‘Lord of the Rings’ Fans Blast ‘Absurd’ Gandalf Reveal

Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” has finally unveiled the identity of The Stranger, and it turns out he’s none other than Gandalf, portrayed by Daniel Weyman. This disclosure has sparked quite a bit of chatter and not all of it is positive.

As the second series wrapped up, a peculiar scene revealed Gandalf’s name in an unexpected way. He was mistakenly called “grand elf” by a character, which has left some viewers cringing. This take on his naming doesn’t sit well with many, especially considering it strays far from the established backstory where his name is derived from the Northern Mannish, meaning ‘elf of the wand/staff.’

The reception on social media was mixed, with some fans voicing their dismay in humor and frustration. One fan quipped on Twitter, ‘Every time I doubt my writing abilities, I’m just gonna remember that someone got paid thousands and thousands of dollars for Grand Elf.’ Another comment read, ‘Rings Of Power thinking the reveal of Gandalf is a reveal is sort of laughable.’

Critics of the show also pointed out that introducing Gandalf approximately 2500 years earlier than the original timeline further complicates the lore. A disappointed viewer expressed, ‘So, this show has Gandalf appearing in Middle Earth ~2500 years earlier than in established canon, and abandons the known etymology of his name. Yeah, glad I skipped this one.’

While the second season has been considered a significant improvement over the first, this latest creative liberty with Gandalf’s character has not been well-received. Despite my personal openness to new interpretations if they serve the story, it seems the “grand elf” moment might be one we’d rather forget.

The debate over fidelity to the original Tolkien works versus creative storytelling freedom in adaptations continues to be a contentious one. Whether this bold move will pay off for Amazon in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, it has certainly ignited a fiery discussion among Tolkien enthusiasts and casual viewers alike.

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