems to be lying dormant within the stranger when he is found by the Hobbits. In fact, the way he yells angrily at Nori is very similar to Gandalf’s outburst at Bilbo.
The Stranger Loves Hobbits
Although we aren’t all the way through the show yet, the Hobbit folk have already befriended the stranger, and shown love and kindness to him. Gandalf also has a fondness for Hobbits, and this could be the show runner’s way of showing how that fondness first originated.
The Timing, However, Isn’t Right
We know from the lore that Gandalf came to Middle Earth sometime in the Third Age, which unfortunately does not line up. The timeframe of the events in “The Rings of Power” take place in the Second Age. Gandalf also has a Ring of Power (something they don’t really get into in the movies). So it makes sense that he would have some role to play in the events to come.
Until we know for certain, we can’t really say that the stranger is Gandalf, or that Gandalf will even be in the Rings of Power. However, the stranger and Gandalf have a lot in common, so it could be the show is mixing up time and taking creative liberties, or maybe Gandalf came earlier than we commonly know!
