The third episode of "Lanterns," titled 'OutKast,' eschews typical superhero narrative structures to explore John Stewart's origin story in a nonlinear fashion, a move that the review hails as the series' strongest installment to date. The episode jumps back to the '80s and '90s, detailing John's childhood, his fraught relationship with his parents, his military career, and his eventual recruitment into the Green Lantern Corps.
Unlike many superhero origin stories that rely on parental loss as a catalyst, 'OutKast' presents John Jr. as a child with deeply involved, albeit unconventional, parents. John Sr. (J. Alphonse Nicholson) and Bernadette (Nicole Ari Parker) are portrayed as powerful role models who also grapple with racial prejudice, with Bernadette notably emphasizing the need to fight for recognition in a world that undervalues them. This aspect of the episode offers a more nuanced exploration of racial themes compared to some comic book depictions.
However, the episode also depicts John's parents as extreme in their methods, bordering on abusive. Their intense focus on grooming their son for a superhero future leads them to engage in practices such as shooting apples off his head and leaving him to fend for himself in a dangerous neighborhood. This portrayal of parental obsession, while unsettling, provides a fresh departure from established superhero tropes, showcasing characters who are simultaneously committed and cruel.
Nicholson and Parker deliver strong performances, bringing depth to John's parents as both figures overcoming adversity and as imposing forces in their son's life. Nicole Ari Parker, in particular, offers a nuanced portrayal of Bernadette's motivations. Aaron Pierre, as adult John, effectively conveys the silent emotional turmoil he experiences through his military career, schooling, and critical interviews.
The episode also introduces Laura Linney as a Guardian of Oa in human form. Though the series employs the common trope of disguising aliens as humans, Linney's performance effectively conveys the character's alien nature beneath an ordinary facade. The dialogue in these scenes, much like in those featuring John and Antaan in Episode 2, opens up significant narrative possibilities.
'OutKast' culminates in a cohesive and satisfying account of how John Stewart Jr. is prepared for his significant role in the universe. The narrative suggests that while he might have preferred a different path, his upbringing has uniquely positioned him for his destiny.
The episode includes several subtle nods to DC lore. John's assassination target, Gray Wolf, is a character from the Batman Incorporated comics. A Janus Cosmetics poster references the company central to the upcoming Clayface movie, raising questions about the DCU's timeline. Additionally, a sketch of Kilowog appears in John's childhood room, offering a hint of the character's presence in the show. The prevalence of Green Lantern knowledge among ordinary Earthlings also suggests that metahumans have long been a part of this universe's history.