"There's no such thing, really, as canon in Tolkien": A Lord of the Rings expert explains why *that* major reveal in The Rings of Power doesn't break Middle-earth canon
Oct. 4, 2024That huge reveal doesn’t break Middle-earth canon
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The Rings of Power season 2, episode 8was packed with major events – including one, huge reveal aboutthe Stranger. Now, the following will containspoilers for the season 2 finale, so turn back now if you’re not up to date!
Towards the end of the episode, the Stranger, who had so far been nameless,decides to take on the name Gandalf, after hisStoorfriends take to calling him “grand elf.” Yep, the Stranger has indeed been Gandalf the Grey all along.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s source material, though, Gandalf didn’t come to Middle-earth until the Third Age to assist in the struggle against Sauron. The Rings of Power is set during the Second Age, long before Gandalf is ‘supposed’ to arrive. But, as one expert has explained, it’s really not that big of a deal.
“First thing to specify is that there’s no such thing, really, as canon in Tolkien,” Dr. Corey Olsen, The Tolkien Professor/President at Signum University, explained in an discussion shared byThe Rings of Power Twitter account. “Tolkien’s ideas were ever evolving.”
“In the text of The Lord of the Rings, we’re told that Gandalf with the other Wizards arrived at around year 1000 of the Third Age,” Olsen added. “And in his later years, he was playing with the idea of maybe Gandalf coming sooner, maybe some of the Wizards coming in the Second Age and taking part in the wars of the Rings of Power.”
Elsewhere in the finale, it also seemed that theDark Wizardwouldturn out to be Saruman– though the showrunners havealready debunked this particular theory.
While you wait forThe Rings of Power season 3, check out ourThe Rings of Power season 2 reviewfor our verdict on the latest episodes.
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox
I’m a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site’s Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.
The Rings of Power season 3 has a “strong” story as showrunners give an update on writing: “We’re hoping to turn it around as fast as possible”
The Rings of Power showrunners confirm “definitively” that the Dark Wizard isn’t Saruman: “We do know who he is”
Dev behind new Doki Doki Literature Club-style psychological horror says it’s not “for those with weak hearts,” but with 98% positive Steam reviews, I’m not sure I can stay away
