As a long-time Tolkien enthusiast who has spent countless hours poring over every detail of Middle Earth, I must say that the Dark Wizard in Rings of Power seems to be causing quite a stir among fans. While it’s fascinating to speculate about the identity of this mysterious figure, I find myself leaning more towards Saruman as the most likely candidate.
In the second season of Rings of Power, one subplot follows The Stranger, played by Daniel Weyman, as he ventures eastward towards Rhûn. This journey is a quest for self-discovery, where he aims to untangle the mysteries surrounding his personal identity.
Yet, it became apparent to many in Middle-earth as Sauron’s rise to power unfolded, that strategies seldom turn out as simple as they initially appear.
Introducing a new layer of complexity is the recently arrived Dark Wizard, portrayed by the talented Oscar-nominee Ciarán Hinds.
In the initial season, the ominous character pursued by the group of assistants, known as acolytes, was none other than the shadowy, malevolent wizard residing in Rhûn. This cunning figure was busy plotting to ensnare The Stranger in a lethal trap.
Descended from higher realms by the Valar to combat the menace of Sauron, the wizards, or the Istari, are scarce, so their arrival is exceptionally significant.
The question of who the Dark Wizard actually is presents a challenging conundrum: Could it be one of the Istari? If so, which one? Or, if not an Istari, then who else might this Dark Wizard truly represent?
Is the Dark Wizard Saruman?
Based on all the evidence, the most likely scenario is that the Dark Wizard is Saruman.
It’s quite evident that Ciarán Hinds is skillfully portraying a top-notch imitation of Christopher Lee. Dressed in flowing white garments and wielding an ominous staff, Hinds brings his character to life with a deep, rumbling voice reminiscent of distant thunder, a prominent nose, dark circles under his eyes, and hair streaked with black, grey, and white.
Besides overt signs, there are also more subtle indications. His attitude towards Hobbits is distinctly unfriendly – it’s not as blatant as the old Saruman’s open scorn, but it’s evident in his apparent indifference and lack of compassion towards them.
According to Tolkien’s lore, when Saruman first came to Middle-earth, he journeyed eastwards into the realms of Rhûn before eventually settling at Isengard and Orthanc. However, it remains undisclosed what Saruman was up to during his time in the Eastern lands.
These elements strongly suggest that Saruman is likely the real identity of the Dark Sorcerer. If something appears, behaves, and sounds like what we commonly associate with a particular thing, it’s reasonable to assume that’s what it is.
Still, there are some flaws with this theory.
Initially, Saruman appeared as a figure of wisdom, strength, and kindness, but beneath this facade lay a seed of envy, greed for power, and pride. Despite his eventual fall into evil during the War of the Ring and subsequent corruption, these negative traits may have been predestined.
As the head of the White Council (a council consisting of Saruman, Galadriel, Elrond, Círdan and Gandalf), Saruman, despite appearing cold and distant, was a significant advocate for good in Middle-earth. He played a crucial role in maintaining the danger of Sauron at a minimum throughout much of the Third Age.
On the contrary, the Dark Wizard lives up to his name, being undeniably malevolent, heartless, and wicked.
A problem with this theory is that the storyline of The Rings of Power occurs during Middle-earth’s Second Age, while Tolkien’s writings indicate that the Istari, or five wizards, did not arrive until the Third Age.
But, in the end, while these are both decent arguments against the suggestion that the Dark Wizard is — or will become — Saruman, they’re not bulletproof.
Rings of Power has demonstrated time and time again that it’s more than happy to contort Tolkien’s lore to suit the narrative. The fact that the Istari don’t come to Middle-earth until the Third Age is something that the show is already almost certainly going to ignore, given that The Stranger seems so likely to be Gandalf.
Concerning the contrast between the Dark Wizard’s inherently wicked personality and Saruman’s initially noble character, which was, admittedly, limited in scope, The Rings of Power often enjoys developing backstories and origins to clarify aspects that were previously unclear.
In Tolkien’s works, it isn’t made clear what Saruman’s goals or methods were before he became the leader of the wizards and the White Council.
Consequently, one could speculate that he started out as wicked, then momentarily allied with the virtuous, and eventually returned to evil in order to join forces with Sauron. This idea may surprise some – and it might change our perception of Saruman’s journey – but it doesn’t directly contradict established lore.
So, what’s the conclusion then? It appears that all the evidence points towards the possibility that the Dark Wizard could indeed be Saruman.
However, given that Rings of Power often delights in prolonging enigmas, these hints might just be misleading breadcrumbs strategically placed to deceive viewers.
Is the Dark Wizard a Blue Wizard?
It’s clear that the enigmatic figure you’re referring to is indeed a wizard. If he’s neither Gandalf nor Radagast, and there’s a chance he’s not Saruman, then the only possibility remaining is that he could be one of the Blue Wizards.
Among the Istari, the Blue Wizards are the most mysterious and elusive. Instead of staying on course to protect against Sauron, these two wandered off during their journey to the East, accompanying Saruman. However, unlike Saruman, they did not return after this excursion.
Essentially, what we’ve learned about the two Blue Wizards is quite limited. J.R.R. Tolkien intentionally kept the details of these wizards shrouded in mystery.
It’s not clear what specific tasks each of them undertook, whether they were successful or not, or their final outcomes. However, it is known that they served to underscore the fact that Gandalf was the one among the Istari who remained steadfast in his mission and did not succumb entirely to distractions and indulgence.
In essence, since there isn’t much existing folklore about the Blue Wizards in Tolkien’s works, The Rings of Power has a wide creative space to develop a narrative for these characters without being hindered by the specificities of Tolkien’s writing style. In other words, the constraints that usually apply when adapting Tolkien’s work are essentially irrelevant in this case.
The elephant in the room, of course, is a simple one. The Dark Wizard isn’t blue, and the Istari are heavily associated with their given colours.
It’s logical to assume that just as Saruman the White wore white, Gandalf the Grey wore grey, Radagast the Brown wore brown, the Blue Wizards might wear blue. However, unlike the other wizards, the Dark Wizard dons pale white robes and carries a staff adorned with a red gemstone set within it.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Blue Wizards are usually two in number, whereas the Dark Wizard typically works alone.
The issues found in the theory might not be entirely critical, but they certainly diminish the likelihood of this result, if nothing else.
Is the Dark Wizard Khamûl?
If the name Khamûl doesn’t ring any bells, don’t be alarmed. It’s not a name that many Tolkien fans will immediately recognise.
Initially hailing from the East, Khamûl later received one of the nine magical rings bestowed upon humans by the powerful, which in turn changed him into a Nazgûl (Ringwraith).
In this context, Khamûl holds a significant position as one of nine formidable deputies under Sauron, known as the Black Riders. Moreover, he ranks second among these dark forces, with only the Witch-king holding a higher rank within the Ringwraiths’ hierarchy.
Similar to the enigmatic Dark Sorcerer, Khamûl was primarily linked with the Orient, hinting at an inherent gloom within him. It’s plausible that Sauron aimed to amplify this innate darkness in Khamûl using his magical rings.
Furthermore, by focusing on the magical rings in The Rings of Power, the revelation that Khamül is a Dark Wizard could serve as a connection point for different storylines, as Sauron’s scheme comes more clearly into focus.
It’s quite evident that there’s a notable difference here. The Dark Wizard is undeniably one of the Istari, whereas Khamûl appears to be a mortal man, possibly a king or warlord from the East; he is not an Istari.
That alone essentially discounts this theory. Khamûl wasn’t a wizard, and the Dark Wizard is one.
However, don’t completely reject the idea that Rings of Power might introduce Khamûl later down the line.
Is the Dark Wizard an original character?
It’s nearly plausible that the Dark Wizard could be a completely fresh character, born out of the show’s creative mind. Consequently, we can’t entirely rule out this possibility, even though it’s also very unlikely at the moment.
If the series “Rings of Power” doesn’t intend to introduce a sixth Istari – a significant departure from Tolkien’s original narrative – it seems challenging to envision the Dark Wizard as a new character, or indeed any character other than Saruman.
To put it simply, The Rings of Power series often introduces unique characters and concepts to keep the narrative fresh. It’s intriguing to consider that the Dark Wizard might not be one of the primary suspects we’ve been led to believe, which would undoubtedly bring an element of surprise to the storyline.
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2024-08-29 11:34