Many fans have assumed that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's "Meteor Man" might be Sauron, but the story may not be quite as simple as that based on today's premiere. While we know the villain has been missing for centuries, the being who falls to Middle-eath and lands in the home of the Harfoots doesn't immediately make us think of Morgoth's most trusted lieutenant.
Credited as "The Stranger," he's played by Daniel Weyman and found by Nori the Harfoot. Unable to communicate, he's clearly looking for something and appears to have dark powers. He also crashes in a ring of fire that, oddly enough, doesn't burn the girl.
Needless to say, we can't help but think back to what Galadriel says earlier in the episode that in a place that's so evil, even fire gives off no warmth. It would be a little strange for this to be Sauron based on what we see in the premiere's opening sequence, though there is a chance he inadvertently left himself in this state after embarking on a quest for power after his master's defeat.
In terms of his sheer size, we also can't help but be reminded of that iconic villain!
Another possibility is that The Stranger is an Ainur, also known as the Holy Ones, the first and mightiest beings created by Eru Ilúvatar long before the beginning of the World. If so, he could be Tilon, the "Man in the Moon," though we're not sure what he'll bring to the table here.
Some have even wondered if this could be Gandalf, but what we do know is that Sauron was an evil the Valar fought valiantly to defeat, so these signs of apparent darkness could be a misdirect.
By the time all is said and done, it's clear The Stranger hopes to find some unknown location in Middle-earth as he keeps drawing constellations, so expect more to be revealed over the coming weeks.
The first two episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power are now streaming!