One storyline that’s unfolding in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is the Stranger’s journey. Though the character is widely speculated to be a younger version of Gandalf, for the time being, he has to unlock his magic and show his mystical prowess.

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.