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Tom Bombadil has played a small, but key role in The Rings of Power season 2 so far. Guiding the Stranger on his journey to discovering his identity, the mysterious character has appeared in a few episodes so far. But while he may not be a leading role in Prime Video's fantasy epic, his impact is huge. This is especially true as The Rings of Power marks the character's first major live-action appearance.
That's right, old man Tom didn't make the cut in Peter Jackson's film trilogy, despite him being a part of Frodo's journey in The Fellowship of the Ring. Now, if you haven't read all of Tolkien's novels and poems, you might be wondering what all the fuss it about. Well, that's where we come in. Lucky for you, we've compiled a complete guide to Bombadil, from his history to the implications of his appearance in The Rings of Power.
This means that next time you hear Lord of the Rings fans have been chanting the words: "Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow" you'll be able to join in. And if that wasn't enough, read our feature on why the show gets his addition to the fantasy franchise spot on.
Who is Tom Bombadil?
Tom Bombadil is one of the oldest and most mysterious figures in Middle-earth. He's also long been a fan favorite in the Lord of the Rings canon, thanks to his unwavering, quirky demeanor. While the rest of Middle-earth was stressed about Morgoth and Sauron, Bombadil just went on his Merry way, seemingly unphased by the forces of evil. However, don’t let the good vibes fool you; Tom Bombadil is a silent powerhouse.
Throughout Tolkien's works, such as The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and The Lord of the Rings, we get small glimpses of this enigmatic figure, teasing how powerful he truly is and how he has connections to most of the races of Middle-earth. Throughout his adventures, Bombadil has faced spiteful tree spirits such as Old Man Willow, and horrific Barrow-Wights. He's also been challenged by multiple creatures throughout the centuries, including the likes of river animals and birds who have an agenda against boating.
In terms of charisma, Bombadil even managed to score a stunning wife when he met Goldberry (aka River-woman's daughter). However, winning the wife lottery aside, most impressively, Tom Bombadil isn't affected by the One Ring's influence at all. In fact, when he met Frodo during the Fellowship of the Ring, he slipped on Sauron's evil piece of jewelry like it was nothing and easily handed it back to the Hobbit, a feat that even Gandalf couldn't do.
With all that in mind, you probably think that Tom Bombadil is a massive player in Tolkien's world. However, as we mentioned above, not much about him is known, apart from his preference for wearing a bright blue jacket and yellow boots. Tolkien never told us how old Bombadil was or where he was born. But, thanks to clues in his works we do know that Bombadil is older than the elves and was around long before Melkor (aka Morgoth) came to Adar. It's hinted that he’s been around since the dawn of Adar’s creation, making him one of, if not the oldest being in Middle-earth.
We also don't know what race he is, but with his ability to see Frodo even when he is wearing the Ring, Tolkien hints that Tom Bombadil is a special being who can interact with the Unseen world (also known as the wraith-world). There are some theories that he is a Maiar, like Gandalf, one of the primordial spirits created to help the Valar. Some even think that he could be a Vala, one of the gods who helped shape the world. However, Tolkien never confirmed this, so Bombadil is still largely a mystery that will likely go unsolved.
How does Tom Bombadil fit into the Rings of Power?
Tolkien never specified what Tom Bombadil was up to exactly during the First and Second Ages. However, we do know that during this time, he was wandering around Middle-earth. Where in Middle-earth he was exploring is largely a mystery, except for the end of his pilgrimage where he’d stick to Eriador. He’d later go on to travel down the Withywindle River and settle down in the Old Forest where he’d live with his wife Goldberry and eventually meet Frodo during the Third Age.
In Tolkien's work, we hear that elves, dwarves, and Men all have different names for Tom Bombadil, implying that he interacted and got to know each of them before the Third Age. We also know that he and Gandalf were very much acquainted before the War of the Ring, as Gandalf told the Council of Elrond that Bombadil would simply lose the One Ring if they decided to give it to him, back when Bombadil was being considered as a potential ring bearer before Frodo.
Gandalf knew that Tom Bombadil was a carefree soul who did not directly concern himself with the heavy burden of Sauron's expanding influence. This insight tells us that he must have gotten to know Bombadil at some point. This might add some more fuel to the fire that The Stranger is actually Gandalf...
In The Rings of Power season 2, we meet Bombadil in Rhun, where he's made a home. He explains he ended up there because he wanted to see what all the fuss was about in the locale that was once covered in green and is now a complete desert.
He's very much the character we know and love too, living out a cozy existence in his home, minding his own business. He's also got a tree on the property who seems mighty similar to Old Man Willow. There's even a little implication too that Goldberry is there with him as we hear a bit of her voice singing a song in the background.
This Bombadil explains in his broad West Country accent that his is "eldest", that he is older than the rivers and the trees, and gives no answers to his past. Pretty familiar, right? However, he is a little bit more somber than we're used to, best seen when he warns the Stranger about the darkness coming to Middle-earth. He tells him that he's on a path to clash with both the Dark Wizard and Sauron. Sounds ominous indeed.
He appears again in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 6, where he continues on with the Stranger on his world of discovery. The pair head to a field of trees to try and find a staff that will suit the Istar. However, the Stranger is troubled that the time this will take will distract him from being able to keep Nori and Poppy safe as danger approaches in Rhun. In response, Bombadil plucks some lines straight from Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring and tells him, "Many that die deserve life, some that live deserve death. Who are you to give it to them?"
Tom Bombadil in other works and media
Tom Bombadil may not have appeared in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies, but he did make an appearance in Tolkien's novels and starred in a collection of poems. In Lord of the Rings we meet Bombadil during the Fellowship, where he helps Frodo and the rest of the Hobbits.
He also appears in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, a collection of poems telling the story of Tom meeting Goldberry, facing Old Man Willow, and ending with his wedding. We’ve also seen him in some of the best Lord of the Rings games, such as The Lord of the Rings Online. So, even with his absence in all the movie adaptations, there is still plenty of Bombadil to go around.
For more information on that, you can head to our handy guide on The Rings of Power season 2 release schedule.
For more Tolkien fun, you can read our Rings of Power season 2 review or check out our guide on how to watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in order.
