The Rings of Power showrunners explain how they approached the strange case of Tom Bombadil

The latest episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, "Eldest," introduced Tom Bombadil, a mysterious man who lives in the desert land of Rhûn and who helps the magical Stranger get his bearings. If you're a fan of The Lord of the Rings, you may recognize Tom: he helps out the Hobbits early in in J.R.R. Tolkien's book The Fellowship of the Ring, but he's cut out of most adaptations of the story — including Peter Jackson's famous movie trilogy — because he basically has no effect on the plot. The Hobbits wander through the forest where Tom lives, he helps them out of a few jams and sings a few songs, and then they go on their way. It's a strange interlude.

The Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne have taken another direction with old Tom: he's now a part of the plot, apparently training the Stranger for whatever challenges lie ahead. But he's still a weird random dude who likes to sing and talk to trees. “I think there’s a long tradition of these kinds of characters — the wise trickster,” Payne told The Hollywood Reporter. “Think about Yoda a little bit. He’s a funny green puppet who’s playing around with Luke’s stuff and then [somehow] ends up being the wisest being in the galaxy. We’re trying to walk a similar knife edge with Tom. Does he sing and spout nursery rhymes? Yeah, absolutely. But was he also older than the first rain drop? Yes. And the delight of it is that one being can embody all those things, and [actor Rory Kinnear] plays him with such a grace. In one moment he is singing, and then I love him, he turns and The Stranger asks him, ‘Who are you?’ And he just says, ‘Eldest.’ I get chills when I see him say that, because I believe he is the oldest being on all of Middle-earth in that moment."

"So there are moments where he’s very serious and very intense and other moments he’s laughing and cracking jokes. The fact that both beings can exist in one body is again part of the delight. I’m really curious to see how audiences who’ve been waiting to see him respond. And I dare say there’s a good balance here between the wise, sage, ancient Tom and the Tom who’s just messing with you."

Well, audiences have seen Tom now, and speaking for myself, watching him was...weird. In the books, Tom Bombadil is disinterested in the wider goings-on of Middle-earth to a comical degree. Having him invested at all in what's happening with the Stranger and the Dark Wizard menacing the land of Rhûn seems to cut against his literary legacy. And I wonder if people who aren't familiar with Tom will just be confused as to why this rando is suddenly at the center of this important plotline.

My view has always been that Tom Bombadil is in The Fellowship of the Ring pretty much because J.R.R. Tolkien thought he was funny — Tolkien first wrote about Tom in a 1934 poem called "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" which came out even before The Hobbit — and felt like including him. He doesn't have a firm connection to The Lord of the Rings mythos, which is why his presence has always felt a little weird and awkward.

That hasn't stopped fans from theorizing over the years. Tom Bombadil is thousands of years old, and may indeed be the oldest being in Middle-earth. Is he a god or something? Tolkien doesn't answer that question, and it doesn't sound like Payne and McKay are interested in filling in the blanks, which is probably for the best. "Tolkien chose to remain silent on it, and so shall we,” McKay said.

For better or worse, the age of Tom Bombadil has arrived. His jacket is blue, his boots are yellow, and his show airs new episodes every Thursday on Prime Video.

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