[+] The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - SPOILERS ALLOWED

[Hriston]

Tolkien does refer to evil maiar who take forms other than balrogs, werewolves or vampires.

Yes, there is something wolf-like about them. Especially their leader with the light eyes. Maybe they are werewolves (or vampires) that work for Sauron.

But he also mentions mortal necromancers and the like. Such as the one the White Council mistakenly think is living in Dol Guldur.

Yes, they could be mortal. I was beginning to think they are not, but anything's possible .

In case anyone didn't notice, they were carrying a staff headed with an eye symbol, which gave the episode its name.

I'd missed that. It definitely resembles an eye, although it could also be a solar disk tilted at an angle away from the camera which would support their being maiar associated with fire like Arien, the maia who guides the sun. I also noticed that their leader, to whom the staff seems to belong, has a hand blackened with soot. If it is an eye then either they work for Sauron who has already taken on the eye as his symbol or the eye is a mantle he expropriates at a later time.

Could an eye be considered a type of knob? If the staff has a knob on the end, it would clearly make them wizards.

There is something of the Three Magi about them. They travel from the east, following a (shooting) star. But they only have one staff. Does that make only one of them a wizard?

 

[Hriston]

He could be the inspiration for the halfing version of "Hey Diddle Diddle" that Frodo sings, and also be Sauron or a wizard.

Yes, this is true. By "Man in the Moon theory", however, I meant the theory that he actually is the Man in the Moon.

 

[Sepulchrave II]

Yes, this is true. By "Man in the Moon theory", however, I meant the theory that he actually is the Man in the Moon.

The Man in the Moon is Tilion, a Maia.

 

[Hriston]

The Man in the Moon is Tilion, a Maia.

That is correct.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Okay, so I was wrong about Halbrand being Theo's dad or having anything to do with the sword it seems.

On the other hand, he's going back to Numenor as something of a hero, which should give him a lot of influence there.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well the Balrog got paid for the last episode. A nice little cameo.

He even got a line, so he can get his SAG card now.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

the ones that made their dex save for half damage vs Volcano certainly were lucky, amazing that a little ash can keep the skin from even a little singe

There was a real "I'm level 15; I don't need to run out of the way of this" energy from Galadriel. Sucked for all the Tier 1 characters, though.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Of course, if the Stranger isn't Sauron, or is himself a wizard, then they could other wizards (which doesn't seem likely given their treatment of the harfoots) or followers of Sauron sent to neutralize the newly fallen wizard.

My assumption is that he's either Gandalf (not my preference) or a Blue Wizard and they're agents of Sauron sent to take back him off the board.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If the staff has a knob on the end, it would clearly make them wizards.

Nanny Ogg approves.

 

[Hriston]

On the other hand, he's going back to Numenor as something of a hero, which should give him a lot of influence there.

Huh? He's riding to Lindon with Galadriel to get some elvish healing for his wounds, which honestly makes no sense to me, that he could ride all that way while losing blood.