The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 introduced Tom Bombadil, a mysterious figure with deep roots in Middle-earth’s history. The strange being, who is not a Man, Elf, Dwarf, Wizard, or any other living thing in Tolkien’s universe, was a feature in the Lord of the Rings books but was left out of Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy. This makes his debut appearance in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 4 all the more exciting. However, Tom Bombadil is still shrouded in mystery in the Prime Video series, and though the same is true in Tolkien’s books, there is still a little more to know.

In The Rings of Power season 2, episode 4, the Stranger came across Tom Bombadil at a quaint little home in Rhûn. The mysterious being sang some silly songs and offered the Stranger some much-needed care while also giving some cryptic advice regarding the Istar’s destiny to face both the Dark Wizard and Sauron. When the Stranger asked precisely what Bombadil was, Old Tom said that his own name was the only answer there was to give. This is precisely what was said of Tom Bombadil in Lord of the Rings, where he played a role in Frodo Baggins’ journey.

Tom Bombadil’s History In The Lord Of The Rings Lore Explained

Old Tom Is The Oldest Of The Old

Custom Image by Alfredo Alvarado

Frodo and his fellow Hobbits met Tom Bombadil shortly after leaving the Shire in Lord of the Rings when they traveled through the Old Forest. This was where Old Tom lived and held dominion over the plants, animals, and beings that resided there. After being rescued by Bombadil, the Hobbits learned that this being was more ancient than even the Old Forest and that he had come to Middle-earth long before the Dark Lord (Morgoth, in this case) himself arrived. Still, it’s never revealed precisely where Tom arrived from.

When Bombadil first came to Middle-earth, he wandered the land and became known to the Elves as Iarwain Ben-adar, meaning “oldest and fatherless.” The other beings of Middle-earth called him by different names, but it wasn’t until Bombadil settled at Withywindle in the Old Forest that he was given his common name by the Bucklanders. While settling in the Old Forest, many spirits and creatures tried to capture Bombadil, but he possessed the power to subdue them with only his voice. Oddly enough, this is how he met his wife, Goldberry, a river spirit who once pulled him into the water by his beard.

What Powers & Abilities Tom Bombadil Has In The Lord Of The Rings

Tom Bombadil Has A Unique (& Strong) Sort Of Power

While Tom Bombadil seems to be an odd, pleasant creature worthy of quirky folklore, he is, in truth, among the most powerful beings in The Lord of the Rings. He is the only character with no fear of the One Ring and even places it on his finger to no ill effect. He wasn’t tempted by it and didn’t become invisible, which is remarkable considering even Gandalf refused to touch Saruon’s weapon for fear of corruption.

Bombadil’s power was mentioned at the Council of Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring since it was suggested that he could hide away the One Ring or even deal with it himself.

Old Tom’s power wasn’t loud or flashy. Instead, he seemed to have an innate control over the things around him. Bombadil’s singing voice was the central source of his magic, and his quirky lyrics allowed him to stop Old Man Willow, a tree spirit, from harming the Hobbits. He even had the ability to scare off the Barrow-wights with only his voice. Bombadil’s power was mentioned at the Council of Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring since it was suggested that he could hide away the One Ring or even deal with it himself. However, Gandalf made it clear that Old Tom would not get involved in such matters.

Tom Bombadil’s True Nature Is Still A Mystery

Tolkien Never Gave Many Answers About Tom Bombadil

Though Tom Bombadil is a beloved Lord of the Rings character, very little is known about him. Tolkien often went into great detail describing the ancient lore of his character, but Bombadil was one that he left purposely mysterious. When asked who, what, and why Tom Bombadil was, the author had no more answer than the character himself—he is just Tom Bombadil and nothing more. Naturally, this has led to decades of theories regarding his true nature.

Some popular theories about Tom Bombadil suggest that he is the god of Lord of the Rings (Eru Iluvatar), the spirit of Middle-earth itself, or the visual representation of the Music of the Ainur.

The mystery surrounding Tom Bombadil led Peter Jackson to leave the character out of his Lord of the Rings movies entirely. Not only is the character’s origin and nature a mystery, but his connection and importance to the overall story have always been a tad confusing. Bombadil is even a touch controversial, with some Lord of the Rings fans considering him an irreplaceable feature of Tolkien’s books, while others struggle to see the point in his character. Regardless, Rings of Power saw fit to bring Tom Bombadil into the mix, and this has been an equally controversial choice.

Why Tom Bombadil Is In Rhûn During The Rings Of Power Season 2

Rhûn Was A Surprising Place For Tom Bombadil To Appear

 

Tom Bombadil was never mentioned in The Silmarillion and didn’t play any specific role in the Second Age of Middle-earth, which makes his appearance in Rings of Power a surprise. Of course, given the character’s status as the oldest of the old, he certainly would have been around during this period of Middle-earth’s history. Still, Prime Video surprised audiences by having the Stranger find Tom Bombadil in Rhûn rather than in the Old Forest where it has traditionally lived.

As a sort of spirit of nature, it makes some sense that Bombadil would want to see the impact of the Dark Wizard and Sauron on the land.

Rings of Power season 2, episode 4 mentions Withywindle, and Goldberry is heard singing along with Tom Bomabdil from the other room, so it’s evident that the character has already established his home in the Old Forest by this point in the story. However, he has, for some reason, traveled to Rhûn. While no definitive answers are given, the ancient being reveals that this Eastern region of Middle-earth used to be green and bountiful but that evil had turned it dry and desolate. As a sort of spirit of nature, it makes some sense that Bombadil would want to see the impact of the Dark Wizard and Sauron on the land.

How Tom Bombadil Connects To The Stranger’s Mission

Old Tom Has A Connection To The Istari Of Middle-earth

Custom image by Alfredo Alvarado.

After the Stranger found Tom Bombadil, he noticed the constellations etched on the ceiling and realized that his dreams and visions had been leading here to the ancient being’s home. As an Istar, or wizard, it’s up to the Stranger to guide the beings of Middle-earth against Sauron, and he is meant to use magic to do this. However, the beginning of Rings of Power season 2 sees him struggle to control his magic. Tom Bombadil’s role is to teach the Stranger how to harness his powers, passively guiding the Istar on his journey forward.

Bombadil also reveals in The Rings of Power season 2, episode 4 that he had previously trained the Dark Wizard, indicating that this mysterious character’s role in Middle-earth is directly related to the Istari in general. While this still leaves much about Bombadil’s nature and role in Middle-earth a mystery, it’s far more of an answer than was ever provided in Lord of the Rings. Of course, this in and of itself is a controversial divergence from canon on Rings of Power‘s part.

How The Rings Of Power Changes Tom Bombadil Compared To Lord Of The Rings

Rings Of Power Has Changed The Nature Of Tom Bombadil’s Neutrality

Custom Image by Lewis Glazebrook

Tom Bombadil makes it clear in The Lord of the Rings that he does not interfere in the fight of good and evil. In fact, while he is a kindly figure, he seems to have an entirely objective view of morality. He warned Frodo of the One Ring’s power, so he understood its negative influence, but Gandalf later explained that giving Tom Bombadil Sauron’s weapon to protect would be foolish since the being didn’t fully understand its importance and might even misplace it. Like nature and Middle-earth itself, Bombadil is inherently good but entirely neutral.

Rings of Power has made Bombadil the guide of the guides, and though this keeps him from being overly involved, it still may be a little more than Tolkien ever intended.

Rings of Power has skewed this slightly. Rather than a neutral being unlike anything else in Middle-earth, Prime Video presents Tom Bombadil as something like an Istari. The wizards of Middle-earth were not permitted to fight Sauron themselves but instead guide the beings of Middle-earth in their war against him by passing on knowledge and assisting the greater design. Rings of Power has made Bombadil the guide of the guides, and though this keeps him from being overly involved, it still may be a little more than Tolkien ever intended.

Still, an argument could be made for Tom Bombadil’s involvement with the Stranger’s mission. Rings of Power heavily implied that the Stranger is Gandalf, and this iconic wizard notably spent many weeks conversing with Bombadil after the One Ring was destroyed. What they discussed was never revealed in The Lord of the Rings, but it’s clear that Gandalf felt it necessary to chat with Tom Bombadil once his big mission in Middle-earth was complete. Their relationship origin story in Rings of Power fits in with this. Overall, there may be some differences, but it’s clear there is a Greater Purpose at work here.