The Rings of Power Spoiler Recap: Season 2 Episode 4
Hey dol, merry dol, it’s Tom Bombadil! One of the most anticipated characters of this season has such a gentle entrance in this episode when The Stranger (likely Gandalf) almost stumbles into him when searching for Nori and Poppy. Aloof but friendly, Tom Bombadil is one of the most mysterious characters of the legendarium since Tolkien did not write about him very extensively. His origins are constantly debated, but Tolkien seemed to think of him as the personification of Nature itself, who came to Middle-Earth when it was first forming. He has near unmatched power when it comes to nature, but cares for little outside his domain. This is Bombadil’s first live adaptation portrayal because his lack of interest in Sauron meant that he was never part of any major plot, only a stopping point along the way for various other characters.
Tom is away from his usual domain in The Old Forest for this episode, as he is investigating the wastelands of Rhûn, and it wouldn’t be too surprising if he’s had some contact with the local halflings. As in keeping with his character, he knows about the Dark Wizard and has even met him, but doesn’t feel a need to challenge him directly. So I wouldn’t expect much action from him going forward besides housing and feeding any travelers. As for the singing woman that The Stranger/Gandalf heard, Bombadil said that there was no woman, but he is in fact married to a river spirit named Goldberry in canon. I think it’s a safe bet to say that Tom is protecting her from anyone that he doesn’t trust yet. The Ent Treebeard that we’re familiar with from The Lord of the Rings trilogy is also about as old as Bombadil and we’ve now seen some Ents in this episode, so I would love to see them meeting up later in the season.
Nori and Poppy were separated from The Stranger/Gandalf and they chance upon another halfling! The delightful Merimac leads the girls to his people, who are Stoors rather than Harfoots. The Stoors, Harfoots, and Fallohides make up the three types of halflings/Hobbits, who all currently live in different areas but will eventually all come together in The Shire and interbreed. The Stoors are the most inclined towards rivers among all Hobbits, and in the not too distant future, there will be a rather famous Stoor called Sméagol… The Stoors are led by a matriarchy, as seen with their leader Gundabale Earthauler. “The Gund” as Merimac calls her, is initially suspicious of Nori and Poppy but is quick to defend them against the Dark Wizard’s Gaudrim (Easterling men loyal to the Dark Wizard). She thinks it’s likely that Sadoc’s ancestor was a Stoor who left many generations ago to find more fertile land but never returned, which is likely why the Harfoots are still wanderers.
What’s puzzling to me is the development of the Dark Wizard in this episode. Bombadil calls him an Istar who sought power and turned evil, but the Istari were specifically sent to Middle-Earth to fight Sauron and so an Istar already seeking Sauron before the One Ring is made is very odd. There are five Istar in total: Saruman, Gandalf, Radagast, and two Blue Wizards- Alatar and Pallando. The Stranger is likely Gandalf, Radagast is similar to Bombadil in that he mostly concerns himself with plants and animals, and The Lord of the Rings fans know Saruman who eventually turns to evil in that work, but there is next to no information about the Blue Wizards in canon. As far as we know, Saruman didn’t turn to evil immediately (at least not openly), but he did come to Middle-Earth first among the Istari and declared himself the greatest among them, so it’s possible that the Dark Wizard is Saruman. It could be an interesting plot line to have the Dark Wizard be Saruman who “turns back to the light” upon meeting The Stranger/Gandalf in order to earn his trust and keeps his tyrannical tendencies in secret until his shadowy work is revealed in The Lord of the Rings. Then again, we know so little of the Blue Wizards that there’s plenty of opportunity for this show to invent a new story for one of them with this character. Radagast came to Middle-Earth at the same time as Gandalf, so he’s likely still getting his bearings like The Stranger is, and we’re unlikely to meet another nature-inclined character in the same season as Bombadil.
When it comes to nature-lovers, we obviously think of the Ents as well. We meet Snaggleroot and Winterbloom in this episode when they attack Arondir, Isildur, and Estrid who are searching for Theo. The Uruk/Orcs have been through the area recently, felling and burning trees as they go, so these two Ents seek justice from any who would harm their friends. It’s notable that Winterbloom is an Entwife, who are no longer around by the time of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien didn’t speak much of their disappearance but noted that they were likely killed by Sauron in revenge for their fighting against him. Thus it is delightful to meet an Entwife in this show! Winterbloom seems more passionate about the treatment of the trees than Snaggleroot, which would fit in Tolkien’s characterization of them. She has a touching moment with Arondir who apologizes for his mistreatment of a tree in the past and pledges to help bring down the Orcs burning her friends.
Estrid’s identity as a follower of Adar is revealed but she seems to be remorseful for her past choice. She is desperate to save her own life, but gives up her chance at freedom in order to help Isildur and Arondir when they’re caught by a swamp creature. And despite Estrid’s betrothed turning up in the rescued group of Theo and some Wildmen, there is definitely some romance brewing between Estrid and Isildur. You’re not married yet, sweetie!
The scenes with the Elves in this episode felt a bit like an afterthought to me, but we’re obviously building up to a big battle at Eregion soon. Elrond’s party, including Galadriel, go to find out why Celebrimbor hasn’t responded to their message but they have a little aside with some Barrow-wights and Uruk/Orcs instead. The Barrow-wights live in the Barrow-downs not far from Bombadil’s official residence (not where he is in this episode), and they may have been evil spirits sent by the Witch-King of Angmar who eventually becomes the leader of the Ring-Wraiths/Nazgûl working for Sauron. Since we haven’t met the Witch-King yet in the show, the exact origin of the Barrow-wights is unclear, but certainly Sauron is involved in some capacity. Bombadil is one of the few people who can easily fight Barrow-wights, so it would be fun if they cross paths this season, even if that’s unlikely.
After the Elf party defeats the wights, they discover Adar’s army marching towards Eregion. They don’t yet know whether Adar is working for or against Sauron, but it’s bad news either way for Celebrimbor. Galadriel serves as a distraction so the others can flee back to Lindon for reinforcements, with Elrond noting that her action was more to protect her ring than their group. Elrond does take the ring as they go, but it’s unlikely that he’ll ever put it on considering how much he distrusts it. Galadriel has some great fighting moves before being captured by Adar, but I’m not too worried about her considering her plot armor. In that way, one large challenge of any prequel is to inject enough suspense into the plot to actually make the audience worried for characters who will clearly make it through to the end. So then it is likely that those characters will face the worst trials even if, and especially because, they won’t die in the course of this show.
The eventual showdown at Eregion will probably be a cinematic masterpiece full of incredible stunts and special effects, but I’m currently more interested in what’s next for The Stranger, Nori, and Poppy. If the Dark Wizard is actually Saruman, then we obviously won’t see him be defeated in any significant way, but we may still have some intriguing developments. And I hope to learn more about the Stoors and how they may inspire the Harfoots to find a permanent settlement. It will eventually be the Harfoots who first cross the Misty Mountains and settle in the future Shire, with the Fallohides in the north following next and the Stoors last. It’s not too surprising for the Stoors to go last if they’re happy in their current settlement, though the actions of evil men and sorcerers around them will eventually drive them out. What delightful new friends they are and will be in years to come!
