It took The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power two seasons to confirm that Daniel Weyman’s Stranger is Gandalf, and now showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay have finally spoken about the show’s big reveal. With his character’s identity initially shrouded in mystery, the show’s first season even provided misleading clues that Weyman’s character may have either been Sauron or one of Tolkien’s other wizards. However, the Rings of Power season 2 finale finally saw Weyman’s character receive both his wizard staff and his name, derived from the title “Grand Elf” given to him by the Stoors.

Speaking with ScreenRant, the Rings of Power showrunners explained how the eventual discovery of Gandalf’s name was a journey for both the audience and the character. Suggesting that while Gandalf’s season 1 journey was more about him figuring out whether he was good or evil, season 2 was about learning who he was and how to harness his powers. Moreover, the pair explained they didn’t want to continue to draw out the mystery too long, and the hints about Gandalf’s true identity became more apparent from the second season’s first few episodes. Check out their comments below:

JD Payne : Yeah, so we wanted it to be a journey of discovery for the audience, the character, and for ourselves, and we truly left ourselves open. We said, “We’re bringing this to Middle Earth.” We had some suspicions from the beginning of who it might be, but I think, especially as the friendship between he and Nori and Poppy grew to be so rich, we said, “Gandalf loves halflings. Saruman doesn’t really love halflings, he speaks about them really dismissively. And Radagast doesn’t seem to feel much, one way or another, about them.” We felt like it really sort of made sense, if you were looking at canon, you know where this character would ultimately go.

And then also, our wonderful actor, Daniel Weyman, brought to it felt like it also made sense, in terms of the decision to do it. Now, it’s been a journey of self discovery for the character, and we felt like season 1 is all about him figuring out, “What am I? Am I good, or am I evil? I don’t know.” Now that he figures out he’s on the side of the good, it’s like, “Well, who am I, and how do I harness my powers?” So, he goes on this journey to eventually reach Tom Bombadil, and it felt like that journey of the staff, and his name, and figuring out how to control his powers all felt like they sort of wanted to come together. We also didn’t want to tease it forever, of like, “Season 4 you’ll know!”

Patrick McKay : Yeah, in our minds, from the beginning of season 2, we’re showing you the hand of poker, right? There should be no doubt in most of the audience’s mind by those first couple episodes, we’re dropping all kinds of hints. Like, “Yes, that’s who he is. Don’t worry about that. It’s about what he’s learning, about who he’s going to be. That is more important than just a name.”

What Gandalf’s Reveal Means For The Rings of Power Season 3

There Are Still Plenty Of Unanswered Questions Waiting To Be Answered

While season 1 may have just hinted at a future version of Middle-earth that audiences are more familiar with, Rings of Power season 2 made considerable strides in bringing the show even closer to the cataclysmic battle that defined the end of the Second Age. With all the Rings of Power, save for Sauron’s own One Ring, now forged, and the Kingdom of Númenor teetering on the brink of ruin, Payne and McKay now have a much firmer footing from which to launch their remaining seasons.

However, while the revelation of Gandalf’s true identity will likely play a large part in Payne and McKay’s plans for Rings of Power season 3 and beyond, there are still several more mysteries to be solved before all the show’s pieces begin fitting into place. While the Stranger’s identity may no longer by a loose thread requiring attention, there are still many other questions left to be answered, chief among them being the identity of the mysterious Dark Wizard.

Our Take On Rings Of Power’s Next Big Reveal

Payne and McKay Have A Much Bigger Mystery Than The Dark Wizard

Much like the mystery surrounding Gandalf’s identity throughout Rings of Power season 1, the introduction of Ciarán Hinds’ Dark Wizard saw hints that pointed to a number of possible options, potentially including both Saruman and Radagast. However, in a surprising turn of events, Payne and McKay have already gone on the record to suggest that the Dark Wizard will likely be revealed as a Blue wizard, potentially robbing that question of any real anticipatory value throughout season 3’s run.

However, the identity of the Dark Wizard is not the only question audiences would like answered, and the showrunners may turn their attention to a far more important revelation instead. Ever since the start of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the show has suggested that Galadriel’s husband Celeborn was slain in the fight against Morgoth, something that audiences already know to be untrue. Exactly where Celeborn is, and why he has been absent for so long, poses a much more intriguing mystery, and one that could help deliver the show its biggest and best reveal yet.