What do you get when you have a jaded, loose cannon superhero with an intergalactic ring of power mentoring (if you can call it that) a by-the-book rookie?
HBO Max’s “Lanterns” is equal parts gritty mystery and small-town intrigue. If you’re tired of cosmic backdrops, over-the-top monsters and blasting off to a different planet, the good news is that “Lanterns” is more focused on questioning suspicious locals about a murder in Nebraska. The audience doesn’t forget about the “super” in “superhero,” but it’s not front and center. And, much like “True Detective,” the show bounces between the past and the present. We’re left wondering how the two are intertwined and waiting on the edge of our seats for the show to fill in the gaps.
The tense odd couple dynamic between Hal and John? Chef’s kiss. The two men couldn’t be more different. Instead of working together in lockstep, their recipe for a partnership is more of mutual irritation and friction than respect. They say to never meet your heroes, and John, who grew up idolizing Hal on TV, clearly learned that the hard way. Hal Jordan is the seasoned veteran who’s seen it all and has the attitude to prove it. Let’s just say that Hal isn’t exactly thrilled about training someone who’s looking like his replacement. Kyle Chandler does a lot of the heavy lifting with his stellar performance as Hal, making him feel lived-in and weary. And seeing Coach Taylor on a football field again? Thank you, TV gods. It’s why I’m watching this show with clear eyes, full hearts…you know the rest.
In brightest day, in blackest night.
HBO Max’s “Lanterns” is equal parts gritty mystery and small-town intrigue. If you’re tired of cosmic backdrops, over-the-top monsters and blasting off to a different planet, the good news is that “Lanterns” is more focused on questioning suspicious locals about a murder in Nebraska. The audience doesn’t forget about the “super” in “superhero,” but it’s not front and center. And, much like “True Detective,” the show bounces between the past and the present. We’re left wondering how the two are intertwined and waiting on the edge of our seats for the show to fill in the gaps.
The tense odd couple dynamic between Hal and John? Chef’s kiss. The two men couldn’t be more different. Instead of working together in lockstep, their recipe for a partnership is more of mutual irritation and friction than respect. They say to never meet your heroes, and John, who grew up idolizing Hal on TV, clearly learned that the hard way. Hal Jordan is the seasoned veteran who’s seen it all and has the attitude to prove it. Let’s just say that Hal isn’t exactly thrilled about training someone who’s looking like his replacement. Kyle Chandler does a lot of the heavy lifting with his stellar performance as Hal, making him feel lived-in and weary. And seeing Coach Taylor on a football field again? Thank you, TV gods. It’s why I’m watching this show with clear eyes, full hearts…you know the rest.
Aaron Pierre more than holds his own as the level-headed, buttoned-up John Stewart; his performance is one of quiet intensity and discipline. John may be the voice of reason between the two, but he's never boring. He manages to walk the line between being respectful without being a pushover. He’s still learning what it means to wear the ring, but he’s by no means a sidekick on the sidelines. And he wants the job bad. John is the moral compass of the show, and he’s the viewer’s way into understanding this strange world. Like any rookie, John is determined to prove himself, but he’s also sitting with the disappointing realization that heroes are still human.
One has experience. The other has something to prove.
Beyond its two leads, “Lanterns” isn’t your typical superhero story. Aliens masquerading as humans may be involved, but we get the feeling that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It looks like secrets around this investigation in Nebraska are connected to something much bigger. Let’s not forget that this show takes place within the DC Universe (hey, James Gunn) and we’ve already seen Guy Gardner debut as Earth’s Green Lantern in the 2025 movie “Superman” and HBO Max show “Peacemaker.” The odd part? Every planet’s only supposed to have one.
In brightest day, in blackest night.
“Lanterns” is now streaming weekly on HBO Max.