Who Are the Blue Wizards in the Lord of the Rings
Middle-earth is a vast place, not even confined by the material plane, and the setting is such a complex one that bookworms and movie buffs alike are impressed with how immersive it is. The Lord of the Rings is just a portion of the library of lore that exists regarding the realm of Arda, and its long history. It's safe to assume that there are a number of characters and places that Tolkien didn't have time to tell us about.
The Wizards are some of the most compelling characters in the LotR saga, with figures like Gandlaf and Saruman taking more than their own share of screen time, and those who have read the books know that Sauron himself was once a Maiar like them. Radagast makes a brief appearance in the LotR novels and has a larger role in The Hobbit film adaptation.
Who are the missing two? A few stray texts from Tolkien's notes indicate a few more bits of lore regarding these obscure characters known only as the Blue Wizards, and we've compiled a few more interesting bits of information from a variety of sources regarding their story.
7 The Vala Oromë
The Valar were the primordial beings that created a realm known as Arda, and eventually Middle-earth. There were 14 of them, and they were the most powerful beings in existence. They were served by a variety of other, less powerful spirits called Maiar. Five of these Maiar eventually traveled to Middle-earth as Wizards.
One of the leaders of the Valar was Oromë, and he had several Maiar in his service. One of these was Pallando and another was his friend, Alatar. These are the lost Blue Wizards. The Maiar who drove the moon across the sky, Tilion, was also a Maiar that served Oromë.
6 Their Various Names...
The Blue Wizards are named Alatar and Pallando originally, but Tolkien had other names for them as well. This follows the other Wizards, who often had different names depending on where they were. Gandalf was known as Mithrandir among the Elves, for example, and Saruman was also called Curumo.
Pallando the Blue was also known as Rómestámo among the Elves. This means "helper in the East" so maybe his efforts were not entirely a failure. The same can be said for his companion Alatar, who the Elves named Morinehtar, or Darkness-slayer.
5 ...Which Aren't Even Mentioned In The Lord Of The Rings
Among the sources that have a few scant lines about the Blue Wizards, they get a brief mention along with their peers. That's why Radagast was added in The Hobbit, but there's a throwaway line in The Two Towers that indicates there were five Wizards when Saruman references "the rods of the five Wizards."
In the film adaptation, however, Gandalf mentions the Blue Wizards but claims he doesn't remember their names. This is actually due to a copyright issue because the names of the Blue Wizards don't appear in the trilogy. In hindsight, another good reason was that maybe adding Radagast into the story was enough.
4 Journeyed To Middle-earth Twice
It's uncertain exactly what happened here, but Tolkien gives two separate dates for the arrival of the Blue Wizards to Middle-earth. In Unfinished Tales, the five Wizards arrive together in Middle-earth in the year 1000 of the Third Age, but in The Peoples of Middle-earth, he tells a story about their arrival as early as the Second Age, in the year 1600.
This was about the time the One Ring was forged by Sauron, apparently in secret, so that's pretty good timing if it was a coincidence. A possible connection could be with Celebrimbor, the master smith and grandson of Fëanor, who helped Sauron make the rings of power but was suspicious of his motives.
3 East And South
Gandalf and Saruman stayed in the West to council and guard those lands, which were mostly friendly to the Valar. The Blue Wizards, however, went East, and their journey was more perilous from the start. These lands were watched over by Sauron and the residents were hostile to his enemies.
Other than external dangers, the Blue Wizards might have been defeated by treachery from within. One account says that they traveled east with Saruman, and although he returned from the journey, they were never heard from again.
2 They Failed, Except Maybe They Didn't
Tolkien's original assessment of the Blue Wizards when he mentions them is that they must have failed, as their stories seem to end shortly after they arrived in Middle-earth. However, he mentions that they likely started certain magical schools and cults during their travels, and did not turn against the Valar as Saruman did.
Whether this is a positive development is a matter of opinion, and it remains a mystery as to exactly what happened to them. It's possible that they were able to weaken the nations that Sauron might have otherwise been able to depend on during the War of the Ring.
1 The Azurite Figurine
One other clue to the ultimate fate of the Blue Wizards can be found in a video game from the LotR franchise. In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, the player can find a "Weathered Azurite Figurine" on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Núrnen. It's never explicitly stated that it's them, and none of the names and titles are mentioned, but the reference strongly suggests that this is a likeness of the lost Blue Wizards.
The caption for the item describes two haggard figures who have been on the road too long and probably are overdue for some time apart. They seem to speak with the same voice and have the same lost but hardened look, as they mutter something about "hunting the darkness" as they shuffle along the road that goes ever on and on.
Source: https://gamerant.com/lord-of-the-rings-blue-wizards-facts-lore-trivia/
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