‘Lanterns’ Review: HBO Gives The Green Lantern Justice (and Premiere) it Deserves

Written by Tanner Stein

The DCU continues to grow its ever-expanding world with Lanterns, a series following Hal Jordan and John Stewart as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. This is the first live-action project to follow Green Lantern in over a decade, and Lanterns looks to have constructed something good.

Green Lantern has had his fair share of ridicule in the live-action space. You can’t go anywhere without Ryan Reynolds downplaying Green Lantern (2011), and even with Guy Gardner’s comedic relief role in Superman (2025), so it was time for a proper showing of Hal Jordan and the rest of the Green Lantern Corp. Lanterns successfully introduces viewers to two of the most important characters in the Green Lantern mythos, Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre, Rebel Ridge). 

Initially, a show about space cops on an investigation in the middle of nowhere Nebraska doesn’t seem to be the right direction for the characters. However, Episode 1 of Lanterns uses that backdrop to jump right into a new, interesting tale for the two. Hal Jordan is the current Green Lantern on Earth and has had the role since John was a boy. He is loved by fans and uses his willpower to get to the bottom of any investigation. John Stewart has been chosen by the Guardians to become Hal Jordan’s successor. In a captivating first scene, we see a young John show off his lack of fear as his father shoots apples at his head with a pistol. He respects authority but still clearly has a way to go before he can take on the title of Green Lantern. 

Episode 1 does its best at revealing important history to the viewers, but plenty of that history is told in conversation between the main two heroes. While the appearance of important characters like the Guardians and Sinestro are bound to appear, Episode 1 makes sure to keep the focus on Hal and John showing off their chemistry with one another. 

Lanterns keeps its foot on the gas with its story, making sure viewers are getting essential information while keeping the story moving along. The premiere does a great job of giving each character a moment to shine. Hal and John are the stars of the show, but other characters, including Sheriff Kerry (Kelly Macdonald, No Country for Old Men) and William Macon (Garret Dillahunt, Raising Hope), get their time to make an impression. By giving every character a scene to shine in, it makes the DCU feel lived-in, outside of just Metropolis or Outer Space.

While there’s minimal action sequences, viewers are treated to the use of the Lantern ring a few times. Although only small things are constructed, like money or a bottle opener, you can still feel the massive weight of the Power Ring and its influence on how both Hal and John see themselves.

Many fans will be taken aback by the ending of the episode, jumping 10 years into the future to the present day. It will certainly lead to some interesting storytelling devices; by bouncing between 2016 and 2026 it will allow viewers to unravel two mysteries at the same time.

Green Lantern is one of the most important DC characters, yet that title has never been done justice in its own live-action project. Lanterns looks to fix that by giving an interesting story with strong performances while still connecting the Green Lantern mythos to the rest of the DCU.

Lanterns airs Sundays on HBO and HBO MAX.