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Although brought to Middle-earth to assist in the battle against Sauron, the Blue Wizards vanished from view during the events of The Lord Of The Rings. Arriving from Valinor during the Second Age, these two wizards—Alatar and Pallando—were the first of the Istari dispatched to Middle-earth. Like Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast, their task was to lead the Middle-earth creatures in their struggle against Sauron, one of their peers. Still, the Blue Wizards had shockingly little to do with the collapse of the Dark Lord.
Born before the world Arda was created, Maiar from Valinor, the Istari of The Lord of the Rings, There were five Istari overall; Gandalf the Gray, Saruman the White, Radagast the Brown was the most familiar of them. Though only Gandalf and Saruman participated actively in the continuous battle with Sauron, these three came in Middle-earth during the Third Age. Of course, Saruman finally descended into darkness, leaving Gandalf the only Istari to serve the creatures of Middle-earth in their triumph—but what of the Blue Wizards?
The Blue Wizards were assigned tasks, same as Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast. Though each of the Istari went about their own particular path, overall they were supposed to lead and support in the battle against Sauron. Alatar and Pallando went to the dark East, where the several kingdoms of men had generally worshipped Melkor during the First Age and were ready to assist Sauron during the Second and Third. Their task was to assist those tribes who had rebelled from such an alliance and encourage more uprising to guarantee that any forces against the West were disorganized.
In the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Tolkien wrote that the Blue Wizards most certainly had a major impact on the struggle against Sauron during not only the Second but also the Third Ages. They thus most certainly remained occupied in the East during the events of The Lord of the Rings and had nothing to offer the Men fighting Sauron in the West. Of fact, Alatar and Pallando most certainly wouldn't have been very helpful even if they had moved from their first Middle-earth location.
Being an Istari in The Lord of the Rings came with a difficult balance. Since the people of Middle-earth had to fight the monster with their own strength, they were barred from directly confronting Sauron. They could only gently direct, making sure the appropriate individuals were in the correct locations at the correct moment armed with the appropriate weapons. The Blue Wizards would therefore not have been very useful in the thick of events in The Lord of the Rings. It was never about the potency of the Istari's numbers; rather, The Valar sent five only out of chance for failure.
Of the five Istari, Tolkien made plain only Gandalf was totally effective in carrying out his goal. Saruman had turned dark, while Radagast grew sidetracked tending to the earth. Working relentlessly behind the scenes, Gandalf trusted constantly in the power of fate to place him where he needed to be and paid painstaking attention so that he spotted all the proper possibilities when they presented themselves. The Blue Wizards' presence during Lord of the Rings would not have made Gandalf's work any simpler. All the same, they had already lost view of the wider picture.
Although Tolkien said Alatar and Pallando would have had great positive impact on the East during the Second and Third Ages, he later somewhat contradicted himself. He said he was not sure how successful their mission was but that he knew they finally failed just like Saruman. Instead of following the direction their supposed to give the Men of the East, the Blue Wizards started teaching magic. This thus led to their being the center of cults replacing Melkor and Sauron as the objects of devotion:
"What success they had; I doubt they were founders or beginners of secret cults and'magic' traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron; but Saruman did, though surely in different ways." Given that their Eastern cults "outlasted the fall of Sauron" suggests they were still kicking at the end of the Third Age. Like Radagast, Alatar and Pallando most certainly stayed in Middle-earth, preoccupied with their own aims and aspirations. Although all these Istari were most likely banned from returning to Valinor as Gandalf finally did, given their shortcomings, they might not have minded this so much. Out of five Istari the Valar had thrown at the issue, just one landed. For better or worse, the others—including the Blue Wizards—finally choose distinct lifestyles in The Lord of the Rings.
In The Lord of the Rings, the Blue Wizards are a mystery. Their absence during the book events begs issues regarding their efficacy and final destiny. Their story is a reminder of the complex and often unpredictable nature of Middle-earth, highlighting the challenges faced by the Istari and the delicate balance between guidance and intervention.
Their presence in the Second Age, their mission in the East, and their eventual downfall illustrate the multifaceted nature of power and the struggle against darkness. While their role in Middle-earth remains shrouded in mystery, their story adds a layer of intrigue to the Lord of the Rings universe, inviting readers to ponder their contributions to the events that shaped the world and the challenges they faced in their fight against evil.
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Based on J. R. Tolkien's book series starting in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring, the franchise With Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, the Lord of the Rings observed mainstream appeal.
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most celebrated and beloved works of fantasy literature in history. Tolkien's detailed world-building, captivating characters, and epic storytelling have resonated with readers for generations. The franchise has captured the imaginations of audiences worldwide, inspiring countless adaptations, spin-offs, and discussions. The Lord of the Rings universe continues to thrive, offering a rich and immersive experience for fans who want to explore its intricate world, its epic battles, and its enduring themes of good versus evil.