The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay discuss whether Rory Kinnear’s Tom Bombadilmay is Middle-Earth’s most powerful deity. Returning to Middle-Earth during the Second Age, season 2 sees the fully returned Sauron (Charlie Vickers) begin to manipulate key players and influential figures of Middle-Earth in his rise to power. As episode 4, “Eldest,” continued The Stranger’s (Daniel Weyman) journey, the character crosses paths with Bombadil as he tries to learn his purpose.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Payne and McKay dove into a long-held debate surrounding Bombadil’s true nature. While they were asked whether the character was indeed the god of Middle-Earth, the pair carefully responded, avoiding a direct answer and affirming that they would remain just as silent as J R.R. Tolkien had on the matter. Check out both showrunner’s response below:

Payne : We would have no problem if that question was being asked. Because people say that about the character in the books.

McKay : And I think people asked that of Tolkien himself. Tolkien chose to remain silent on it and so shall we.

Just What Is Tom Bombadil?

Many Have Offered Answers To What Tom Bombadil Is

Within Tolkien’s original text, long before The Rings of Power, Bombadil is established as an all-powerful figure who aids the Hobbit in their journeys. He was immune to the charms of the One Ring and, therefore, not invested in the surrounding conflicts, even after the battles had been fought, and the Ring had been destroyed. It is clear that Bombadil is more powerful than even the Dark Lord, and these implications have left many scholars and Tolkien analysts discussing it.

With many theories given and The Rings of Power ‘s showrunners keen on maintaining the mystery, there may never be an answer.

While Tolkien never gave a definitive explanation for what Bombadil is and purposefully left him a mystery, many commentators have taken his quotes to suggest that he is God. Others have hypothesized that his immunity to the Ring and independent nature free of desire make him a direct parallel to Sauron, or a representation of the fading natural world in the face of the destruction of Mordor that represents industrialization. With many theories given and The Rings of Power‘s showrunners keen on maintaining the mystery, there may never be an answer.

Tom Bombadil’s long-awaited debut in The Rings of Power helped address a long-held critique by even the most dedicated Lord of the Rings fans towards Bombadil’s Fellowship of the Rings absence. As such, while keeping the character within its Second Age setting, Payne and McKay carefully incorporated elements of his tale into the series. With the showrunners keen on keeping the character an enigma, it is clear that they have taken great care to be faithful to the character’s core features.

How Will Tom Bombadil Factor Into The Rest Of The Rings Of Power Season 2?

He Will Be Crucial To The Stranger’s Journey Moving Forward

Following on from events in The Rings of Power‘s season 1 finale, season 2 picks up with The Stranger on a quest to discover who he is. This quest takes him to Rhûn with Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards), where he is haunted by dreams of a powerful staff while the emissaries of the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) pursue them. The Stranger’s meeting of Bombadil arguably raises just as many questions as it answers, but Kinnear’s character could have an important role to play in the events to come.

Kinnear will be best known to many viewers for his roles in recent James Bond movies like Skyfall (2012) and No Time To Die (2021), as well as other titles like Penny Dreadful (2014 – 2016) and Men (2022).

The most likely role that Bombadil will play in The Rings of Power season 2 is as a mentor and trainer. The Stranger seeks to understand his magical abilities, and a handful of scenes inside Bombadil’s dwelling make clear that Kinnear’s character, though not a wizard, has a magical touch. By spending time with Bombadil, The Stranger could come to understand his true purpose and identity. Many have theorized that The Stranger is Gandalf, and it could be through Bombadil that this is finally officially confirmed.

Bombadil seemingly won’t however, engage in any actual fighting against the forces of evil. The Stranger explicitly asks a question to this effect in episode 4, and Kinnear’s character more or less reveals that it’s not his place to interfere in these grander struggles happening in Middle-earth. As a prequel, The Rings of Power may also set up Bombadil’s eventual role in The Fellowship of the Ring, which sees him living in the valley of Withywindle in the Old Forest and not in Rhûn.

Our Take On Tom Bombadil In The Rings Of Power

Kinnear’s Character Had The Potential To Feel Out Of Place

Even by Lord of the Rings‘ standards, Bombadil is an odd, quirky character, and one who is immensely challenging to get right on-screen. Tonally, introducing Bombadil into The Rings of Power season 2’s cast of characters had the potential to feel at odds with the show’s often dark and more serious tone. Kinnear, however, has managed to slot perfectly into this tonal balance, giving the character an aura of wisdom and mystery while also maintaining that sense of charm.

The show’s writing for Bombadil, too, is obviously a major reason for the success of his depiction, with the character retaining key elements from Tolkein’s writing while also being evolved to fit within the specific vision for Middle-earth that McKay and Payne have created. Bombadil’s live-action debut has been a long time coming, and The Rings of Power season 2, thankfully, has nailed it.

The Rings Of Power Season 2 Episodes

Season #, Episode #
Episode Title
Release Date

S02E01
“Elven Kings Under the Sky”
Aug. 29, 2024

S02E02
“Where the Stars Are Strange”
Aug. 29, 2024

S02E03
“The Eagle and the Sceptre”
Aug. 29, 2024

S02E04
“Eldest”
Sept. 5, 2024

S02E05
TBA
Sept. 12, 2024

S02E06
TBA
Sept. 19, 2024

S02E07
TBA
Sept. 26, 2024

S02E08
TBA
Oct. 3, 2024