Tom Bombadil has finally made his long-awaited debut in an onscreen adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. It took nearly 70 years, but the enigmatic character is now featured in Season 2, Episode 4 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, Tom Bombadil is a whimsical, ancient figure who offers refuge to Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin during their quest to destroy the One Ring. Over the years, opinions on Tom have been divided—some see him as a delightful and helpful character, while others question his relevance to the story. This split in opinion may explain why both Peter Jackson and Ralph Bakshi chose to omit Tom from their film adaptations. However, The Rings of Power appears poised to give Tom a more significant role in its narrative, judging by his introduction.
In The Rings of Power, Tom Bombadil remains a cheerful, singing figure who delights in assisting others and sharing tales, much like his literary counterpart. However, there are notable differences, mainly because this series is set during the Second Age of Middle-earth, while The Fellowship of the Ring takes place in the Third Age. In the show, Tom resides in Rhûn rather than near the Old Forest by the Shire. He also seems to live alone, without his wife Goldberry, though her voice (provided by Raya Yarbrough) is briefly heard in his home. Importantly, Tom does not host any Hobbits in this adaptation. Instead, he provides shelter to the Stranger (played by Daniel Weyman), offering a glimpse of the hospitality that Frodo and his companions will encounter thousands of years later.
In some cases, this “glimpse” feels more like a direct homage. The Stranger’s initial interaction with Tom Bombadil mirrors scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring. For example, when the Stranger’s map of Rhûn blows onto a tree branch and he attempts to retrieve it by breaking off the branch, the indignant tree responds by engulfing him—reminiscent of how Old Man Willow traps Merry and Pippin in the “The Old Forest” chapter of the book. Just as in the novel, it’s Tom who comes to the rescue.
In both the book and the show, Tom Bombadil tames the angry tree by chanting the exact same words: “You should not be waking. Eat earth! Dig deep! Go to sleep!” This incantation works like magic in both versions. Interestingly, in The Rings of Power, the tree that ensnares the Stranger is named “Old Man Ironrod,” which could suggest a familial link to Old Man Willow.
Rory Kinnear in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video
This isn’t the first time The Rings of Power has directly referenced previous adaptations of The Lord of the Rings. For instance, a direct quote from Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring practically confirmed the Stranger was Gandalf in the Season 1 finale. However, Tom Bombadil’s exact words in this episode go beyond mere callbacks or fan-pleasing references. They forge a deeper connection between the Tom of the Second Age and the Tom of the Third Age, underscoring that he has been calming and speaking to trees for millennia. This sense of continuity reflects a deep-rooted understanding of Middle-earth’s ancient rhythms.
As The Rings of Power’s Tom explains to the Stranger, this knowledge stems from the fact that he is the “Eldest” of all beings in Middle-earth. “Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn,” he tells the Stranger. “He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless.”
Interestingly, these lines are lifted directly from The Fellowship of the Ring. While there are additional lines in the book’s version, it raises an amusing thought: Has Tom been reciting this speech for centuries, perfecting it for all the wanderers who cross his path?
On a serious note, these repeated quotations across various adaptations add a rich historical layer to Tom Bombadil’s character. His consistent use of certain lines and actions—such as rescuing both Merry and Pippin and the Stranger from dangerous trees—creates a cyclical pattern that resonates with the recurring rise of Sauron (played by Charles Vickers) in both the Second and Third Ages. Each time we encounter Tom, he is guiding individuals who could potentially save Middle-earth from looming darkness, solidifying his role as a protector across different eras. The likely connection between the Stranger and Gandalf amplifies this impact, as the future wizard unknowingly mirrors experiences that his friends will undergo in the distant future.
Moreover, Tom is portrayed as a great lover of stories and storytelling. While he may not always play a direct role in Middle-earth’s epic battles, he gently nudges key players in the right direction, recognizing the recurring patterns in these tales across time. His influence is subtle yet profound, emphasizing his timeless presence in Middle-earth’s narrative.
But the homage to Tom Bombadil in this episode doesn’t end with his appearance. We also witness the first onscreen adaptation of Middle-earth’s eerie Barrow-wights, who confront Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond’s (Robert Aramayo) Elven company. Although Tom doesn’t appear in this scene, there’s a significant connection.
In The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo and his companions are captured by Barrow-wights shortly after leaving Tom’s house, and it’s Tom’s song that ultimately saves them. While Galadriel and her group don’t resort to singing in their battle against the Barrow-wights, the inclusion of these malevolent spirits in the same episode as Tom Bombadil is no accident.
Like Tom and Old Man Willow, the Barrow-wights were excluded from Jackson’s and Bakshi’s film adaptations. By featuring them alongside Tom Bombadil and the Old Man Ironrod scene, The Rings of Power creates a thematic dialogue between these characters, reminding viewers of their roles in The Fellowship of the Ring and their absence from previous film versions. At long last, these elements of Tolkien’s world are given their due in a screen adaptation. This episode of The Rings of Power serves as a heartfelt tribute to The Fellowship of the Ring and to aspects of Tolkien’s work that have rarely, if ever, been brought to life onscreen.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes releasing every Thursday.
Topics
Amazon Prime Video
Lord of the Rings
