Let’s imagine you are not a comic book fan or never picked up a comic book in your life, nor watched an animated show, or ever heard of comic book characters like in this case, Green Lantern. Let’s have a quick lesson.
The Green Lanterns are an elite interstellar police force recruited from across the universe based on their willpower and ability to conquer fear. Every officer carries a Power Ring that turns their imagination into solid green energy constructs, basically an ability to create anything they can imagine.
The ring is recharged using a lantern. A different corp in that universe are represented by different colour which plays into their purpose and to wrap it all up they have a cool oath.
Before the Lanterns though, there were the Manhunters, the original, emotionless android police force. Built to maintain order, these robots malfunctioned and decided the only logical way to eliminate crime was to wipe out all organic life.
After committing cosmic genocide, they were shut down and replaced by the much more logical Green Lanterns, turning the surviving robots into the bad guys.
Calm down, we are not going to be talking exclusively about comic books, our focus is a series based on comic book characters.
Lanterns
This is an American superhero TV series created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King for HBO.
Serving as the third series in James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe, the show features Green Lanterns starting with Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, and recruit John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre, with Guy Gardner popping up played by Nathan Fillion.
Showrunner Chris Mundy made it clear early on that this would be a grounded, gritty, True Detective-style murder mystery rather than a cosmic space opera. The story follows Jordan and Stewart as they investigate a mysterious murder in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska, which unravels into a far wider conspiracy.
I really like episode 7 and thought it brought a lot of what was set up in the previous episode together well, It was so good that I had talk about it, bring your attention to the show before the season finale.
Spoiler free
If you prefer linear storytelling, you might struggle with the show because it jumps around a lot. The showrunners play around with the timeline, jumping across different periods, intentionally drip-feeding you with information and character backstories, which lets you piece together the story as you go.
Initially, throwing all these ideas at the viewer without immediate context feels chaotic, but that hook at the end of Episode 1 is sharp enough to keep you glued. As the series progresses, those scattered pieces slot into place. By the time you get to episodes 3, 5, and especially episode 7, you get those cathartic moments where earlier reveals come together perfectly.
The non-linear structure builds an intriguing mystery where understanding John Stewart’s strict upbringing or Hal Jordan’s past gives the investigation and story weight.
It is slow but rewarding.
Perfomances
Aaron Pierre is perfectly cast as John Stewart. Stewart is the new recruit stepping up to take over from Hal, and Pierre embodies the stoic, disciplined nature of a military man who was raised with a very specific, conditioned relationship to fear. His character arc grows naturally across the episodes.
Some episodes complicate the plot and force Stewart through a rollercoaster of emotions following his relationship with Hal and the people of Rushville, Pierre handles those heavy dramatic beats brilliantly. He brings real depth to a character who is learning on the job, making him the centre of the series.
Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan is interesting in this, without spoiling it, we follow two distinct versions of Hal, and Kyle is able to bring out those two personalities perfectly. However, I really do not like the primary version of Hal Jordan.
As someone who has a substantial understanding of Hal thanks to DC Animated Universe from the mid-2000s to the late 2010s, this characterisation feels like it’s coming from a dark place.
The writing almost feels as if it was coming from a psychiatrist who dislikes Hal Jordan. In an effort to ground the character, the creators turned him into a tired, depressed, worn-out man who is far past his prime. They stripped away the kind, loyal and Maverick-like charm that defines Hal Jordan for comic fans. Instead of rooting for him, you end up pitying him.
He feels less like the iconic Green Lantern and more like a generic, grumpy old man who happens to carry a power ring. It might have been the intention, but I found it distasteful even when it makes for some of the most entertaining interactions with Stewart.
Guy Gardner pops up briefly, roping James Gunn’s universe into the story. Poorna Jagannathan turns in a compelling performance as Zoe, and Sinestro makes a brief, intriguing appearance that hints at huge potential for future storylines.
That push for realism extends to the visual design and sci-fi elements. Instead of bright, luminous green constructs, the show uses a darker, muted emerald tone.
Other small details I enjoyed include Hal taking off into flight in a quick, understated way that feels second nature to him. The action set-pieces are okay, and the overall cinematography is cinematic and grand.
However, the grounded aesthetic hurts the Manhunters. In the comics, these androids are imposing, iconic killing machines with a distinct, cool design. Here, while the show establishes them as a threat, their physical look is stripped back to human form to fit a small-town and grounded setting.
With the premise, the whole setting in Rushville and the grounded take on these characters is fantastic, in that even with the time jumps its easy to follow and undestand who is who. But I must admit I kept thinking of Peacemaker Season 1 from James Gunn just darker and a better mystery.
Jump in
But even with all that, Lanterns is an awesome show and if you haven’t jumped in, you have a week before the finale. If Episode 1 is a shock, or you struggle to piece things together, give it two more episodes. I was personally impressed by Episode 3 and Episode 5; Episode 6 has a weighty moment especially having followed these characters, and of course episode 7.
Right now, Lanterns sits in third place on my list of favourite comic book shows, just behind What If…? and my top pick, The Penguin.
Depending on how next week’s finale fares, it might move higher up the ranks.