This is a spoiler-free review of the first episode of Lanterns Season 1. The series debuts on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, August 16.
It’s safe to say that a lot is riding on the first season of Lanterns. This is one of the first key pieces of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU that isn’t directly steered by Gunn himself. We’ve seen enough by now to know that Gunn himself has a solid handle on the DC brand. Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker have all been enjoyable. But can this fledgling cinematic universe thrive when he hands the reins over to other creators? Supergirl certainly calls that into question, casting doubt on Gunn’s lofty claims about strong scripts and clear artistic visions being the driving force of this line. The DCU needs a win right about now, and I’m happy to say that Lanterns is ready and able to deliver in its first episode.
Granted, it’s been tough to know what exactly to make of this series. For a franchise as fundamentally fantastical as this one, the prospect of focusing on an Earth-based murder mystery and downplaying the actual Green Lantern elements wasn’t necessarily appealing to all fans. The initial Lanterns trailer did little to assuage the fears of those concerned by that premise. And then co-creator Damon Lindelof really stepped in it with some of his comments, to the point where no less a DC authority than Grant Morrison felt compelled to clap back. Suffice it to say, DC and Warners didn’t really do themselves any favors with the marketing of Lanterns, but the proof is ultimately in the pudding.
Lanterns Images
Yes, Lanterns is essentially what the trailers and early previews have made it out to be. It’s as much a True Detective and Slow Horses-style murder mystery as it is a superhero drama (and, in fact, features veterans of both shows among its creative team). It’s not necessarily going to appeal to viewers intent on seeing the cosmic side of the Green Lantern mythos on full display. We rarely even see Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan put on the costume. And given how ugly and clunky this live-action rendition of the suit really is, that’s probably a good thing. The series generally looks good, but more in that quietly stylized, more grounded True Detective way than because of any budget-busting special effects. In short, Green Lantern purists who want unadulterated, comic book-accurate, ring-slinging cosmic spectacle are setting themselves up for disappointment with this show.
But for those willing to abandon preconceived notions and take Lanterns for what it is, this strange combination of superhero adventure and terrestrial murder mystery works surprisingly well. A lot of that comes down to the chemistry between Chandler’s Hal and his trainee, Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart. Hal has never been portrayed as the nicest or most well-adjusted member of the Justice League in various DC media, but here he’s downright hostile and standoffish to his young charge. As much as the first episode lays the foundation for an urgent investigation in the remote town of Rushville, Nebraska, it makes it clear that the real conflict is between Hal and John. One is a cocky, grizzled veteran suspicious that his space cop handlers are trying to replace him. The other is a former Marine with a deep desire for the ring but limited tolerance for shenanigans. To say the two butt heads in the first episode is putting it mildly indeed.
The series leans a lot on that core dynamic, making it crucial that it finds the right actors for the job. That’s one area where Lanterns succeeds unequivocally. Both actors are pitch-perfect in their portrayals of these iconic (if sometimes barely recognizable) characters. Chandler probably isn’t the first name to pop up on anyone’s list of dream Hal Jordan actors. He wasn’t even DC’s original choice for the part, it seems. And were the series striving for a more traditional, youthful take on the character, Chandler would obviously be a poor fit. But that’s not the goal here. This is a version of Hal who’s been active in the DCU for decades and truly feels the weight of those years. Chandler expertly captures that unique blend of exasperation, paranoia, and deep-seated overconfidence that define the DCU’s Hal Jordan. The last thing he feels like doing is training the guy who’s trying to steal his job, and he makes that clear in every interaction with John.
As for John, Pierre brings a quiet, no-nonsense charisma to the screen that contrasts nicely with Hal’s fiery bravado. John is quiet, composed, and stoic, qualities that could make for a very boring role in the wrong hands. Fortunately, Pierre is able to bring enough subtle nuance to the screen that his character never comes across as dull or underdeveloped. He’s reserved, but underneath it all he burns with desire. We see how badly he wants the ring, even if it means putting up with an endless stream of nonsense from his superior officer.
It’s also nice to see the first episode dig a little bit into the racial undertones of this Training Day-esque dynamic. In one scene, a seething John calls his father for advice and is reminded that white men like Hal Jordan have the privilege of being eccentric and difficult. Not so for a Black man trying to prove his worthiness for the most exclusive law enforcement gig in the entire universe. At least at this early stage, it doesn’t appear that Lanterns is going to be steeped in the racial tensions of modern America to the same degree that Lindelof’s previous DC series was, but it’s still satisfying to have that element acknowledged – especially given how important John Stewart was to the early diversification of DC’s comic book universe decades ago.
On the subject of John Stewart, Sr. (played as a young man by J. Alphonse Nicholson and an older man by Sherman Augustus), the premiere teases a very intriguing dynamic there that’s sure to be explored in future episodes. It’s such a common trope for superhero media to paint their protagonists as orphans yearning for a lost father figure. That’s even baked into Hal’s origin story. But Lanterns is clearly striving for something much different with John’s family background, adding in new layers and details that aren’t necessarily taken from the comics. It’s a useful reminder that while the series isn’t afraid to alter the source material in sometimes profound ways, those alterations are about more than simply making Green Lantern practical in a small-screen format.
Once the Hal/John dynamic is firmly established, the premiere sets about laying the groundwork for the murder mystery that looks to be fueling the conflict in Season 1. To be frank, said mystery isn’t the reason to tune into the series, at least at this early stage. It gets the job done in terms of moving the plot from A to B, but for now the conflict is pretty small in scope. It’s mostly about Hal’s uphill battle to convince everyone around him (John included) that the dead bodies in front of them have extraterrestrial ties.
Here again, the various characters and their interpersonal clashes are what make the series shine. Early in the episode, viewers are introduced to another major character in Kelly Macdonald’s Kerry, the no-nonsense sheriff in charge of keeping the peace in the formerly quiet town of Rushville. As much as Chandler and Pierre’s icy dynamic fuels the series in its first episode, there’s also plenty of fun to be had in the equally standoffish relationship between Hal and Sheriff Kerry. There’s all the bickering over jurisdiction and one-sided flirtation you’d expect. Kerry quickly develops into a very fun, likable character who’s every bit the effective foil to Hal that John is.
Rounding out the notable cast members introduced in Episode 1 are Garret Dillahunt as local cowboy/ranch tycoon William Macon and Poorna Jagannathan as another Rushville native named Zoe. Macon serves his purpose as a charming but quietly unsettling antagonist figure with murky ties to the town’s murder mystery. Zoe, meanwhile, quickly strikes up a close bond with John, allowing the series to explore shades of the character that aren’t possible through Hal alone. Rushville is a small town full of interesting personalities, offering plenty of room for growth in the coming seven episodes.
Again, the murder mystery itself gets the job done in terms of plot catalysts, but it’s the characters who tend to shine more than the plot in Episode 1. It is worth noting, however, that the premiere keeps one big reveal under its hat until the final moments. This twist is sure to be as controversial as anything the show has to offer in its debut chapter. But as far as throwing viewers off-guard and hinting at a larger, more ambitious scope for the series, it delivers just what’s needed. If the prospect of plainclothes Green Lanterns loudly squabbling and rubbing elbows with cowboys isn’t enough to lure you in, this twist might just do the trick.