Did you catch this trace on the Stranger’s actual identify in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy’ Season 2?

By the top of its first season, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy all however confirmed that the mysterious Stranger (Daniel Weyman) was none apart from Gandalf himself. If his magic powers, grey clothes, and affection for the Hobbit-like Harfoots weren’t indicators sufficient, him immediately quoting Ian McKellen’s Gandalf within the finale — saying “if in doubt, always follow your nose” — sealed the deal.

Nevertheless, as The Rings of Energy Season 2 kicks off, the Stranger nonetheless has no clue who he’s. That is why he, Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), and Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) are following a star map to the Japanese land of Rhûn. Perhaps there, they’ll discover solutions about who the Stranger is, together with, crucially, his identify.

In episode 2, Nori does her greatest to workshop some potential names for the Stranger. Recommendations embrace Doderic, Andwise, and Fredegar. Whereas the Stranger is not feeling any of these, the names are enjoyable nods to Hobbits briefly talked about in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: Doderic Brandybuck is a relative of Merry, Andwise Roper is Sam’s uncle, and Fredegar Bolger (aka “Fatty” Bolger) is an effective buddy of Frodo’s, and later Merry’s brother-in-law.

Nevertheless, Nori says one thing else in episode 2 that is a clearer trace on the Stranger’s identify — even when she does not notice it on the time. As Poppy wonders why the Stranger cannot simply magically create meals and water for them, Nori reminds her that he wants a stick or workers of some sort to harness his energy, saying “he’s afraid he’d lose control again without a gand.”

Now maintain on only a minute! A “gand”? As in “Gand”alf? That is it, we have cracked the code!

However “gand” — from the Previous Norse “gandr,” that means “staff,” “wand,” and even “magic” — is a lot greater than only a phrase that sounds just like Gandalf. It is a key a part of the etymology of Gandalf’s identify, and it might be a clue as to what the Stranger’s quest in Rhûn will entail.

Why is a “gand” so necessary in The Rings of Energy?

Daniel Weyman in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
Credit score: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video

Tolkien did not give you the identify Gandalf on his personal. As an alternative, he tweaked a reputation from a piece of the Norse poem Völuspá titled the “Catalogue of Dwarves.” (That is additionally the place a lot of the dwarves’ names from The Hobbit got here from.) Title-wise, the inspiration for Gandalf was a dwarf named Gandálfr, which mixes “gandr” and “álfr,” that means elf. Mainly, “Gandálfr” means “elf with a wand.”

Being the language lover that he was, Tolkien preserved that that means in his personal works. He wrote in his Unfinished Tales that the identify Gandalf means “Elf of the Wand,” in reference to each Gandalf’s workers and Males’s false impression that he was an Elf. (Notably, “Gandalf” is simply the identify Males got here to know the wizard by. He has different names, together with Olórin, his identify in Valinor, and Mithrandir, the identify given to him by the Elves.)

By mentioning the Stranger’s want for a gand in episode 2, The Rings of Energy positions the seek for a workers as a key a part of his quest transferring ahead. Add to that his episode 1 dream of a shapeshifting workers calling to him, and we’re formally on workers watch.

So the place is Gandalf going to discover a workers in Rhûn? May he style one from these gnarled bushes throughout the desert? May he obtain one as a present? And maybe most pressingly, will he perceive how a gand pertains to his identify as quickly as he takes up his workers? Or, like in Tolkien’s work, will he earn that identify from Males he encounters on his journeys?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video, with a brand new episode each Thursday.