Saruman was the first Wizard to arrive in Middle-earth, followed by Gandalf and then Radagast. Because of Saruman's slight distaste toward Hobbits in Jackson's films and Radagast's connection with woodland creatures, it's safe to assume the Stranger is likely not Saruman or Radagast.
So the Stranger was revealed to be an Istari and it was heavily implied that he is Gandalf. Currently he is traveling to Rhun, and when Saruman arrived in Middle Earth, he traveled east to Rhun where he possibly met the blue wizards at this time.
According to Tolkien's writing, Gandalf and Saruman didn't arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age. Since The Rings of Power is set in the Second Age, this would suggest that the Stranger is definitively not either of those wizards.
Although the finale, “Alloyed,” opens with the reveal that the Stranger is Sauron, that's a fakeout, and the trio of white-cloaked women who were after him was mistaken. We later learn that Halbrand is Sauron, while the Stranger is one of the Istari — the formal name for wizards in Middle-earth.
Who is the stranger supposed to be in The Rings of Power?
As soon as the Mystics realize the Stranger isn't Sauron, they label him an "Istar." With this label, and several other hints throughout the episode and the season, The Rings of Power has all but confirmed that the Stranger is everyone's favorite wizard: Gandalf the Grey.
That line is said by Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring to Merry. Now, the show hasn't outright confirmed The Stranger is Gandalf, but the Istar link and Fellowship callback means we're about 99% sure the fan theory has come true.
This revelation refutes any lingering theories that The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), the man who fell from the sky at the start of the season, is in fact Sauron, with the finale confirming he's actually one of the Istari, Tolkien's version of Wizards.
Halbrand does not deny his heroism out of bashful humility, though; he knows that as Sauron, he's not the hero she wants him to be for the Southlands -- not when his plans involve scorching it into Mordor. No, Halbrand was never a hero, nor did he ever claim to be.
Certain things about The Stranger pointed toward this theory; in Episode One, his flaming crater looked an awful lot like the Eye of Sauron, and on two separate occasions, he inadvertently harmed Nori Brandyfoot with his supernatural powers, suggesting that he may be dangerous.
The Rings of Power's earliest signals that the Stranger is Gandalf concern his physical appearance and costume. Daniel Weyman's character first drops from the sky sporting long gray hair and an impressive beard, and when Nori fashions some clothes for her new friend, the garments she picks are also gray.
Why does Gandalf have no memory in Rings of Power?
Stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as the life age of the earth." From that explanation, it makes perfect sense why Gandalf wouldn't remember much. He had left the confines of time, reembodied his Maiar form and been thrust back into the mortal realm.
During his wanderings in Eriador, Gandalf met and befriended the isolated and secretive people of the Hobbits in their country, The Shire. During the Long Winter of 2758 Gandalf came to their aid. It was then when he witnessed and admired the pity and courage the humble Hobbits reserved in their hearts.
The character is heavily implied to be none other than the individual who would later be known as Gandalf the Grey, though this has yet to be officially confirmed in the series.
While The Rings of Power season 1 includes no overt clues to suggest a direct link between Harfoot characters and the Fellowship Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings, several subtle details indicate that Nori Brandyfoot could potentially be an ancient relative of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.
It suddenly occured to me that it seems very strange that Saruman never knew who Aragorn's truly was. This is especially so when you consider that Saruman was the head of the White Council and most (if not all the rest except perhaps Radagast?) of the White Council knew exactly who Aragorn was.
Tolkien at first had Gandalf and his opponent (then a Nazgûl) fall from a very low height so that both were able to survive this. Later, when he decided that the opponent was a Balrog and that both the demon and Gandalf were ancient spirits older than the universe itself he also changed the depth of the chasm.
Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) and her friend Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) travel to the site where the meteor crashed out of curiosity. There, they're met with a strange sight: at the center of the broken flaming meteor is a very tall man, played by Daniel Weyman.
Morgoth, the first to reign terror upon Middle-earth, was more powerful than Sauron and commanded an army of dragons and Balrogs. While both Morgoth and Sauron were cunning, Morgoth's rule and terror lasted longer and his corruption spread further, making him more formidable in the Lord of the Rings universe.
In The Lord of the Rings, Galadriel chose to use her powers for good, even helping to form the Council of Elrond. Galadriel was not evil. But had she been, there would be none who could stand against her forces, especially if she was in possession of the Ring.
When Halbrand and Galadriel captured Adar, Adar seemed not to recognize Halbrand as Sauron. Adar also claimed to have killed Sauron after watching Sauron experiment on the orcs, whom Adar sees as his children. It's possible Adar was pretending not to recognize Sauron as part of a ruse.
The thing is, while many fans took the finale as confirmation that Meteor Man is Gandalf, that was never outright said. He is a wizard, but there was no mention of Mithrandir, Olorin or any other of Gandalf's names.
Tolkien once described Gandalf as an angel incarnate; later, both he and other scholars have likened Gandalf to the Norse god Odin in his "Wanderer" guise.
Ever since he first fell to Middle-earth in an early trailer, fans have been wondering who the mysterious "Meteor Man" might be. Played by Daniel Weyman, "the Stranger" (as he's credited) appears to us first as a naked, bearded man in the burning crater of said meteor.
