The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 picks up The Stranger’s story with a vision, one that could be leading to Tom Bombadil himself. In The Rings of Power season 1’s ending, The Stranger regained some of his lost memories thanks to his interaction with Sauron’s acolytes. This led to the reveal that The Stranger is not Sauron himself as these acolytes first thought, but instead one of Lord of the Rings’ Istari, or wizard.

Hints were then provided that The Stranger is an early version of Gandalf, though this is yet to be confirmed. Many are expecting more answers in The Rings of Power season 2, with The Stranger heading to the Middle-earth land of Rhûn to uncover his broader purpose in the wars to come. In The Rings of Power season 2’s three-episode premiere, The Stranger had a vision that offers interesting teases about where his story could head – a vision that may even lead to a new member of The Rings of Power season 2’s cast of characters, Tom Bombadil.

Rings of Power Season 2 Episodes
Episode Number
Release Date

“Elven Kings Under the Sky”
Season 2, Episode 1
August 29, 2024

“Where the Stars are Strange”
Season 2, Episode 2
August 29, 2024

“The Eagle and the Sceptre”
Season 2, Episode 3
August 29, 2024

TBA
Season 2, Episode 4
September 5, 2024

TBA
Season 2, Episode 5
September 12, 2024

TBA
Season 2, Episode 6
September 19, 2024

TBA
Season 2, Episode 7
September 26, 2024

TBA
Season 2, Episode 8
October 3, 2024

The Stranger’s Vision Is About Learning To Control His Powers

The Dangerous Vision Opens The Stranger’s Season 2 Journey

After scenes catching audiences up with Sauron, Adar, Galadriel, and Elrond, The Rings of Power season 2, episode 1 makes its way east where Nori and The Stranger are still traveling to Rhûn. However, the first scene is not one of the road, but one of visions and dreams. The Stranger is shown a staff, a tool The Lord of the Rings has proved integral in helping wizards control their powers. Upon touching the staff, The Stranger is shown glimpses of fire from Mount Doom, a dark wizard, Sauron’s acolytes, and a dangerous sandstorm.

All of this points to the vision pushing The Stranger to control his abilities so that he does not harm Nori or Poppy, and so that he can become someone powerful enough to face the fires of Mordor…

As it turns out, this vision is about The Stranger learning to control his powers. For one, the importance of a staff is highlighted, as they are known for helping wizards channel their abilities. Secondly, the sandstorm shown occurs in episode 2, endangering Nori and Poppy, after The Stranger finds a similar-looking staff. All of this points to the vision pushing The Stranger to control his abilities so that he does not harm Nori or Poppy, and so that he can become someone powerful enough to face the fires of Mordor in the future of The Rings of Power‘s timeline.

Tom Bombadil Can Help The Stranger Control His Magical Abilities

A Confirmed Character For Rings Of Power Season 2 Could Aid The Stranger

While the visions faced by The Stranger are rooted in mystery for the character himself, another inclusion in The Rings of Power season 2’s cast could help him understand them. This character is none other than The Rings of Power season 2’s Tom Bombadil, a legend in the world of Tolkien’s mythology. Tom Bombadil is a character used in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings – yet absent from the Jackson movies – who is enigmatic, mysterious, and powerful. Tolkien revealed little about Bombadil’s nature, making him one of the more common subjects of fan theories.

Regardless of his mysterious origins, Bombadil is a character confirmed to appear in The Rings of Power season 2. What is known of Bombadil is that he is incredibly powerful in the ways of magic. In Fellowship of the Rings, he saves Frodo and the other hobbits from certain death with ease, before proving to be the sole being in Middle-earth that The Lord of the Rings’ corruptive One Ring holds no power over. As such, Bombadil could aid The Stranger by helping the latter understand his powers.

It is worth noting that Bombadil is a character who shows little care for the politics or overarching battles and wars of Middle-earth. However, even the trailers for The Rings of Power season 2 have shown Bombadil slightly nudging The Stranger in the right direction to help him hone his powers. Bombadil asks The Stranger whether he will abandon those in peril to their doom, leading the latter to ask the former if it is his “task to stop the fire,” tying back to the vision from Rings of Power season 2, episode 1 of a fiery demise.

Rhûn’s Dark Wizard Villain Further Suggests The Stranger’s Mission Is To Learn About Magic

The Final Element Of The Stranger’s Vision Explained

Aside from the fire and the sandstorm, The Stranger’s vision also provided glimpses of The Rings of Power season 2’s Dark Wizard. This wizard, portrayed by Ciarán Hinds, dwells in the lands of Rhûn and is revealed as the leader of the acolytes from The Rings of Power season 1. It is all but confirmed that this wizard and his followers are loyal to Sauron and are dedicated to finding The Stranger. In The Rings of Power season 2, episode 2, Hinds’ Dark Wizard states “We must reach him before he learns to harness his powers.”

This confirms the true nature of The Stranger’s vision. If the Dark Wizard is so hesitant to allow The Stranger to realize his potential, it must mean the latter holds enough power to defeat the former, and potentially Sauron himself. Given that the Istari were sent to Middle-earth to defeat Sauron and other servants of Morgoth, this further supports the idea that these visions are pushing The Stranger into harnessing his abilities so that he can play a role in The Rings of Power‘s coming conflicts.