Warning: spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power episode 5Might Middle-earth's Meteor Man can spells and a constellation of stars he must find, but doesn't recall who he is or where he hails from. Even simple tasks like eating and communicating seem completely alien to this bedraggled Harfoot-botherer. The Lord of the Rings may secretly reveal the reason why.
Before wizards arrived in Middle-earth from Valinor, they lived as undying Maiar spirits - Gandalf was known as Olórin, Saruman was Curumo, etc. Five of these spirits were incarnated into Middle-earth's wizards, but during The Lord of the Rings, they don't entirely their old lives. The key age comes from Unfinished Tales, where J.R.R. Tolkien writes, "The Istari [wizards] had need to learn much anew by slow experience and though they knew whence they came the memory of the Blessed Realm was to them a vision from afar off." This description suggests any Maia who manifested physically in Middle-earth was effectively reborn as a new entity, and had to learn the intricacies of its new life from scratch. This The Lord of the Rings wizard trait might explain why The Rings of Power's Stranger doesn't who he is or where he came from, and relies heavily upon Nori to understand concepts like speech and friendship.
So, Is The Rings Of Power's Stranger A Maia?
If the Maiar are prone to forgetfulness upon entering Middle-earth, and The Rings of Power's Stranger lost his memory upon arriving in Middle-earth, does this mean Daniel Weyman's character is definitely an incarnated Maia? It's certainly not the only sign. Many of the spells Meteor Man has cast since landing in The Rings of Power bear a striking resemblance to magic used by wizards in The Lord of the Rings, such as Gandalf's insect-whispering technique. Unfortunately, the Stranger being a Maia still leaves a multitude of options on the table. He could be Sauron, Gandalf, another wizard, Tilion from the moon, or a Maia not mentioned by name in Tolkien's mythology. The Maia option is rapidly becoming the most likely answer to The Rings of Power's Stranger's identity, but the field isn't exactly narrowed by much.
What Else Wizards Can't Do In Middle-earth
When Gandalf and the other wizards arrived in Middle-earth, memory loss wasn't the only side effect. The Maiar were strictly prohibited from utilizing their full, unleashed power. Moreover, they were banned from opposing Sauron directly, and instead had to settle for guiding the Free Peoples of Middle-earth toward their own victory. This explains why Gandalf largely left the heavy-lifting to Frodo and Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, despite possessing vastly more power than both. As the lead singer of Valinor's bearded boy-band, the wizard appointed in the White role (Saruman to start, then Gandalf) was given the right to wield more magical power than the others.
Sauron was a Maia in Middle-earth too, but not bound by the same rules. Having turned away from the Valar to serve Morgoth, Sauron remained his true self rather than enduring the restrictions and limits imposed upon Gandalf, Saruman, and the wizards. It remains to be seen which category The Rings of Power's Stranger will fall into. If Nori's new friend was sent by Valinor as a friend, he'll stay hazy-minded, learning slowly, and limited in power. If the Stranger is a bad Maia, his memories and powers will somehow be restored - perhaps by the creepy white-robed followers introduced in episode 5, or maybe via the black sword hilt currently possessed by Theo the Southlander.
Amazon Prime - Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues Thursday/Friday on Prime Video.