I wouldn't discount wizards - or at least, a Maia who will become a Wizard. I don't think he's Sauron, but it's possible and would be intense distraction. Given his moment with stars, I'd wonder if he's in fact Olorin. Can't resist Gandalf, of course, and though he served mostly Nienna he was also associated with Varda. Speaking of which, does anyone by chance have that still frame of the fireflies as stars? I wonder if we can analyze that.
- Who is the Stranger? A Wizard? Sauron? His arrival as the "gate" to/from Valinor was opened seems to imply being sent by the Valar, but it's too early for the Wizards we know.
Totally out of nowhere theory here... Earendil? Falling from the sky like a star and all? Then again I'd think they'd draw more attention to "Hey! The really bright star that is also a Silmaril is gone!"
I understood some of Halbrand's comments as indicating he and the others were refugees from Hordern or some other town in the Southland the orcs destroyed - honestly I don't expect a great reveal about him.
- Who is Halbrand? From the initial information, I had vibes that either he was going to end up being Sauron, or a Numenorian refugee of some sort. The second is no longer an option, IMO. Could he be someone important from the Southlands? Or is he Sauron?
For what it's worth, his recently released character deep dive on Instagram seems to confirm this.
Oh, that's an interesting idea. I think Ringwraith is more likely, generally.
- What's going to happen with Theo? I'm leaning towards a Ringwraith or Mouth of Sauron eventually. Something will happen to his mother due to the Arondir relationship, and that will turn him to the Shadow.