I think the dark wizards is Dumbledore! Okay, bare with me- I know he is a wizard from a different story entirely, but why would that matter?

Actually he might be the highlander (who we all know was a Jedi Knight anyhow).

Now people who want to complain that neither Dumbledore nor Highlander are part of the LOTR universe, I give you The Dark Wizard, who also isn't part of the story, and Gandalf#2 "A wizard, Frodo is never late, but can turn up way to early because mumble mumble mumble".

For the benifit of the author of the above piece, the following Discworld novels have all been adapted to the small screen

Wyrd Sisters

(animation)

Soul Music (animation)

Hogfather

Going postal

Colour of Magic/Light Fantastic

I can't wait for the introduction of the MacGollums in season 3. They will be hobbits that love jewelery and will find the one ring before it is lost. This won't matter because Sauron will have an affair with Hilda of Hootington. She isn't in the books, but Tolkien never explicitly said there wasn't a Hilda in the second Age.

What will be the real clincher in season 3 will be the reveal that Gandalfs staff is actually Willow. Then we will have the arrival of Numworth the blue and his twin Grumblestan. They will make magic bracelets that bestow magical powers on the wearers. The boss of the bracelets will be a spin off series.

Great stuff altogether.

Elrond is indeed descended from a unique bloodline. He has Maia, Eldar, and human heritage.

However he isn't unique in this, as Elros his twin obviously had the same. What is important is that Aragon is a descendant or Elros and

Arwen is daughter of Elrond, so they both share a liniage with Beren and Luthien, and Tuor and Idril

So in effect the holy houses of the Elves and men cross twice in the one bloodline.

Melian - luthien- Arwen

and

Beren- Elros - Aragon

But also via Turgon and Idril as Erandil is their son, while Elwing is Luthiens grand daughter.

Arwen is also the granddaughter of Galadriel, Celebrain is Galadriels daughter. So the kiss scene is a bit iffy. Her dad had a thing for his daughters granny if the scriptwriters of ROP are to be believed!

For folks into the lore, Olorien (Gandalf) and Melian are coveal in spirit, so in a very broad sense all the descendants of Melian are kind of related to Gandalf.

From appendix "the tale of years"-the third age

"When maybe a thousand years had ed, and the first shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Istari or Wizards appeared in Middle-earth. It was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force and fear. They came therefore in the shape of Men, though they were never young and aged only slowly, and they had many powers of mind and hand. They revealed their true names to few, but used such names as were given to them. The two highest of this order (of whom it is said there were five) were called by the Eldar Curunír, ‘the Man of Skill’, and Mithrandir, ‘the Grey Pilgrim’, but by Men in the North Saruman and Gandalf. Curunír journeyed often into the East, but dwelt at last in Isengard. Mithrandir was closest in friendship with the Eldar, and wandered mostly in the West, and never made for himself any lasting abode. Throughout the Third Age the guardianship of the Three Rings was known only to those who possessed them. But at the end it became known that they had been held at first by the three greatest of the Eldar: Gil-galad, Galadriel and Círdan. Gil-galad before he died gave his ring to Elrond; Círdan later surrendered his to Mithrandir. For Círdan saw further and deeper than any other in Middle-earth, and he welcomed Mithrandir at the Grey Havens, knowing whence he came and whither he would return. ‘Take this ring, Master,’ he said, ‘for your labours will be heavy; but it will you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you.’ "

Tolkien's actual words...