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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe Stranger is Gandalf. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power confirms it in the Season 2 finale, “Shadow and Flame,” when he recognizes the name: “Gandalf. That’s what they’re going to call me, isn’t it?”
When does The Rings of Power reveal the Stranger’s identity?
The reveal comes in Season 2, Episode 8, “Shadow and Flame,” the season finale. Prime Video lists the episode’s release date as October 3, 2024. Prime Video’s episode listing identifies it as the finale.
How does the finale confirm he is Gandalf?
The Stranger says the name himself: “Gandalf. That’s what they’re going to call me, isn’t it?” That direct acknowledgment settles the question; earlier hints are not the only basis for identifying him.
One such hint was his advice to “always follow your nose,” a recognizable echo of Gandalf’s familiar characterization. It pointed viewers toward the answer, but the finale’s spoken name makes the confirmation explicit. The Los Angeles Times’ finale interview discusses the line and the reveal.
#1 Best Overall
- Officially licensed Sauron figure from The Lord of the Rings The Motion Picture Trilogy by Warner Bros.
- Bendable and posable to display your way
- This highly detailed figure is approximately 7.5” tall
- IncludesGet your hands on them to experience all the fun!mace accessory
- For kids, fans, and collectors ages 7+
Why was his identity kept ambiguous?
The series initially left room for several possibilities, including the possibility that the Stranger was a Sauron red herring. By the end of Season 1, he was established as one of the Istari—wizards sent to Middle-earth—but his particular identity remained unresolved on screen.
Showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne said they considered alternatives such as Saruman and one of the Blue Wizards. They ultimately chose Gandalf by the Season 1 finale and developed the character’s story toward that destination. Daniel Weyman, who plays the Stranger, said he learned the identity in the middle of Season 2 production, when the finale scene had to be filmed. The Los Angeles Times interview reports on those decisions.
Rank #2
- Highly detailed 1:15 scale, BST AXN 5" Figure from the hit movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Designed with 29 points of articulation for maximum posing and play
- Includes Gandalf's magic staff and signature sword & sheath, a flexible cape, interchangeable set of hands, and BST AXN sticker
- Displayed in the Lord of the Rings themed window box packaging complete with dioramic insert
- Collect all The Loyal Subjects The Lord of the Rings 5" BST AXN Figures! Sauron, Aragorn and Legolas. Figures Sold Separately.
Is this Gandalf’s story in Tolkien’s books?
The series presents the Stranger as an early Gandalf in its own Second Age story. That is an adaptation choice, not a claim that Tolkien’s writings explicitly place Gandalf in this exact storyline. Amazon describes The Rings of Power as a Second Age series, while McKay has characterized the show’s approach as finding gaps or “ellipses” in the mythology and building stories around them. Amazon’s series description gives the setting; the Los Angeles Times interview explains the adaptation approach.
Weyman described his portrayal as “Gandalf at the very, very beginning of a journey,” rather than the much later figure audiences know. In the series, Tom Bombadil’s guidance and the Stranger’s decision to help Nori and Poppy are part of his path toward the reveal and toward receiving a staff. Payne also hinted at the character’s eventual familiar appearance: “You might also eventually see him get a hat.” Those details belong to the show’s version of his journey.
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Rank #3
- Aragorn, the Dúnedain descendant who led Frodo Baggins and the other Hobbits of Rivendell and joined the Fellowship of the Ring, is now available as an S.H.Figuarts!
- The figure comes with a variety of armaments from the first chapter of the film, "The Fellowship of the Ring"
- The cloth cloak has wires inside so that it can be posed freely
- [Set Contents] Main body, 3 pairs of interchangeable hands, Interchangeable face part, Sword, Dagger, Quiver, Blanket, Cloth cloak
- The product box will have a Bandai Namco warning label, which is proof that you are purchasing an officially licensed product
Is the Dark Wizard also Gandalf—or Saruman?
No. The Stranger’s identity is resolved as Gandalf; the Dark Wizard is a separate character and a separate mystery. A 2026 GamesRadar+ report says McKay and Payne indicated the Dark Wizard’s identity would be revealed early in Season 3, and recounts their post-Season 2 statement that he is not Saruman. That developing plot question does not change the Stranger’s confirmed identity.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Display 2 ways! Sauron statue is removable from the base, and can stand inside the display case or showcased alone within your Lord of the Rings collection
- Measures approximately 7” tall
- For The Lord of the Rings fans ages 14+
Rank #4
- Collect Gandalf the Grey & customizable Uruk-hai Orc
- Uruk-hai Orc includes multiple interchangeable heads and weapons
- Over 16 points of articulation
- Full-color window box
- Designed by Eamon O'Donoghue
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