WARNING: Spoilers included for Lanterns episode 1.
After Watchmen and The Penguin, the DC era on HBO has resumed, this time in James Gunn’s DC Universe franchise, with the arrival of Lanterns, starring Hal Jordan and John Stewart, played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as the respective Emerald Knights. Nearly two decades after the first modern Green Lantern attempt in live-action, that was Ryan Reynolds’ 2011 film, DC Studios has succeeded in launching the Green Lantern Corps in this fresh franchise.
The “Pilot” lays the groundwork for our two leads, with Chandler and Pierre’s DC icons having not only an enjoyable banter and dynamic, but also being individually solid characters that can be appreciated on their own. As the first episode really establishes the beginning of their relationship, and how Hal is at a point where he is an exhausted Green Lantern who has been through it, truly, while still not having a complex of not giving up the mantle yet.
In essence, Lanterns is John’s origin story, and given that he is already confirmed for Man of Tomorrow, Pierre’s future has already been made very clear, and the star brings so much of what makes the DC hero as loved as he is. However, the series premiere also succeeds in making it evident that John is still growing into becoming who readers know him from the comics and animation.
In tone, the first episode blends the intended vibes of mystery drama and comic book adventure decently, even though one could be left wanting a premiere pilot to perhaps lean a tad more into the fantastical elements that come with the Green Lantern property. While there are sequences with the ring’s power – which has solid quality and proves that you can take these major IPs to a prestige network like HBO – in episode 1, it’s understandable how some may be left going, “But why wasn’t there more in episode 1?”
Then there is the green elephant in the room, with the reveal of the death of Hal Jordan, as we get taken to 2026 to see where John is now. Obviously, there is no version of Lanterns where Chandler would only be in one episode and then be done, as the multiple timelines aspect allows viewers to still explore what Hal and John’s arc was like.
Every pilot needs to not only have a solid foundation for the principal cast and concept, but also that special hook that plants an overarching seed that keeps the audience coming back. Hal’s death, while shocking, also feels justified given how this is a DC canon where a lot of heroes have been active for years prior to the franchise kicking off.
It always felt very clear that this continuity would have major superheroes that have either died or are at the end of their road. Obviously, Hal’s death has lots of unanswered questions that will be explored throughout season 1, as the show tackles its “whodunit?” plot. Will the answer to the mystery be given a satisfactory conclusion? Only time will tell.
As a whole, the Lanterns pilot serves as a strong start for what has been one of the most highly anticipated installments for the DCU, while only being a taste of the many episodes that are coming up, as things are just getting started. Not only is the Green Lantern Corps getting a new chance to have its starting moment, but the comic book drama is setting up what could become one of the biggest aspects of Gunn’s superhero continuity.
Lanterns airs on Sundays at 9 PM on HBO.