All we really know about these characters is that they are Istari.
But, as usual,J.
What Are the Istari in ‘Rings of Power’?
Image via Prime Video
The Istari don’t belong to a particular race in Middle-earth, but they guide all.
Yet Aiwendil (Radagast) and Pallando were sent along to accompany Saruman and Alatar specifically, making five.
Despite the mystery around them, the Istari were generally well-respected.
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However, Tolkien never indicated that this was ranking among them.
How Powerful Are the Istari?
They appear to be old men yet are wise and strong.
They often use a staff to channel their abilities, though the staffs are not strictly necessary.
The Istar are also not allowed to control the people of Middle-earth, nor can they fight Sauron directly.
Because of these limitations, the Istari often rely on their wisdom rather than their powers.
Image via Amazon Prime Video
What Do We Know About the Five Istari?
Of the Istari, there is one that everyone mildly familiar with the story knows: Gandalf.
He also holds the distinction of being the only Istari to venture into the East and return.
Epic drama set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.
He came to Middle-earth during the Third Age, according to Tolkien, though still before Gandalf or Radagast.
This is exactly the bang out of lore Rings of Power should focus on.
What Does the History of the Istari Mean for ‘Rings of Power’?
However, the similarities in their story only mean so much with all the changes made to the series.
Season 2 of TheRings of Poweris streaming on Prime Video in the U.S. New episodes air weekly on Thursdays.
