The lord of the rings : the rings of power wrapped up its first season with seismic shifts and room for expansion. The billion-dollar show, which has already been greenlit for five seasons, found room for explosive moments. But it was still table-setting — the Lord of the Rings we know is still far down the timeline. With the first season finale released to the world, here are the major questions about what exactly happens next in season 2 and beyond. And thanks to The Rings of Power writer Gennifer Hutchison, viewers already know a little about where Sauron, Galadriel, and the Stranger are headed.
IS THE STRANGER ACTUALLY GANDALF?
After eight episodes the answer seems to be maybe. Though the finale gives some compelling evidence: The white Robes decide he’s not Sauron, and instead call him “Istar,” which Tolkien fans will recognize as a singular form of Istari, the elven word for the wizards of Middle-earth.
WHERE ARE THE STRANGER AND NORI HEADED?
After confronting the White Robes, with the Stranger deciding that he is absolutely not Sauron, he decides it’s time to go east to Rhûn to discover more about himself. Nori, ever eager to get off the harfoot path, decides to go with him while Poppy stays behind.
IS ISILDUR DEAD ?
No. He very much shows up later in the canon in a big way. But for now, no one in the show knows that except for his horse. Godspeed, horse!
WHAT DOES ELROND DO NOW THAT HE KNOWS SAURON IS HALBRAND?
Though Galadriel doesn’t share her news, Elrond is suspicious and wanders out to find the genealogy scroll that leads him to figure out that Halbrand is Sauron. Unfortunately, he finds this news too late, arriving back at the workshop just as the elven rings (the rings of power) are being completed.
