The Rings of Power showrunner Patrick McKay opens up about Ciarán Hinds Dark Wizard character in Season 2. Only small glimpses of Hinds character have been seen in preview footage thus far. However, we already know that whatever his origin, he seems to have fallen to darkness. We also have a fair idea that The Stranger, also a Wizard, seems to be heading in his direction.
Ergo, whilst everyone else is dealing with Sauron in the West, it seems The Stranger and this other unnamed Wizard will duke it out in the East. It also seems like Tom Bombadil may also have an interest in what Hinds Wizard is up to.
Speaking with ComicBook.com recently co-showrunner Patrick McKay was cautious of revealing too much. He was asked about this Dark Wizard being a new concept in the Tolkien mythos. Of course, McKay corrects the interviewer to say that there is actually precedent of this in Tolkien’s works. For a start there was Saruman (duh) and in one version of his unpublished (until posthumously) mythology he had both Blue Wizards turning to darkness. Though, in another they remained true. (What I think the show is doing (I hope) is taking both of these versions and smashing them together. i.e. one of the Blue’s is The Stranger and the other is Hinds Wizard.)
Here’s what McKay had to say.
RELATED: The Questions I Want Answered In Rings Of Power Season 2
“I don’t know that it’s that new of a concept,” McKay says. “We have seen throughout Tolkien that powerful beings are tempted to evil. Gandalf will not carry the Ring for he fears the evil it could do through him. Saruman turns to evil believing that that’s the best way to save the world, in whatever twisted logic he’s come up with. So we know that good characters can turn to evil and we know that even wizards can turn to the dark side, so to speak, and watching how that’s gonna play out with Ciarán Hinds is gonna be hopefully a real thrill for people.”
Saruman fell for a number of reasons. However, chief among them was the direct influence of Sauron. For now we have no idea what prompted Hinds character to stray from his mission. Sauron could have been involved prior to the events of Season 2. Yet somehow I’m not sure that will be the case here. That might be too narratively tricky to cover in Season 2.
Evil In Tolkien
No villain should be evil for evil’s sake in Tolkien’s mythos outside of Morgoth who would have destroyed every soul in Arda given the chance. Yet even Melkor as he was once known started with less malice in the very beginning. Even Sauron, as I’m sure we will see more of in Season 2 has motivations beyond a simple desire for power. Sauron wants to help Middle-earth. It’s just he feels no one is as wise and powerful as he. Therefore, Sauron thinks he should be the one in charge. When the other beings reject his lordship, he decides he has to make them understand and follow, for their own sake.
Hopefully, Ciarán Hinds character will likewise have reasonable motivations for his actions. I also hope this is the two Blue Wizards and the Stranger is not Gandalf. If you want to know more about why, check the related section above.
Oh, and just to nip one theory in the bud some fans have had, Hinds Dark Wizard is NOT and cannot be Saruman. If Saruman turned evil in the Second Age, why would he be sent back again in the Third? Why would he be made leader of the White Council? Saruman’s betrayal took time and as such had an greater impact. Therefore, unless the show wants to create an impossible plot hole for the main story of The Lord of the Rings, they can’t do this. If they do, the show is dead in my eyes.
What do you think of his comments as The Rings of Power showrunner Patrick McKay opens up about Ciarán Hinds Dark Wizard in Season 2? Thoughts below as always.
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