In Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, a new danger looms in the eastern lands of Rhûn. A Dark Wizard, portrayed by Ciarán Hinds, threatens to complicate the lives of the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), Nori (Markella Kavenagh), and Poppy (Megan Richards).
In Episode 2, titled “Where the Stars Are Strange,” their journey takes a dramatic turn when they are ambushed by mysterious riders under the orders of this Dark Wizard. The group becomes separated, leading to a possible confrontation between the Stranger and this new villain. But who is this Dark Wizard, and what does he want?
The Mystics’ Role and the Dark Wizard’s Influence
In Season 1, the Stranger was on a quest to discover his true identity and find a staff to control his powers. He tells Nori that these things already belong to him; he just needs to locate them. However, in Season 1, very little was known about the Stranger.
He occasionally spoke in runes and used fireflies to create the Hermit’s Hat constellation. The Mystics, three powerful figures in white, pursued him, believing he was Sauron (Charlie Vickers) because he arrived in Middle-earth in a ball of fire.
The Mystics’ background remained a mystery. They used powerful magic and carried a shield marked with the Hermit’s Hat constellation, hinting at a deeper connection to the Stranger. They clearly served an evil force, but since Sauron was elsewhere, who had sent them?
In the Season 2 premiere, titled “Elven Kings Under the Sky,” the leader of the Mystics (Bridie Sisson) returns to Rhûn after being defeated by the Stranger in the Season 1 finale. The Dark Wizard reveals that he knows the Stranger isn’t Sauron but one of the Istari.
He dismisses the Mystic from her task of bringing the Stranger to him and assigns it to the dark riders instead. The Dark Wizard’s intentions are clearly dangerous, as he threatens to harm Nori and Poppy to force the Stranger’s cooperation.
Is the Dark Wizard Another Istar?
Although little is known about the Dark Wizard, he appears to be both cunning and persuasive. He summoned the Mystics using blood magic and turned the riders of Rhûn to his cause.
His appearance suggests a connection to the Istari, with long dark hair, a beard, robes, and a staff topped with a red gem. He speaks of the Istari with respect, despite his dark intentions, raising the question of whether he might be one of them.
One character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Legendarium that comes to mind is Saruman the White (Christopher Lee). In The Lord of the Rings books and movies, Saruman starts as a wise and respected wizard among the Istari but becomes corrupted by his research into Sauron’s power and the One Ring, eventually betraying his fellow wizards.
Given that the Stranger is confirmed to be an Istar who is still discovering his abilities, a similar path could be unfolding for the Dark Wizard. The Mystics’ shield, marked with the Hermit’s Hat, hints that the Dark Wizard may have sought the same constellation when he first arrived in Middle-earth, and now he knows what the Stranger is searching for.
The Dark Wizard could be another Istar, but it seems unlikely that he could be Gandalf (Ian McKellen) or Radagast (Sebastian McCoy). According to Tolkien’s writings, the Blue Wizards Alatar and Pallando arrived in Middle-earth during the Second Age, while Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast arrived in the Third Age.
However, the Dark Wizard shares some traits with Saruman, including ambition and a desire for control. His luxurious staff and robes reflect Saruman’s preference for grandeur, and his ability to gather followers in Rhûn is reminiscent of how Saruman established his power in Isengard, eventually creating his own army.
Could the Dark Wizard Be Something Else Entirely?
According to Tolkien’s writings, Saruman, Gandalf, and Radagast arrived in Middle-earth during the Third Age, though The Rings of Power takes a different approach. While the Dark Wizard shares many similarities with Saruman, he may turn out to be something else entirely.
The Nine Rings for Men are expected to play a significant role in Season 2, with Sauron (disguised as Annatar) urging Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) to forge these rings. Little is known about them, except that those who wear them become the Ringwraiths, also known as the Nazgûl.
What’s intriguing is that only one Nazgûl’s identity is known, and it’s not the Witch King of Angmar. The Nine Rings are given by Sauron to powerful kings, warriors, and sorcerers of Middle-earth, with most of his followers located in the southern and eastern regions of the continent. One of these Nazgûl is Khamûl the Easterling, a powerful and ambitious ruler who became corrupted by the power of his ring.
Known as the “Shadow of the East,” Khamûl is second in command among the Nazgûl, after the Witch King. He was a powerful ruler in the lands beyond Rhûn before his ring corrupted him.
The Dark Wizard, now residing in Rhûn, is a powerful sorcerer casting a long shadow. If he isn’t an Istar, he could be a version of Khamûl who is being set up to receive one of the Nine Rings. Regardless of his true identity, one thing is certain: he poses a significant threat to the Stranger, Nori, and Poppy.
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes airing weekly on Thursdays.
