THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER - Could Daniel Weyman's "Stranger" Actually Be [SPOILER]?

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER -  Could Daniel Weyman's "Stranger" Actually Be [SPOILER]?

The appearance of Daniel Weyman's "Stranger" in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has prompted a lot of speculation. Is he Sauron? Gandalf? Another Wizard? We have a pretty out-there theory.

By MarkCassidy - Sep 04, 2022 07:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Lord of the Rings

This article was originally posted on SFFGazette.com.

The series premiere of Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power concludes with the arrival of a mysterious character, who is seen crashing to Middle Earth in a meteor. Played by Daniel Weyman, the bearded "Stranger" is befriended by Harfoot Elanor "Nori" Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) in the second episode, but is unable to communicate verbally, leaving his origins unclear.

There's been a lot of speculation relating to The Stranger, with most seemingly under the assumption that he's either Sauron or one of the five Wizards. The former is highly unlikely since we know the Dark Lord is already on Middle Earth when the meteor hits (also, we will soon meet "Annatar" played by Bridie Sisson), and while he probably will turn out to be a Wizard (Saruman would be our guess), we have another theory!

What if he's actually a Balrog?

Yes, the same terrifying creature that pulled Gandalf to his "death" in The Fellowship of the Ring. How would that even be possible? Well, the Balrogs, or Valaraukar, were originally Maiar spirits (much like those who would eventually become the five Wizards) who were corrupted by Morgoth and transformed into his fiery demonic servants. Sauron didn't actually create any (him being a Maiar himself), but this show has already demonstrated a willingness to deviate from the source material, so it wouldn't be that big a stretch.

Here's what The Rings of Power EP Lindsey Weber had to say about The Stranger during an interview with Deadline.

“The idea that this sort of miraculous event would occur in the Harfoots’ backyard was one of the sort of foundational ideas from the showrunners when I joined the project. And what I can say about this character is that he is a bit of an onion with many layers to peel – and I think it will be a fun journey for fans to peel as the season goes.”

Not much to go on, but it sounds like there will be some surprises in store when it comes to this character.

Here's what we do know about the enigmatic Meteor Man: For one, he appears to be giant in stature - far taller than an average human. He also arrives in flames, and while he hasn't been openly aggressive to his Harfoot companions, definitely seems to possess some kind of dark power that could easily be harnessed by Sauron. 

It's a pretty far-fetched theory, for sure, but we thought we'd throw it out there to see what you guys made of it! What do you think? Could The Stranger turn out to be a Balrog? Drop us a comment down below. 

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TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 9/4/2022, 7:27 PM
So this show is out now?
Vigor
Vigor - 9/4/2022, 9:57 PM
@TheVandalore - what do you think
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 9/4/2022, 11:25 PM
@Vigor - what's your take?
TheSuerJackAss
TheSuerJackAss - 9/4/2022, 7:41 PM
The Stranger is Mega Maid. He turns robotic & ends up in Space at the end of the show sucking out Middle Earths air
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 9/4/2022, 7:44 PM
No
JayBarrick
JayBarrick - 9/4/2022, 8:14 PM
Bridie Sisson is not playing “Annatar”, as the rumor of her character being Sauron was debunked by executive producer Lindsey Weber a few days ago.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 9/4/2022, 9:13 PM
@JayBarrick - Did she? Missed that. Very interesting... there's speculation that it might be Halbrand.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/4/2022, 8:16 PM
Balrog are just Maiar cloaked in shadow and flame. I could see it but I still think he is most likely Sauron or one of the Wizards.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/4/2022, 8:17 PM
Also, so far, this mystery is the only interesting thing this show has going for it.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 9/4/2022, 11:53 PM
@MrDandy -
The only mystery is why people are giving this show a chance.
Makiveli21
Makiveli21 - 9/4/2022, 8:27 PM
Its Gandalf... and it's pretty obvious...
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/4/2022, 8:31 PM
@Makiveli21 - I already think the writers have done a poor job. This would seal the deal. Gandalf didn’t arrive until the third age.
Chappers
Chappers - 9/5/2022, 6:06 AM
@MrDandy - I heard today that Amazon have no rights to show or refer to anything related to the Third age, so this could be their way around that by tweaking some of the history. I don't know all the ins and outs of that limitation but high-level they can't touch the third age, no idea why
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/5/2022, 11:37 AM
@JakeyChappers - haven’t heard this rumor but it isn’t true. What Amazon owns are the TV rights to The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. This includes the appendices of Return of the King that has SOME of the second age but not all of it. They do not have the rights to the Silmarillion or any of the extended books such as A History of Middle Earth or Unfinished Tales. As such they are missing the rights to massive chunks of the second age and it is why a lot is left out and a lot is made up.

Why Amazon would choose to make a show about something they don’t have the full rights to hurts my brain.
Chappers
Chappers - 9/5/2022, 11:44 AM
@MrDandy - Gotcha, this is what I found just now. Seems the case is more they have to make things before the 3rd age, this is from an article 18months old though so anything could have changed:

After settling a copyright infringement lawsuit in 2017, Warner Bros and the Tolkien Estate closed a $250 million deal with Amazon for the TV series. However, the Tolkien Estate established a number of conditions, one of which specified the series can only take place during the Second Age of Middle-earth.
bcom
bcom - 9/4/2022, 8:28 PM
Him being a Balrog did cross my mind and it seems a lot of people on Twitter who are quite knowledgably in Tolkien's work are also throwing out the suggestion he could be a Balrog.
Fogs
Fogs - 9/4/2022, 8:30 PM
Tom Bombadil. 100% sure of this.






Jk
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/4/2022, 8:33 PM
@Fogs - actually…I could see it, but I hope not. Bombadil should be a happy-go-lucky character (as he is the great Middle-Eath mystery who may just be Illuvitar himsel)
Fogs
Fogs - 9/4/2022, 8:35 PM
@MrDandy - I'm joking. Tom is around since the beginning being pretty much the same guy. And yeah, I'm glad we don't know who he is really, gives us that nice space for imagination.
maxx
maxx - 9/5/2022, 12:31 AM
@Fogs - actually, I’ve been thinking it could be a twist on Tom Bombadil as well. There diverting from the books in so many places that this wouldn’t be completely out of the question.
Fogs
Fogs - 9/5/2022, 3:37 AM
@maxx - well if they're giving Bombadil an origin the fandom will burn hbo to the ground hahhahahah
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 9/5/2022, 3:57 AM
@Fogs - burn HBO to the ground? They'll be so mad, even producers of the other fantasy show on tv are gonna get it.

Kidding, I know you mean Amazon. But I do agree fans will be mad. A random dude so unfazed by the One Ring is fun, partly because of the mystery in my opinion
Fogs
Fogs - 9/5/2022, 4:37 AM
@bkmeijer1 - hahahha I wrote Hbo thinking of Amazon.

Yeah,I loved Bombadil too. Specially how he's so alien to whatever is happening in the world.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 9/5/2022, 4:41 AM
@Fogs - I don't remember if it was actually Gandalf who said it, or it was Tolkien who wrote it, but it was said Bombadil wasn't chosen as Ringbearer because he'd probably lose it or even forgot he had it in the first place.
Fogs
Fogs - 9/5/2022, 6:14 AM
@bkmeijer1 - yeah Gandalf told them that, when it was suggested leaving the ring to him in the council of elrond.
relentless1
relentless1 - 9/4/2022, 8:33 PM
its Sauron, the red herring pieces are there for him to be Gandalf so the twist is he will be Sauron
Fogs
Fogs - 9/4/2022, 8:37 PM
@relentless1 - nah, my guess is Gandalf. He's seen bending the trees and that's a control over nature very tied to the wizards of ME.

Sucks his introduction is like that tho.
SethBullock
SethBullock - 9/5/2022, 5:33 AM
@relentless1 - Sauron is rumored to be another guy that has been shown on the second episode.

Won't say who because of potential spoilers, I guess.
ScaryTerry
ScaryTerry - 9/4/2022, 10:10 PM
You’re all wrong! It’s Gollum!

Locking it in, you heard it hear first!

Banks, taking it to them, you, etc!
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 9/4/2022, 11:54 PM
I assumed he was a wizard tbh
toylled
toylled - 9/5/2022, 2:24 AM
Well they did post a picture of a balrog on their twitter?
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 9/5/2022, 3:55 AM
There are quite a few reasons why he could either be Gandalf or Sauron, but I kinda hope he is another Maia (spirit) as well. Maybe not Balrog, but another would be a fun surprise. Not that I know much Tolkien lore though, so I have no idea who it could be otherwise
DerekLake
DerekLake - 9/5/2022, 6:26 AM
Better not be a wizard. They aren’t supposed to show up until the Third Age.
knomad
knomad - 9/5/2022, 10:17 AM
I think he's one of the wizards or something similar. The show is already playing fast and loose with the timeline. And the whispering to the fireflies was kind of a giveaway.
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