The Stranger’s journey won’t be easy, as he still has the Dark Wizard in Rhûn to contend with. Given these circumstances, Rory Kinnear’s Tom Bombadil is a welcome introduction, making it clear he’ll help train the mage. As the adventure unfolds, the Stranger ends up having a trial that Luke Skywalker endured in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
The Stranger Is Given a Harrowing Ultimatum
The Stranger Has to Choose Between Training and Nori
Tom Bombadil knows the Stranger wants to unlock his true name, and find his wizard’s staff. He takes him out into the desert, where there are trees around, but it’s barren. Tom tells him he has to spend time here to find himself, and the staff will call him. It’s a unique sort of training, and The Stranger is adamant that he goes to Nori and Poppy. He keeps having visions of Nori being in trouble. He is worried Ciarán Hinds’ Dark Wizard will hunt both down, and Tom makes it clear this is a distraction.
If the Stranger neglects his duty for friendship, he will suffer. This zone will disappear, and he’ll lose a shot at his supernatural gifts. To Tom, this is duty, which must be a priority. It nods to when Yoda trained Luke on Dagobah. He warned Luke to focus on the Force and the Light Side. However, Luke left to go to his friends, which resulted in him losing his hand on Cloud City. That said, it was an important step in Luke’s saga.
Luke would later return to continue his training, and after Yoda died, Luke would redeem Darth Vader and take down that version of Palpatine. Tom is very much the elder, equally-wise answer to Yoda. He wants his Luke to remain tunnel-visioned as the Stranger will also have to defeat Sauron. He is more extreme, and warns that actions have consequences. If the Stranger abandons this road towards the “secret fire,” it won’t be there again, and neither will Tom. It’s a harrowing ultimatum.
The Stranger Won’t Turn His Back on His Friends
The Stranger’s Loyalty Teases He Is Gandalf
The Stranger is all about loyalty. When Tom disappears, it’s easy to infer where he’ll go, and that’s to Nori and the Stoors. No matter what, he wouldn’t abandon the “halflings.” They looked out for him when he crashed to Earth. The Harfoots became like family. Nori is a sister, so he won’t let the Dark Wizard get to her. Poppy is the same. The Stranger knows that the Dark Wizard’s hunters are loose, eager to find the small folk and make them pay.
They’ll use them as bait for the Stranger. If he looks for his staff while they are tortured and suffer, he won’t forgive himself. Tom said magic was his destiny. But the Stranger thinks that if he pursues that path right now, he’ll lose his heart and soul. This teases that he is indeed Gandalf. The wizard, centuries after the Second Age, would always be prepared to lay down his lives for the Hobbits, the Harfoot descendants.
Rings of Power Season 2 may well be the precursor to reveal where this loyalty came from. In the end, Luke’s choices paid dividends. He passed his test and juggled many balls, en route to becoming a legendary Chosen One. Now, it’s time for the Stranger to take up a similar heroic challenge and show he can multitask with his humanity, compassion and empathy, even if Tom disapproves of this kindness.
News
New Fan Theory Proposes Teen in ‘Agatha All Along’ is Secretly in Control, Backed by a Powerful Force
The first two episodes of Agatha All Along recently premiered, delving into the often-overlooked magical side of the MCU, despite its roster of powerful magic users. One newly introduced character, however, appears to be more significant than initially thought. Although the Teen’s identity hasn’t been…
New Reports Suggest Daisy Ridley’s Star Wars Movie Is On Hold Due to Development Challenges
Originally announced in April 2023, the New Jedi Order signifies Star Wars’ return to theaters since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. An untitled Star Wars film is set for release on May 22, 2026, a date Lucasfilm had not officially confirmed until earlier this year…
‘Avengers’ Actor Reveals the Real Reason Why Thanos Did Not Meet Lady Death in ‘Infnity War’
Avengers: Infinity War premiered a long time ago, but it is still considered to be one of the best and most popular comic book movies of all time. Infinity War was a massive standalone thing, but it also paved the way for Endgame, the movie…
New ‘Thunderbolts*’ Trailer Sparks Theory That the MCU is Introducing Its Own Homelander
The ‘Thunderbolts*’ trailer was recently released, offering an official glimpse at the film after leaks and footage from its exclusive debut at the D23 event circulated online. Now, we have a clearer view of the characters and clues hinted at in the…
‘Agatha All Along’ Fans Have the Perfect Response for the Show’s Critics: “If you hate this I’m just gonna assume you hate fun”
‘Agatha All Along’ premiered recently with its first two episodes, delivering exactly what fans who had been tracking the marketing expected. The show fully embraces its campy charm, seamlessly combining witchcraft, pop culture references, and humor. With a solid beginning, it…
Here’s Why The Penguin Limps In TV Show & The Batman
The Penguin Episode 1 revealed a hidden truth about why Oswald Cobblepot has been limping all this time. HBO’s The Penguin showcases a sneak peek at the origins of Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) and his unusual limping condition. The next chapter in…
End of content
No more pages to load