We’re halfway through LOTR: The Rings of Fire, but the show is still introducing new characters into the already crowded story. In Episode 5, mysterious figures in white cloaks make a debut, apparently trailing behind the prominent meteor that delivered the Stranger.
One of these white-cloaked figures also appeared in TROP’s trailers, with most fans believing the character could be Sauron. But who are they really?
The characters who appeared in white cloaks in LOTR: The Rings of Power Ep 5 are speculated to be either original characters from Rhûn or members of the Cult of Melkor.
You might not be familiar with either Rhûn or Cult of Melkor, so let me help you out!
What is Rhûn?
Rhûn is the name given to the land to the east of LOTR’s main territories. Since none of the stories takes place there, not much is known about Rhûn.
In TROP Ep 5’s end credits, some of the White Cloaks were given titles akin to “the Stranger.” We have Bridie Sisson, Edith Poor, and Kali Kopae playing the Dweller, the Nomad, and the Ascetic, respectively.
The Dweller was also the one present in most of the TROP trailers and speculated to be Sauron. However, executive producer Lindsey Weber told TIME magazine that fans may be misguided to believe so.
“We are enjoying all the speculation online and can tell you Bridie Sisson is an incredible actor. We also thought fans might like to know that her character is traveling from far to the east—from the lands of Rhûn…”
Having characters hail from Rhûn gives writers a blank slate to work on and create original characters/stories for the show. Going from their imposing appearances and the fact that they’re looking out for the Stranger, the White Cloaks may not be on the good side.
Cult of Melkor
As you may know, Melkor is one of Morgoth’s names. After he was vanquished in the First Age, his lieutenant Sauron established a cult for people to worship Morgoth in the Second Age. They were quite active during this time.
All with the white robes and mysterious instruments they carry, the White Cloaks do look like religious-cultish figures. The staff, in particular, sports a symbol very similar to the Eye of Sauron. But we’re yet to learn what the disc could be.
It was also through this very cult that Sauron was able to spread his influence amongst people. The most famous example of his corruption was Ar-Pharazôn and the Númenóreans, who currently have a major role in The Rings of Power.
As always, the show remains very secretive about these newcomers’ identities. As Episodes 6 and 7 are supposed to be the most important ones yet, we hope it uncloaks these mysterious figures as well.
About The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an American TV series, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay for streaming on Amazon Prime.
Set 3,000 years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the show will be set in the Second Age of Middle-earth. Beginning with a time of peace, the series will follow the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron and the forging of the rings of power.
The cast includes Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, and Dylan Smith among many others.
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