The Rings of Powerseason 2’sGandalf narrative introduced Tom Bombadil, exploring one possibility regarding one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s long-standing mysteries. Tom Bombadil is a metaphysical being who appears in Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsbookswho, unlike Gandalf, Sauron, or Morgoth, isn’t considered to be any particular divine species. To avoid the confusion surrounding the character, Tom Bombadil was removed from the narrative in Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringsmovies.
However, the confusion surrounding Tom Bombadil is one of the most exciting aspects of exploring Tolkien’s works. The fact that we don’t have an answer, and never will, is one of the beautiful mysteries of Middle-earth. At the end ofThe Return of the King,Gandalf mentions Tom Bombadil briefly, saying that he plans to have a “long talk” with him now that the War of the Ring has ended, but the contents of that discussion aren’t revealed.
The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Gandalf Story May Explain His “Long Talk” With Tom Bombadil
Gandalf May Have Just Been Going To Visit An Old Friend
The Rings of PowerTV prequel explores the Second Age of Middle-earth, and the show has begun offering its speculation on some classic Tolkien mysteries, such as the fate of the Blue Wizards.Season 2 introduces Tom Bombadil, who helps Gandalf discover his destiny in Middle-earth.The Rings of Powerseason 2’s ending shows Gandalf and Tom sharing a warm momentby the fire and singing a tune. Gandalf may have made many friends in Middle-earth, but the scene suggests that Tom Bombadil was one of the few people he could truly relate to.
Of course,The Rings of Poweris just an interpretation of Tolkien’s texts, but the idea that Tom Bombadil might have mentored Gandalf offers a tender meaning to these words. Gandalf’s “long talk” could be interpreted as being slightly threatening, but it could just be a nice catch-up between old friends, with the two bonding in a manner that only they could. Gandalf wasone of the Istari, making him ancient, butTom Bombadil was said to have been around even before the Valar, meaning he would be one of the few people Gandalf could turn to for understanding.
I Loved This Character In Rings Of Power Season 2, But I Hope We Never See Him Again
Rings of Power played with fire by including this character in season 2, and after it paid off, I hope that Prime Video leaves him behind for good.
This Solution To LOTR’s Mystery Is Anticlimactic, But It Makes The Most Sense
Old Friends Reuniting For A Pleasant Chat Is Perfectly Tolkien
The idea that Gandalf and Tom Bombadil reunited simply for a nice chat and perhaps a song by the fire isn’t as climactic as one might have hoped, but it’s perfectly in line with Tolkien’s tone. If the author wanted this to be some drastic event shared by divine beings, then he might have spent more time exploring it. Plus, he likely wanted to separate Gandalf from the Hobbits so they could return to the Shire and defeat Saruman alone. It’s a pleasant theory, andThe Rings of Powerprovides a visual for it.
