The Rings of Energy launched the Darkish Wizard (performed by Ciarán Hinds) in season 2’s second and third episodes, and naturally, followers are determined to determine who he’s—along with determining who the hell The Unusual is.
Associated: All of the theories on who The Stranger is in The Rings of Energy
We don’t know his origins however we do know that the Darkish Wizard has turned to darkness, as hinted by the season 2 trailer. “We’ve got seen all through Tolkien that highly effective beings are tempted to evil. Gandalf won’t carry the Ring for he fears the evil it may do by way of him,” The Rings of Energy co-showrunner Patrick McKay advised ComicBook.com.
“Saruman turns to evil believing that that’s one of the simplest ways to avoid wasting the world, in no matter twisted logic he’s give you. So we all know that good characters can flip to evil and we all know that even wizards can flip to the darkish facet, so to talk, and watching how that’s gonna play out with Ciarán Hinds is gonna be hopefully an actual thrill for individuals.”
So who’s the Darkish Wizard in The Rings of Energy?
The most well-liked principle is that the Darkish Wizard is a younger(er) Saruman, a serious antagonist in The Lord of the Rings. The visible clues are compelling: The 2-tone beard and his mannerisms appear to imitate Christopher Lee’s illustration within the Peter Jackson motion pictures.
Then once more, if the Darkish Wizard is already evil, the timeline can be utterly thrown off. The Rings of Energy is ready throughout Center-earth’s Second Age, whereas The Lord of the Rings is ready within the Third Age; at the least 4,959 years after the occasions of The Rings of Energy.
Followers will keep in mind that even in The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf expects Saruman to be good and learns of his treachery. “I should see the head of my order. He’s each sensible and highly effective,” he tells Frodo earlier than leaving for Isengard and discovering Saruman has aligned with Sauron.
This might additionally imply that Saruman’s descent into evil has already been skipped and it will be a disgrace to not discover his origins. As a member of the Istari (wizards) despatched to Center-earth, Saruman was initially tasked with serving to to information and defend its inhabitants towards the rise of Sauron.
By the point of the occasions in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Saruman had already betrayed the White Council by secretly working towards them. He delayed their actions towards Sauron and undermined Gandalf’s efforts, all whereas pretending to be an ally.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy is out there to stream on Prime Video.