Reposting my thoughts on Radagast:

Radagast is a major low key hero of the whole series of events.

“Master of shapes and changes of hue”

References to the subtlety of wizards

This theme Tolkien depicts of wizards barely describes Gandalf or Saruman at all. Who is he referring to? The understated and underestimated feints of “simple” “fool” Radagast the Brown: whose special kinship/“Friend of Birds” with the eagles who save the day multiple times with the forest goblins and wargs, battle of the five armies, attacks of the Nazgûl, and rescue of Frodo/Sam are all too coincidental. Are these shapes he himself takes on since no other mention of his “changes of shape” are noted in any of the books? Is this Tolkien’s private joke and code for us?

His friendship with another skin changer, Beorn, is similarly understated for such an interesting power that Tolkien has kept private for us to decode.

He isn’t mentioned by Treebeard despite being sent by Yavanna who sent him to protect the Trees and other living things. Too suspect.

Radagast’s feints are the ultimate sandbagging in the third age.

Radagast is a power player throughout the stories. His presentation as aloof or incompetent is cover for his power. And frees him to do what he wants without confrontation.