The revelation of the last episode of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’, especially everything related to the true identity of The Stranger, has raised blisters. Not only has this been a debatable decision to provide a name for his new identity, but it contradicts the canon established by Tolkien in the books. But… is that canon so important? What’s more: does this canon really exist?
From here, spoilers. As everyone suspected, The Stranger is actually Gandalf. Few surprises here, but the controversy has arisen because it is not a revelation in line with Tolkien’s canon, but rather that The Stranger was Gandalf all along: he simply acquired that name as a tribute to his little friends the hobbits, who call him “Great Elf”, in a pun worthy of Hodor’s times. The intricacy of the controversy: according to Tolkien, Gandalf did not arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age, to help in the fight against Sauron. And the Amazon series is set in the Second Age.
Nothing happens either. On the official account of the Amazon series, Corey Olsen, known as “The Tolkien Professor”, specifies a curious question about the canon. Literally, “there is no Tolkien canon as such.” And he adds: “Tolkien’s ideas were continually evolving.” And he gives the example that concerns us: “In ‘The Lord of the Rings’ we are told that Gandalf, with the other wizards, arrived around the year 1000 of the Third Age. But in his later years he toyed with the idea that perhaps Gandalf arrived earlier, because perhaps some of the Wizards arrived in the Second Age and participated in the Wars of the Rings of Power.”
A magician with history. In the video, Olsen details that Gandalf is just one of the many names that this wizard has had, such as Olórin when he lived in Valinor with the Gods, Mithrandir among the elves, Tharkun for the dwarves, Incánus in the South… that is , its presence has impacted many communities and it is logical that it receives many names. Tolkien thought so, and from that perspective, what the episode of ‘The Rings of Power’ tells is not faithful to the author’s strict letter, but it does not contradict it either.
But who is Corey Olsen? This Tolkien expert is known for appearing in many podcasts and internet videos talking about Tolkien and medieval literature. His nickname Tolkien Professor comes from the website he founded in 2007 talking about the author of ‘The Lord of the Rings’. He is currently creating the ‘Rings and Realms’ videos, where he explains the references and mythology of the series and continues making weekly videos about ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
The eternal discussion. So, as we have talked about on other occasions, we have the eternal clash of viewers of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and, perhaps, the fact that Amazon is looking for another type of audience. A public less attentive to the rigidity of lore of Tolkien, and who just wants a narrative that flows with some coherence. It is clear that both options are valid when it comes to enjoying Tolkien’s work, but one of the two is the one that will save you a few ulcers. Now, with the support of a renowned expert.
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