In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, fans were finally treated to the first live-action portrayal of Tom Bombadil since the character was introduced in 1953. However, his beloved companion, Goldberry, the river-daughter of Withywindle, was noticeably missing.
In The Fellowship of the Ring, Bombadil makes an unexpected and somewhat puzzling appearance as the Hobbits journey through the Old Forest. While J.R.R. Tolkien was known for meticulously explaining every aspect of Middle-earth, Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry remained shrouded in mystery. Tolkien never gave a clear explanation about who or what Bombadil was, leaving fans to speculate for decades. Some view Bombadil as the spirit of Middle-earth, while others think of him as Father Nature. Even Tolkien himself seemed unsure about the character’s true nature. Despite this uncertainty, Amazon boldly included Bombadil in The Rings of Power.
Bombadil shows up in the fourth episode, aptly titled “Eldest,” which refers to his nickname, and he even sings parts of his classic song “Hey dol! merry dol!” At one point, a woman’s voice can be heard joining in, but when the Stranger asks Tom if he’s alone, Bombadil simply laughs and suggests there’s no one else present.
This raises the big question: Why didn’t The Rings of Power show Goldberry, and where could she be? Fans are left wondering if Goldberry will make an appearance later, or if her absence is part of keeping the mystery around Tom Bombadil alive.
Why is Goldberry absent from The Rings of Power?
There’s a simple and a more complex way to answer why Goldberry didn’t appear in The Rings of Power. The straightforward explanation is that the showrunners likely didn’t want to add extra complexity to the already challenging task of bringing Tom Bombadil into the story. Casting another actor to play Goldberry alongside Rory Kinnear (who plays Bombadil) would have increased costs and filming logistics. Hollywood often merges or omits characters to streamline production, and it’s possible Goldberry was left out for this reason.
However, there’s more to consider. The Stranger clearly hears a woman’s voice singing with Bombadil, raising the possibility that Goldberry is present but not visible. Could it be that Goldberry isn’t a physical person but rather a spirit of the Withywindle River? If that’s the case, why were Frodo and the Hobbits able to see and interact with her in the books? Did she choose to reveal herself to them but not to the Stranger, who many fans suspect is Gandalf the Grey in disguise?
Ultimately, we don’t have enough information to reach a definitive conclusion—unless The Rings of Power sheds more light on it in future episodes. My gut feeling is that this might be the last we see (or hear) of Goldberry in the series, but I’d be more than happy to be proven wrong!