So far, the new DC universe helmed by James Gunn has been a little hit or miss for me. I really enjoyed the latest Superman film but found shows like Creature Commandos lacking and didn’t hear many good things about Supergirl either. Nevertheless, I always liked Green Lantern as a concept, and I particularly enjoy the John Stewart version of the character due to his appearance in the Justice League cartoons. Considering this latest show placed him to the forefront, I figured it deserved a watch.

Lanterns season one is only eight episodes in length and stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. The major premise of the show follows the two as they investigate a murder in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska, which they believe harbors secret alien activity that could threaten the planet. Hal is taking on a mentorship role here as John trains to be his replacement.

While this is certainly an interesting choice, it creates a negative dynamic which I wasn’t too fond of throughout the show. Hal and John have two very different personalities that allow for a conflict to naturally develop. However, here the clashes are sometimes motivated by genuine resentment, and it drives the characters to behave in ways at times that I felt were disingenuous to the source material. This here is my major criticism of Lanterns. It often feels as though it’s trying a little too hard to distance itself from the comics and act as a narrative that requires no context to enjoy.

While this isn’t a bad thing in a vacuum, it doesn’t work when the story is simultaneously based on characters from established canon and also part of a new shared universe. For example, Hal actively avoids wearing his lantern suit the whole show. The Green Lantern oath is rarely used or referenced even though it acts as a code and mantra for the characters in the comics. When it does finally appear, it is either utilized improperly or glossed over quickly as though it means little to our heroes.

Additionally, for a show about the Green Lantern, there is barely any actual Green Lantern action. I could count on my hand how often the will constructs are utilized here, and when they do appear, there is little creativity involved. The main reason for this is most likely to save on costs or give a more grounded take on the character. While I can understand the first issue, I feel what we are given here just comes off misguided and dull. If all the creators wanted to do with this show was make a detective show, then why is Green Lantern’s name on the title? I love it when strong writing and character work can carry a show. However, when it’s based on a cosmic superhero with limitless potential, then it would be nice to explore this aspect more within every episode instead of pushing it to the side.

Even though I have my issues, Lanterns still brings a lot of positive things to the table. The acting and performances from the main cast are fantastic. Both Chandler and Pierre captured the essence of their characters perfectly and have a good dynamic even if the script doesn’t always allow them to. Dialogue feels natural and flows nicely while characters follow clear arcs which conclude in a satisfying way based on the context of events in the storyline. There are also some nice sets, especially towards the end of the season when more supernatural elements are thrown in. I also enjoyed the updated backstory for Stewart, and the episode which focuses on it is one of the strongest reasons to watch this series. It gives great context to our characters and adds further nuances to the main relationship dynamic. What it chooses to do with this was (again) a letdown for me but certainly rings clear in the context of a standalone story.

The overall mystery is also decently intriguing. It’s not the most complex but is entertaining enough, and clues are competently placed to allow audiences to figure things out at just the right moment. I found the eventual climax rather bland, though, as when the culprit is finally revealed, their goal feels rather empty. The narrative makes them out too strongly as someone to sympathize with for me. While Lanterns is certainly not a bad show, I wouldn’t really recommend it to fans of the comic. I think the show is best enjoyed by those who know little to nothing regarding the character and just want a detective show with light science fiction elements. The show also clearly works best as a standalone story rather than part of the current cinematic universe, though to be honest I could’ve easily seen this as a part of Zack Snyder’s canon. You can stream Lanterns season one right now on HBO MAX.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Lanterns

Stream on HBO Max

6

Score

6.0/10

Pros

• Great Performances from cast
• Solid writing and dialogue
• Coherent structure and character arcs arcs

Cons

• Feels out of place in shared universe
• Minimized comic elements
• Script is unfaithful to characters legacy at points