Lanterns Series Premiere Review: Hal Jordan and John Stewart Shine Before That Shocking Ending

DC Studios’ Lanterns is finally here, and if you were expecting a traditional superhero series filled with nonstop ring-slinging and giant green constructs, the premiere makes it clear pretty quickly that this show has something else in mind. Instead, Lanterns throws Hal Jordan and John Stewart into what feels like a gritty detective story, complete with a small-town mystery, possible alien activity, plenty of secrets, and two Green Lanterns who can barely stop arguing long enough to actually solve the case.

The series premiere jumps across multiple points in John Stewart’s life while establishing the complicated partnership between John and Hal, played by Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler. Their chemistry is easily one of the episode’s biggest strengths, but underneath all the jokes and bickering is a mystery that becomes much bigger than either Lantern realizes. And by the time Lanterns delivers its final reveal? Yeah, DC definitely knows how to make sure we come back for Episode 2.

Lanterns starts all the way back in 1996, when Hal Jordan has already been a Green Lantern for 10 years and is finally going public. A young John Stewart watches with his brothers, but that moment quickly turns into something much darker when their father comes home. John's dad is a Marine, and he takes him outside, points a gun at his head and asks him, "Are you afraid?" John doesn't flinch. His father shoots an apple right off his head, and just like that, we understand what this season is going to be about. This is apparently an ongoing thing with them. It caught me off guard.

We then jump to 2016, where John is at a gym beating up a punching bag while waiting for Hal to pick him up. Of course, Hal is late, and when he finally arrives, he's playing "Boogie Shoes" in the car. I actually saw this scene at Comic-Con, and it was still hilarious watching it play out in the episode. Aaron and Kyle have some really good chemistry together. Their relationship feels like a big brother and little brother constantly arguing with each other.

John and Hal immediately start bickering about the ring, leading into the scene we've already seen in the trailer. Hal lets the car fly off a cliff while John grabs the ring and it starts glowing. John calls his dad and tells him that Hal just tried to kill him, but his father tells him to keep his cool and stay the course.

Then the ring starts "ringing." A backup consciousness of Hal appears and starts asking questions about what year it is and who he is. Apparently, the ring hasn't been backed up in 10 years, and he's shocked to discover that Hal still hasn't taught John how to fly.

John is understandably pissed at Hal, but Hal is busy getting tacos and taking pictures at a taco stand. This is what I like about Hal already. He's completely reckless, but there's something hilarious about the way he handles everything. John eventually catches up with him and explains that he used bubble wrap to save himself during the cliff stunt. Hal then explains to a waiter why he doesn't wear his Green Lantern suit. John gives Hal a message about "hail in Rushville, Nebraska," and Hal immediately flies off without him.

Photograph by John Johnson/HBO Max

So John has to take a plane and rent a car just to get there. Hal claims he was testing him, basically seeing if John could make it there on his own. Six hours later, they finally start working the case. Their jurisdiction doesn't technically cover terrestrial threats, but Hal is convinced the situation involves aliens. Sheriff Kerry Macon isn't exactly thrilled to have them there and makes it clear that she wants them out of the way.

John gives his rundown of what happened, but Hal tells him he's been doing this for a long time. If he thinks they're dealing with aliens, then they're dealing with aliens. They eventually have a suspect, and John goes to tell the sheriff, only to discover she already knew. The suspect gets spooked and runs, leading to John chasing him down and knocking him out.

Later, they end up at a bar, where John makes a dollar playing the jukebox. Hal tells John about how he originally got the ring and explains that Abin Sur pulled him all the way to Nebraska, so at least the origin story is somewhat accurate. Hal then purposely starts annoying the guys in the bar by playing the same song over and over because he wants to get into a fight. His plan is to get arrested so he can get into the jail and talk to the guy they captured.

While Hal is getting his butt kicked, John is flirting with a woman at the bar. Of course, there's a problem. She's married.

John eventually gets the information he needs and even lights her cigarette after they spend some time together in her truck.

John goes to bail Hal out, but Hal has to be arraigned first. And honestly, this whole thing feels like Sheriff Kerry is doing it on purpose because she doesn't like him. Her husband, Billy Macon, is the lawyer, so I'm already interested to see where that relationship goes.

The Lanterns eventually arrive at the Macon ranch and immediately notice the huge militia surrounding the place. It's honestly unsettling. Hal creates a really cool construct, and the effects look great. Garrett Dillahunt plays Will Macon, and while he can't say much because of that good old NDA, he does know that there is some kind of alien activity happening.

Then John sees a familiar face. Zoey Macon walks up while John is helping her grandson. She officially introduces herself, and John looks like he's about to throw up. As they leave for the night, Will Macon lets john know that he knows what's really going on. Hal is actually impressed by everything, which makes the whole situation even funnier.

Eventually, Hal interrogates the alien, and things take a turn when the alien self-destructs. At least Sheriff kerry is finally starting to believe them, even if it leaves a pretty big hole in her station. Then we jump to 2026, which is present day, one year after Superman. An older John Stewart pulls up to a school and reunites with Kerry Macon.

And then we get the big reveal. HAL IS DEAD, his corpse is frozen!! And the ring is missing. WHAT?! Now we have two major mysteries happening across two different time periods. What happened to Hal? Where is the ring? And how does everything we just watched in 2016 connect to the older John Stewart we're seeing in 2026?

Honestly, I thought this was a really solid first episode. The chemistry between Hal and John is already working for me, the mystery has me interested, and the episode does a good job of making this feel like something different from the typical superhero show. We're only one episode in, and I already have questions. Who killed Hal? Where is the ring? And what the hell happened in between 2016 and 2026?

What did you think? Let us know in the comments.

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