The Rings of Power takes a big step closer to confirming the Stranger’s identity thanks to a curiously-placed The Lord of the Rings reference. By far one of the most prevalent mysteries in The Rings of Power is the true identity of Daniel Weyman’s character, officially known as “the Stranger.” The Rings of Power season 1’s ending confirmed the Stranger as a wizard, but since wizards should be absent from the show’s Second Age timeline, it remains unclear whether Weyman is playing a familiar face like Gandalf or Saruman, or a wizard not mentioned in The Lord of the Rings.

The Rings of Power season 2 brings the Stranger to Tom Bombadil, who is seemingly a one-man Hogwarts in Amazon’s version of Middle-earth. The bearded pair discuss the “Secret Fire,” otherwise known as the Flame Imperishable or Flame of Anor, and this spiritual blaze is the source of life within Tolkien’s universe. In The Rings of Power, the Secret Fire also serves as the root of magic, which means the Stranger is required to tame the flame before he hopes to cast a spell without hurting his friends. This training process, however, may provide a secret clue to the Stranger’s identity.

The Rings Of Power’s Secret Fire Is The Show’s Second Nod To Gandalf

A Pattern Is Emerging With The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Stranger

 

 

When facing the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf boldly uttered the iconic passage, “I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor.” Being a servant of the Secret Fire is not an honor exclusive to Gandalf, and any wizard, Maia, or Vala who remains loyal to their original cause could rightfully be described as a “servant of the Secret Fire.”

The winds of Rhûn are only blowing in one direction during The Rings of Power season 2, and that direction is the Stranger and Gandalf being revealed as one and the same.

Ultimately, the phrase simply indicates that Gandalf is a representative of the God of The Lord of the Rings‘ world, Eru Ilúvatar. Just because The Rings of Power‘s Stranger is learning the way of the Secret Fire from Tom Bombadil and Gandalf mentioned the same Secret Fire in The Lord of the Rings, therefore, that does not prove the two characters are automatically connected. Based on the “Secret Fire” mention alone, the Stranger could just as easily be Saruman, a Blue Wizard, or an unnamed Maia, as all of the above technically serve the Secret Fire too.

Having said that, The Rings of Power is, first and foremost, a scripted TV show packed with references, callbacks, and foreshadowing woven into The Lord of the Rings. While the Stranger’s education in the Secret Fire does not canonically confirm the character as Gandalf, it is entirely plausible that The Rings of Power‘s creative minds have introduced the Secret Fire into the Stranger’s story as a small clue or Easter egg. That, in turn, would represent another small step on the path to revealing The Rings of Power‘s nameless Istar truly is Gandalf.

A similar reference previously surfaced in The Rings of Power season 1, when the Stranger quoted Gandalf’s “follow your nose” line from The Lord of the Rings almost word-for-word. That clue was far more specific – and, consequently, more convincing – than season 2’s Secret Fire reference, but the two nods combine perfectly demonstrate how the winds of Rhûn are only blowing in one direction during The Rings of Power season 2, and that direction is the Stranger and Gandalf being revealed as one and the same.

What Makes Gandalf A Servant Of The Secret Fire In The Lord Of The Rings

There’s A Lot Of Lore Behind Gandalf’s Proclamation Before The Balrog

The Secret Fire is effectively Tolkien’s version of life and creation – the source from which Eru spawned Arda, Middle-earth, and its inhabitants. One could say that the Secret Fire is burning brightly within all of the good, living things of Middle-earth, and represents the will of Eru in its purest, most divine form. Long before The Rings of Power‘s timeline, heavenly battles were fought over the Secret Fire, with Morgoth seeking to possess it for himself and the Valar protecting it on behalf of their master.

The Secret Fire was initially within Eru themselves, before later being removed and placed inside the ambiguous realm known as the Void.

Before arriving in Middle-earth as a wizard, Gandalf was the Maia known as Olórin, serving directly under the Valar. The very nature of his position among the Maiar makes it Gandalf’s duty to serve and protect the Secret Fire from the likes of Morgoth, which, in a roundabout way, means protecting Eru’s will, his creation, life on Middle-earth, and all things wholesome. It is this very mission that drives Gandalf’s entire crusade to help the various races of Middle-earth bring down Sauron in The Lord of the Rings.

There is, however, a deeper explanation as to why Gandalf would invoke the Secret Fire’s name to strike fear into Moria’s Balrog. Not only do the dark monsters, evil villains, and Nameless Things of Middle-earth shun light – and the holy kind of light especially – the Secret Fire was likely the origin of Gandalf’s power as a wizard too. Fearsome powers of sorcery were bestowed upon the Maiar as part of Eru’s overall creative design, so Gandalf’s magic is, at its core, a gift from the Secret Fire.

Other Clues The Stranger Is Gandalf In The Rings Of Power

Did You Spot Them All?

Cute The Lord of the Rings dialogue nods are not the only indications that the Stranger is Gandalf in The Rings of Power. Daniel Weyman’s character is rapidly developing a close bond with the show’s main two Harfoots, Nori and Poppy, which would neatly explain Gandalf’s close relationship to the Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings.

From being a silent and eccentric enigma in season 1, The Rings of Power‘s Stranger is also far more Gandalf-esque in his dialogue and characterization during season 2, taking on that same grandfatherly demeanor that Ian McKellen mastered, and dishing out sage advice like a hairy self-help book. Another major clue comes in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 6, in which Tom Bombadil says, “Many that die deserve life, and some that live deserve death.” This sounds identical to a Gandalf line from The Fellowship of the Ring, “Many that live deserve death and some that die deserve life.”

The Rings of Power is perhaps implying here that Gandalf originally heard this philosophical musing about life and death from Tom Bombadil, changed a few words, then recycled it as his own to sound wise in front of his friends during The Lord of the Rings. The close resemblance of the two quotes is certainly much too close to be dismissed as a mere coincidence. Nevertheless, the most intriguing sign of the Stranger being Gandalf actually comes from The Rings of Power‘s Stoors.

When discussing the Stranger with Nori and Poppy, the Stoor leader jokingly describes the wizard as a “great big Grand-elf.” This scene works in tandem with a conversation from earlier in season 2 when the Harfoots were attempting to think of a more suitable name for the Stranger. It seems that, in The Rings of Power‘s near future, the Stranger could take a liking to the term “Grand-elf” and shorten it to “Gandalf,” thereby confirming the very eventuality that the “follow your nose” and Secret Fire hints have already pointed towards.