The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Warning ! Spoilers forRings of Powerseason 2 , episode 4 ahead !
The Lord of the Rings : The Rings of Powerseason 2 may have just essay its own reply regarding Tom Bombadil ’s role in Middle - earth . ThisLord of the Ringscharacter is among the most mysterious of Tolkien ’s works , and this is a grown part of why he was allow for out of Peter Jackson ’s movie trilogy . There are so few answers regarding who and what Tom Bombadil is that including him in on - silver screen adaption apace becomes complicated . However , Prime Video has try its hand at it , withRings of Powerseemingly giving Old Tom a more unequivocal role .
Rings of Powerseason 2 , installment 4 , see the Stranger ( Daniel Weyman ) run intoTom Bombadil ( Rory Kinnear)while traveling through Rhûn . It ’s revealed that all the vision and dreams that had propelled the Istar toward Rhûn really led him to Bombadil . This implies an interesting connection between these two characters , which is quite a variety since Tolkien always insisted on Bombadil ’s neutrality . The source was purposely problematical about how Old Tom conform to intoThe Lord of the Rings , butRings of Powerhas implied more than Tolkien was ever uncoerced to .
The Rings Of Power Reveals Tom Bombadil Trains Wizards Who Come To Middle-earth
Old Tom Is The Stranger (& The Dark Wizard’s) Guide In Rings Of Power
The Stranger will begin receiving magic lessons from Tom Bombadil , make headway control over his powers and establishing a better understanding of his role as a wizard in Middle - earth . It ’s also mentioned inRings of Powerseason 2 , episode 4 that Bombadil teach the Dark Wizard ( Ciarán Hinds ) , who leads the evil furore in Rhûn that is eagerly seek out Sauron . These details combined imply that it isOld Tom ’s job to educate Istari once they go far in mediate - globe .
While there was no entailment of this in The Lord of the Rings , the termination of Return of the King does see Gandalf head to the Old Forest to spill the beans with Tom Bombadil following the One Ring ’s destruction .
While there was no significance of this inThe Lord of the Rings , theending ofReturn of the Kingdoes see Gandalf head to the Old Forest to talk with Tom Bombadil following the One Ring ’s death . This could corroborate the idea thatthe occult character was Gandalf ’s wise man and instructor in center - ground — a figure who helped steer him so that he could go on to steer others . If this really is whatRings of Poweris go for , it would not only be a likely result for Tom Bombadil ’s purpose in midway - earth but what he is as well .
Is Tom Bombadil The Source Of Magic In Middle-earth?
Rings Of Power May Be Leaning Into An Existing Lord Of The Rings Theory
InLord of the Rings , Tom Bombadil tell Frodo and his fellow Hobbits that he is the older of the old , alive and swan mediate - earth before the Dark Lord Morgoth bring evil and corruption . Still , when askedwhathe actually is , Bombadil ( and Tolkien ) only had his name to give in answer . Tom Bombadil is just Tom Bombadil — remnant of chronicle . Rings of Powerhas recapitulate this same sentiment . However , by making this fiber a kind of instructor and guide for magician , Prime Video seems to have leaned into an old Tom Bombadil theory .
Tolkien deny most popular theories about Tom Bombadil , conserve that this theatrical role is no more than he seems to be .
Some theories about Tom Bombadil title that he is thegod ofThe Lord of the Rings , Eru Iluvatar . Others make him the humanoid embodiment of Middle - earth itself . However , another popular hypothesis take thatTom Bombadil is the root of all magic in Middle - earth . This seems to align with the story inRings of Powerseason 2 . If it ’s Tom ’s job to teach incoming adept how to hold their world power , then it may be that he himself is the source of their magic . Of of course , this would mean for a far more definitive office and purpose than Tolkien ever gave Tom Bombadil . Moreover , it contradicts the nature of both Bombadil and the Istari .
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Tom Bombadil’s Wizard Connection Doesn’t Fit With Tolkien’s Lore
It’s Not A Perfect Match, But It’s Fun To Consider
While it ’s true that Gandalf sympathise Tom Bombadil better than othercharacters inLord of the Rings , the idea that he or other Istari discover or source their magic from the persona does n’t quite line up with Tolkien canyon . Wizards ' are bodied form of angel - like Maiar . While the root of their big businessman is never definitely say , it ’s implied that the limited nature of their Istari magic is allot by the god Eru Iluvatar himself . Even if their ability did need some conduit , there ’s never an innuendo that Gandalf or the others ever had to stop for lessons .
In The Lord of the Rings , Bombadil see power and iniquity , but he wo n’t lift a digit to do anything about it outside his home base of Withywindle .
What ’s more , Rings of Power ’s version of Tom Bombadil may claim to be passive , but he is no longer achromatic . InThe Lord of the Rings , Bombadil understand mogul and evil , but he wo n’t raise a finger to do anything about it outside his family of Withywindle . This is part of why it has been hypothecate that he is nature itself since the earth knows only life-time — not honorable and evil . groom necromancer to stand up to Sauron is still taking action . So , while it ’s sport to considerRings of Power ’s variation of events , this is unbelievable to be an answer Tolkien would have gotten behind .
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Set in the Second Age of Middle - earth , The Lord of the Rings : The Rings of Power explore the forging of the iconic rings , the wage increase of the Dark Lord Sauron , and the epic events pass up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien ’s classic novels . The series chronicles the creation of legendary character and the historic alliances and rivalries that mold the destiny of center - ground .
