‘Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy’ Season 2 Ending Defined: Is The Stranger Gandalf? Who’s the Darkish Wizard?

**Spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 finale, now streaming on Prime Video.**

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 ends with our heroes on the ropes. The unbelievable elf metropolis of Eregion has been destroyed and Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) has been tortured to loss of life by Sauron (Charlie Vickers). The Darkish Lord is left possession of each the 9 Rings of Energy for mortal males in addition to Adar’s (Sam Hazeldine) orc military of Mordor. Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) and his merciless supporters have supplanted the Trustworthy in Númenor, forcing Elendil (Lloyd Owen) into exile in Center-earth. The dwarf metropolis of Khazad-dûm is just saved from whole destruction by the balrog because of Durin III’s (Peter Mullan) self-sacrifice. Even the candy little harfoots and their new mates, the storrs, discover themselves compelled to maneuver on — and probably out of the present fully? — after the occasions of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 Episode 8 on Prime Video.

However, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 finale additionally leaves Tolkien followers with just a few glimmers of hope for the long run. The refugees of Eregion discover themselves settling within the place destined to turn into Rivendell. There, Excessive King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Elrond (Robert Aramayo), Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), and their mates dedicate themselves to combating again towards the darkness. Within the jap lands of Rhûn, the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) has lastly assumed the title of Gandalf together with the mission to face as much as Sauron and Ciarán Hinds’s mysterious “Darkish Wizard.” And whereas Elendil is aware of that he’s going to reunite together with his youngest son Anárion in Center-earth, he nonetheless has no concept that his different son, Isildur (Maxim Baldry), is alive and nicely and combating the nice battle in Pelargir.

All of which is to that that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 finale has left us wanting extra. We would like extra epic battles, extra nods to Tolkien lore, and extra hints about which of the Istari Ciarán Hinds’s Darkish Wizard is meant to be!!! (Am I the one one questioning if he’s not merely a Blue Wizard, however an early model of Saruman??)

From that Gandalf divulge to how precisely Elrond managed to avoid wasting Galadriel, right here’s all the pieces you might want to know in regards to the ending of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 Episode 8…

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 Ending Defined: Is the Stranger Actually Gandalf? Who’s Ciarán Hinds’s Darkish Wizard?

For years, Prime Video’s Rings of Energy has performed coy on which legendary Tolkien character David Weyman’s “Stranger” is meant to be. Early teasers for the primary season appeared to recommend he was none aside from Sauron, nevertheless it’s turn into an increasing number of clear as time went on that he was most likely a model of Gandalf who popped up within the Second Age for some purpose.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 finale lastly confirmed that the Stranger is Gandalf. He adopts his title from the nickname the storrs give him of “Grand elf.” Not solely that, however Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) makes it clear his function is to not solely face down and battle Sauron however the nefarious Darkish Wizard who has been ruling over Rhûn.

So who’s the Darkish Wizard? We all know that he considers himself not solely one of many Istari, however that he additionally desires to “befriend” Gandalf as a way to make use of his energy. He additionally has been ruling Rhûn by way of a thriller cult.

In Tolkien’s lore, there have been 5 Istari: Blue Wizards Alatar and Palandar, Saruman the White, Radagast the Brown, and, in fact, Gandalf the Gray. As a result of Radagast principally stayed out of main conflicts in Center-earth, preferring to take care of animals and vegetation, it’s extremely unlikely Hinds is taking part in him. The truth is, I really feel assured there isn’t a approach this Darkish Wizard is Radagast.

That stated, the Blue Wizards and Saruman arrived in Center-earth first, forward of Gandalf, and did certainly wind up in Rhûn. The Blue Wizards fall out of file and are speculated to possibly be chargeable for beginning the thriller cults within the East. So it appears doubtless that Hinds’s Darkish Wizard is meant to be Alatar or Palandar. Nevertheless, I can’t assist however shake this nagging feeling that the Darkish Wizard is perhaps a model of Saruman whom Gandalf will win again to the sunshine within the Amazon collection…just for him to show later within the Third Age. (Is {that a} loopy principle? Certain. The Darkish Wizard might be only a Blue Wizard gone unhealthy.)

The Rings of Energy Season 2 Ending Defined: How Does Galadriel Survive? How Does Sporting Nenya Change Elrond?

Galadriel virtually dies within the The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 finale, because of Sauron stabbing her with Morgoth’s crown. The evil within the object incorporates poison that must kill her outright. Nevertheless, Elrond finds her ring, Nenya, and decides to put on it to assist heal her.

Sure, Elrond, the man who has been steadfastly skeptical of the rings of energy all season wears one in all them within the Season 2 finale.

“I believe what he’s considering in that second, when he’s about to place it on, it’s like, ‘Properly, right here I’m going. I’m within the sport.’ ?” Robert Aramayo advised Decider final week. “And what does that imply? Am I in his sport now? Is that this precisely what he desires? Am I now encircled in his energy on this approach that I’m not going to have the ability to management? I believe he’s conscious that Sauron is conscious.”

However, Aramayo was additionally struck by how Elrond’s determination to don Nenya additionally has repercussions for the way forward for Tolkien’s work.

“When he places the ring on, it’s out of a way of desperation. He has to do it. Nevertheless it’s additionally fascinating to consider Elrond, his capacity that develops and is kindled, his therapeutic.” Aramayo stated. “We all know he turns into one of many biggest healers of all time. I don’t suppose he is aware of that but however that’s positively fascinating to consider.” 

Will There Be a The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 3?

Most likely! Though Amazon hasn’t formally ordered a 3rd season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy, The Hollywood Reporter not too long ago reported that Season 3 is already in pre-production. When Decider spoke to collection stars Charlie Vickers and Robert Aramayo final week, they appeared to count on a return to Center-earth. Aramayo expressed that he would “like to discover [Elrond’s] relationship with Celebrian,” whereas Vickers stated that Sauron “must go on a journey when he goes to Numenor.”