Summary
The first-look photos for Amazon Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 have given viewers a glimpse of all the sophomore outing has to offer, including the appearance of Tom Bombadil. Unfortunately, it seems likeThe Rings of Powerhas already botched an iconic element of J.R.R. Tolkien’s memorable character. Set to be played by Rory Michael Kinnear (Men),the mysterious Bombadil is known for being a long-living character who has experienced most of the world’s history, from Melkor’s arrival in Arda to Frodo’s quest to destroy the One Ring.
Tom Bombadil remembers “the first raindrop,” but he’s also the character that Gandalf spends time with after the destruction of the Ruling Ring.More of an observer than an active participant, Bombadil is dubbed a “strange creature"by the likes of Elrond, who has also seen his fair share of Middle-earth’s history. Benevolent in nature, Bombadil remains more concerned with his own affairs than thwarting any of history’s Dark Lords, but he’s still an incredibly storied figure in Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise, makingBombadil’s upcoming live-action appearanceinThe Rings of Poweran exciting development.
Tom Bombadil’s Costume In The Rings Of Power Is Completely Wrong
The Character’s Look Is Not What Tolkien Described
Notably absent from Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringsfilm trilogy, Tom Bombadil doesn’t have a huge impact on the core storyline ofThe Fellowship, making him an easy cut. That said, Tom Bombadil’s first live-action appearance will be inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2. Unfortunately, early stills and teasers reveal a glaring issue: the character’s costume is all wrong. In Tolkien’s texts,Bombadil is described as wearing a bright blue jack with yellow boots, a green girdle, and a tall hat that boasts a swan-wing feather in its brim.
Tom Bombadil’s non-canon look isn’t the first time that Amazon Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerhas deviated…
The Rings of Power’s costume designer, Luca Mosca, was reportedly inspired byTolkien’s description of Tom Bombadil. However,the end result is a much more muted and dingy take on the iconic character’s eccentric appearance. In short, it’s nothing like Tolkien described. Tom Bombadil’s non-canon look isn’t the first time that Amazon Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerhas deviated from Tolkien’s source material. While a costume change-up may seem relatively inconsequential, it continues a worrying trend for the show’s upcoming sophomore outing.
The Rings Of Power Cast & Character Descriptions
Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has known characters and brand new ones, all with familiar faces. Here’s where you know them from.
The Iconic Lord Of The Rings Character Might Be Less Whimsical
Based on thefirst-look photos of Tom Bombadil’s costume, it seems likeThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powertones down his more outlandish and whimsical elements to adhere to the show’s more serious tone.Changing Tom’s character so drastically kind of defeats the point of including him at all.Jolly, playful, and carefree, the ever-witty Tom Bombadil speaks in rhyme and often refers to himself in the third person. Needless to say,toningLOTR’s Bombadil downin any way — costume or personality — undercuts his unique place inThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 premieres on Amazon Prime Video on August 10, 2025.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
