As fans eagerly await the third season of The Rings of Power, the mystery surrounding the enigmatic Dark Wizard continues to grow. In a series already steeped in themes of identity and deception, this new character promises to add yet another layer of intrigue. With two seasons of carefully planted clues and shocking reveals, the writers are keeping audiences guessing—and the latest insights hint at a fascinating direction.
A Series Built on Secrets
From the start, The Rings of Power has reveled in the art of misdirection. Season 1 teased the identity of Sauron, leaving fans to analyze every frame for hints. Similarly, the Stranger’s backstory was a central puzzle that wasn’t fully revealed until the second season. But even as those mysteries were resolved, a new question emerged: who is the Dark Wizard?
Introduced in Season 2, this shadowy figure immediately caught the attention of viewers. The writers, true to form, have been tight-lipped about specifics, but a recent Reddit AMA with showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay provided some tantalizing clues. One thing is clear: the Dark Wizard is not Saruman.
Ruling Out Saruman
During the AMA, Patrick McKay addressed speculation that the Dark Wizard could be Saruman, one of Middle-earth’s five Istari (wizards). McKay firmly stated that this was not the case:
“We have no plans or intention for him to be Saruman. He is not Saruman. We know there are five wizards in The Lord of the Rings. One of them is Saruman, one is Gandalf, one is Radagast, and there are two others. We think he will be one of those two.”
The reasoning is sound. Making the Dark Wizard Saruman would create significant narrative inconsistencies, especially regarding his later betrayal of Gandalf. As Payne explained, their friendship is central to the drama of The Lord of the Rings:
“If the Dark Wizard were Saruman, it would strain credibility. He’d need to betray Gandalf twice—once in the Second Age and again in the Third. That would undermine the emotional weight of their story.”
Enter the Blue Wizards
If not Saruman, then who? The showrunners have all but confirmed that the Dark Wizard is one of the Blue Wizards: Alatar or Pallando. Unlike Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast—who interacted extensively with the familiar peoples of Middle-earth—the Blue Wizards ventured east and south, far from the lands we know.
Tolkien’s writings offer only fleeting glimpses of their fates. In one version, the Blue Wizards succeeded in their mission, slowing Sauron’s influence in the East. Another, darker interpretation suggests they failed, succumbing to corruption and becoming twisted by the powers they were sent to combat.
This second possibility aligns with the tone of The Rings of Power. Could the Dark Wizard represent a fallen Blue Wizard? If so, his counterpart might still stand as a potential ally for the Stranger, setting up a compelling conflict in Season 3.
A Long Wait for Answers
For now, fans can only speculate. Whether the Dark Wizard is Alatar or Pallando, his true identity will remain a secret until Season 3 unfolds. Meanwhile, the first two seasons of The Rings of Power are streaming on Amazon Prime Video, offering plenty of material for theorists to dissect.
Season 3 may not have a release date yet, but if these teases are any indication, it’s shaping up to be one of the most thrilling chapters in the series so far. Until then, fans will continue piecing together clues, eagerly anticipating the answers that lie ahead.
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.