Why People Think The Stranger Is Saruman in The Rings of Power

Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power takes place thousands of years before the events of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings novels. Those familiar with these books or their cinematic adaptations by Peter Jackson have been wondering where is Saruman, the first of the Istari the Valar dispatched to Middle-earth following the return of Sauron. In the series premiere, we meet a mysterious Istari referred to as the Stranger, who arrives on Middle-Earth on a meteor, and fans think that this might be Saruman.

Here is everything you need to know about whether the Stranger is Saruman.

Is The Stranger actually Saruman in The Rings of Power Season 2?

More than half of The Rings of Power Season 2 is over, but it’s still unclear whether the Stranger is indeed Saruman, a character famously portrayed by Christopher Lee in Jackson’s movies.

However, there are clues scattered throughout the show indicating that might be the case. As mentioned above, Saruman is first Istari to arrive on Middle-earth. Given that we are yet to see any other Istari in the series, it’s very much possible that the Stranger is Saruman, and not Gandalf, like some of the fans believe.

Further, it also makes sense to introduce Saruman as a potential protagonist and a friend of a Harfoot hobbit like Nori. It will likely add depth and complexity when the character inevitably turns evil.

Is Saruman in The Rings of Power Season 2?

If the Stranger is indeed Saruman, he is in The Rings of Power Season 2. However, the main issue with this theory is Saruman arrived in the Third Age, whereas The Rings of Power takes place in the Second Age. So, the timeline doesn’t really match.

Having said that, The Rings of Power has already taken creative liberties with certain aspects of the story, diverting from the source material. Accordingly, the possibility of the Stranger being Saruman can’t be ruled out.