Who is Tom Bombadil, the special character from ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 that Peter Jackson forgot about?

The many stories of Middle-Earth have presented fans of J.R.R. Tolkien with numerous beloved characters, each important in their own way to the overall lore of the fantasy world, so as it’s to be expected not everything can be fit into an adaptation. Such was the case of one Tom Bombadil, who briefly appears in the first book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’, only to leave the heroes befuddled with a funny way of expressing himself, as well as with ominous words.

Back when Peter Jackson adapted the saga for the big screen, Bombadil was one of the characters that had to be left out of the narrative. And while this decision didn’t sit quite well with fans of the books, his absence went unnoticed by many who became fans with the movies. Now, Old Tom is finally going to be given his chance through the second season of Amazon Prime Video’s ‘The Rings of Power’.

Below, we’ll tell you a little bit about the character, as well as his importance in the overall lore of Middle-Earth.

Who is Tom Bombadil?

Tom Bombadil is a mysterious and enigmatic character in “The Fellowship of the Ring.” He lives in the Old Forest with his wife, Goldberry, the River-daughter. Tom is depicted as a joyful, whimsical, and seemingly all-powerful being who is unaffected by the One Ring’s power. He speaks in a peculiar, sing-song manner and claims to be the eldest being in Middle-earth, having witnessed its earliest days.

As such, he is described as “older than the old”, presented as one of the most benevolent creatures in the entirety of the series, and also as an extremely mysterious and powerful being.

Importance and Significance

Tom Bombadil’s role in the story serves as a reminder of the vast, ancient, and magical world beyond the central quest to destroy the One Ring. His immunity to the Ring’s power highlights the existence of forces and beings in Middle-earth that are beyond the understanding and influence of even the most powerful artifacts. Tom’s presence emphasizes themes of nature, ancient wisdom, and the idea that not all aspects of the world are driven by the same concerns as the main characters. While his role is brief, he provides crucial assistance to the hobbits early in their journey and adds depth to the rich tapestry of Tolkien’s world.

Throughout his entire life, Tolkien himself expressed a huge amount of love for the character, but he refused to explain his appearances and his origins. Bombadil first appeared in a small poem written by Tolkien in 1934, long before “The Lord of the Rings” was published, meaning that he has always been in the author’s mind while writing the many stories of said world.

So what exactly is Tom Bombadil? There have been numerous debates and theories in the community about what exactly he’s supposed to be. Some suggest that he would be a Maia or a Vala, some of the deities of Middle-Earth. Others believe that he’s actually the world of Middle-Earth incarnate, and as such is the reason why he was there at the beginning and seems to be all-knowing. We may never know the truth.