WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS FROM THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER EPISODE 8, PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 8, the Stranger finally meets with the mysterious trio who greets him as “Lord Sauron.” However, Nori and the Harfoots manage to steal the leader’s magical staff, which the Stranger then uses to banish the trio into darkness. It’s pretty much confirmed that the Stranger is not Sauron as most fans had originally suspected. However, his identity is pretty much revealed later on in the episode. The Stranger and Nori decide to travel east to discover the truth about his powers. Although he is initially unsure which way to go, the Stranger eventually chooses a direction because of the sweet smell in the air. “When in doubt… always follow your nose,” he tells Nori.
It’s not an outright confirmation of the Stranger’s identity but fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works know who has always said that line. Now that it has been confirmed that the Stranger is one of the Istari, it’s clear that he is actually Gandalf the Grey. But who is Sauron in the Rings of Power? The Season 1 finale also confirmed that as Halbrand convinced Celebrimbor that forging the mithril with other metals will enhance its strength. During the Second Age, counseling the greatest Elvish craftsman was one of Sauron’s first steps towards creating the Rings of Power.
