Saruman is a figure who usually doesn’t raise many questions. He betrayed his cause, grew prideful, built an army, and marched against his own. It all seems pretty straightforward. But The Lord of the Rings fans have a theory that adds unexpected depth to this familiar tale.
According to the theory, Saruman wasn’t a traitor from the start, but rather a spy — sent by the Valar on a grim, dangerous mission to get inside Sauron’s mind and dismantle his empire from within. The problem? The role ran too deep, and the wizard… drowned in it.
He Wasn’t Just Watching Sauron — He Had to Become Almost Like Him
The Valar sent five wizards — Istari — into Middle-earth. Gandalf’s role was that of the wise guide, Radagast’s was to connect with nature, the Blue Wizards went East. Saruman stayed at the center. He built a tower, studied the Rings, gazed into the palantíri. Not because he gave in to temptation — but because he wanted to understand the very design of darkness.
Some speculate he approached Sauron the way a biologist studies poison. This wasn’t just observation — it was strategy. He mimicked the enemy’s language, seeking to defeat Mordor using its own methods. But it’s one thing to wear a mask — and another to forget who you are beneath it.
Betrayals Became a Spiral
Saruman created the Uruk-hai, bred a hybrid army, made deals with Sauron, and built his own version of the Dark Tower. Yes, on the surface, it looks like a fall. But if you accept the fan theory — it could all be part of a plan that ultimately consumed him.
Perhaps Saruman truly intended to fight Mordor with its own tools. He just played the part too well. And then came the breaking point: a wizard who stared too long into the abyss became part of it. No longer clear where the mask ended and the man began.
Gandalf Endured. Saruman Did Not.
According to the fan theory, Saruman didn’t crave power like Sauron — he wanted control. He didn’t plan to destroy the world, but to reshape it. Yet darkness proved stronger, and it devoured him from the inside.
"Saruman is what Gandalf might have become if he stopped believing in good — even just a little," fans write in blogs.
