The Rings Of Power: Who Is The Dark Wizard?

As a gamer, when “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season 2 dropped in late 2024, it was like stepping into a rich tapestry of new characters that joined the Second Age narrative. Some were familiar faces from the lore, such as Tom Bombadil and a younger version of Shelob. But there were also fresh creations to keep us on our toes. Among them were those who seemed to have roots in the original material but were not explicitly mentioned: Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) from Season 1 was one of these, as it wasn’t until the finale that we discovered he was Sauron in disguise. This season also kept us guessing with Daniel Weyman’s character, The Stranger, whose true identity as Gandalf was finally revealed in the finale.

As we eagerly anticipate the start of Season 3, there’s one character whose fate remains shrouded in mystery more than any other – the enigmatic Dark Wizard. Could he be one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s elusive Blue Wizards, or perhaps the less probable choice of Radagast the Brown? Or is he someone else entirely? What we do know for sure is that the captivating actor Ciarán Hinds brings this mysterious figure to life on screen, yet his character was left unnamed in the finale credits. Instead, we’ve been referring to him as “the Dark Wizard,” leaving us all eagerly speculating about his true identity.

In terms of a character specifically labeled as a “Dark Wizard” within J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, there isn’t one. However, he did create characters with dark behaviors such as Saruman, and the concept of darkness is often linked to evil in his stories. For instance, Orcs prefer the dark, Sauron is referred to as the Dark Lord, and even the skies darken before his attack on Minas Tirith in “The Lord of the Rings.” Dwarves also appreciate the dark, as they told Bilbo in “The Hobbit” that they enjoy it for their secretive activities. Yet, Tolkien never wrote about a Dark Wizard. So, who could this character be? Let’s explore our possibilities.

Who isn’t the Dark Wizard?

To start with, let’s discuss who the Dark Wizard isn’t likely to be. Contrary to many expectations, he is not Saruman. Although Saruman does travel to the Eastern parts of the world on several occasions in the source material, the Dark Wizard is engaged in a conflict with a young Gandalf. Moreover, the Dark Wizard bears a resemblance to Saruman, particularly with his black-streaked beard. However, upon closer examination, this theory starts to unravel.

In “The Lord of the Rings,” Saruman initially appears as a trusted ally and collaborator for Gandalf and his companions, but he ultimately betrays them. The drama lies in this unexpected turn of events, which would lose its impact if Prime Video were to introduce a dark wizard version of Saruman who confronts Gandalf thousands of years earlier. This would result in an unconvincing repetition of the “fool me once, fool me twice” narrative.

A stronger argument against the theory that Saruman could appear in the Amazon series “The Lord of the Rings” comes from showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, who have suggested that this idea is extremely unlikely. In an interview with Vanity Fair, McKay stated, “I’ll go on record saying that, given Middle-earth’s history, it would be highly improbable for this to be Saruman.” Payne added, “If not impossible.” This statement carries significant weight since the showrunners have made changes to other parts of their story in the first two seasons, which could potentially include a shift in the timeline for Saruman. However, their direct denial of the theory effectively rules out Saruman as a Dark Wizard in the series. Still, there is one more possibility we need to explore before delving into evidence supporting Radagast and the Blues.

Is the Dark Wizard in Rings of Power an unnamed character?

Another possibility for the true identity of the Dark Wizard might not be directly tied to any specific character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. This could occur in several different ways.

Firstly, the Dark Wizard might simply be an ordinary ‘w’ wizard, but for J.R.R. Tolkien, this distinction was crucial. In his essay ‘The Wizards in Unfinished Tales’, he clarified that the five magical beings known as the Istari or ‘Wizards’ were distinct from other magic users. He pointed out that the term ‘Wizards’ doesn’t quite capture the uniqueness of the Heren Istarion, or the ‘Order of the Wizards’, which was separate from the ‘wizards’ and ‘magicians’ of later legend. Essentially, Tolkien considered the Wizards to be more akin to angelic beings, superior in power to all other magic users in Middle-earth.

In simpler terms, this implies that a Dark Wizard from Rhûn who practices magic might just be someone with advanced knowledge in the field rather than an incredibly powerful sorcerer as portrayed in popular culture. However, it’s worth noting that the wizard in “The Rings of Power” displays exceptional skill in his craft, which goes beyond what we typically see from non-magical characters in Tolkien’s works.

Is the Dark Wizard an unnamed spirit?

As a diehard fan, I’ve pondered about the unnamed canon character in Middle-earth lore. It could be possible that this mysterious figure is not among the five named angelic beings by J.R.R. Tolkien, but still holds a rank equivalent to an angel within the Order of the Wizards. In the same essay from “Unfinished Tales,” Tolkien hinted at this, stating, “The number [of these angelic beings] is unknown, but among those who ventured to the North of Middle-earth, where there was most hope… the leaders were five.

This theory, while plausible, encounters several issues. For one, J.R.R. Tolkien seems to suggest at various points that there are only five Wizards in his world, which raises questions about consistency throughout his work. Additionally, in the Season 2 finale, the Dark Wizard claims kinship with Gandalf, stating, “Five of us, there were.” Furthermore, in an interview with Vanity Fair, showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne hinted at the existence of Radagast and two blue wizards, but did not confirm any more, leaving room for interpretation but strongly implying that they are sticking to the five named Wizards in their narrative.

Although it’s theoretically plausible that they might employ intricate reasoning to present the Dark Wizard as a fresh figure, the likelihood appears slim given the current circumstances.

Is the Dark Wizard Radagast?

In light of J.D. Payne’s observations on Radagast, it’s important to entertain the idea that he could potentially be the Dark Wizard. Yet, when you delve into the original source material, it seems less probable that he is the villain compared to other characters. So far in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” series, Radagst has been portrayed by Sylvester McCoy as a disheveled character with a scattered mind. Although his on-screen depiction is quite exaggerated, the quirky yet endearing representation of the character in the movies draws some influence from the books.

In “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” Gandalf characterizes Radagast as a skilled sorcerer with a unique ability to manipulate colors and a deep knowledge of plants, animals, and birds. Later, Saruman scornfully refers to Radagast as Radagast the Bird-tamer, Radagast the Simple, and Radagast the Fool due to his compassionate nature. Interestingly, Gandalf implies that even Saruman would not have been able to persuade Radagast to betray his companions, and he affectionately calls him “honest Radagast.

It seems rather absurd to consider that the arrogant, proud Dark Wizard from “The Rings of Power” Season 2 is the same as the affectionate, animal-loving character we know from Tolkien’s works. Radagast, after all, has always been one of Tolkien’s gentlest and kindest characters. It would be quite a stretch to suggest that he was actually a ruthless cult leader all along, given his more passive role in the events of “The Lord of the Rings.

Is the Dark Wizard a Blue Wizard?

At this juncture, it appears quite plausible that the Dark Wizard residing in the Eastern territories during Second Age Middle-earth’s “The Rings of Power” may very well be one of the Blue Wizards. Here are some compelling reasons to support this theory.

Initially, the Blue Wizards are the two characters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth that are most famously linked to the Eastern parts of the world. Unlike Saruman who occasionally ventures there, the Blue Wizards are assigned with the role of traveling extensively in those regions and opposing the Dark Lord. They are often referred to by names like Alatar and Pallando in Tolkien’s works, and they are always depicted walking eastward together when mentioned.

In the story, the author left their purpose and outcome undecided for the enigmatic Blue Wizards. In a letter penned in 1958, shortly after the publication of “The Lord of the Rings,” Tolkien hinted at their role as emissaries to far-off lands, East and South. He suggested that they likely failed in their quest against Sauron, possibly establishing secret cults and magical traditions that endured even beyond Sauron’s fall. This aligns with the mysterious, sinister nature of the Dark Wizard, leaving much room for exploration in a series like “The Rings of Power.

The case against the Blue Wizards

Although the Blue Wizards appear to align most closely with the “Rings of Power” tale, it does present certain complications. For instance, Tolkien later changed his stance on their fallen nature. In the book “The Peoples of Middle-earth,” he proposes that these wizards, named Morinehtar and Rómestámo (meaning Darkness-slayer and East-helper), played a crucial role in defeating Sauron. Here, they are significant figures who assisted the people of Rhûn and nearby regions in their resistance against Sauron’s expanding evil.

It’s worth noting that according to Tolkien’s account, the Blue Wizards may have appeared during the Second Age, unlike the other wizards who arrived much later in Middle-earth’s timeline. This revised perspective aligns better with the storyline and keeps them as good characters. Additionally, Tolkien often refers to the Blue Wizards collectively in his writings. In the show so far, only one dark wizard has been introduced. If this is a Blue Wizard, where is his counterpart or accomplice?

Despite having some valid worries, it appears that the Blue Wizard theory remains the most plausible scenario overall. The show has previously deviated from Tolkien’s timeline multiple times, so a further alteration seems likely if needed. Introducing another Blue Wizard into the storyline as the series unfolds could be an option they consider. Since there is at least one version of the story where they act maliciously, this fits with their potential role as a dark wizard. Considering all these factors, it’s quite probable that the antagonist in the show will ultimately prove to be one of the Blue Wizards – now we simply need to patiently wait for Season 3 to premiere.

2025-02-18 00:31