Reddit is Mad at The Rings of Power For Wasting The Stranger: "A Complete Filler"
Even if the guy does turn out to be Sauron, it seems like a lot of people just wouldn't care.
The Stranger has been one of the most enigmatic characters in Amazon's The Rings of Power, with many people suspecting him of either being a future Gandalf or a Sauron in disguise.
However, with the show now nearing season 1 finale, some fans are angry at how The Rings of Power handled the arc of the Stranger, essentially turning the promising character's story into "a filler".
"The Stranger has explained nothing. In seven episodes we haven't even had a hint. He might as well be a Tracey Emin piece, something everyone can gather around to talk about what it means and discuss whether they like it or not," Reddit user daveclampart argued.
According to the fan, the show failed to properly explain the character — and the purported "mystery" around him does not really help to justify that.
"[W]hoever he turns out to be, he has done, and is continuing to do, nothing. Whether he's Gandalf, or Sauron, or Gimli's left nut, he's not pushing the plot along in any way, and I'll be amazed if he does anything substantial in episode 8 that doesn't involve getting lost, staring painfully at a bug, or saving Nori from the S(k)inead's she's trying to save him from," the user went on.
While fans have largely agreed with the sentiment, some people suggested that The Rings of Power might be using the Stranger as a "plot device", just like they used the Southlands for the creation of Mordor.
The "wasted" Stranger storyline is just one of the many "failures" that fans grill The Rings of Power for.
"Almost as useless as the Arondir’s prison break storyline. Only to get caught and then released with his life and his weapons to go carry a message. It was a nice way to learn more about the Orcs, but I feel like they could have done without such a dead end plot line." – u/Berly653
Among other things fans are not happy about the show's treatment of the Southlands, as well as the character development of Galadriel.
There is still a chance for the show to satisfy more fans, though. The Rings of Power finale will be released this Friday, October 14. The show has already been greenlit for season 2 by Amazon.