HBO's new science-fiction detective series, Lanterns, has become a breakout hit, securing the top position on the streaming platform. The show, which premiered on Sunday, boasts a near-perfect critical score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences rating it an 86% on the viewer-voted Popcornmeter. This critical and commercial success has propelled Lanterns to the number one show on HBO Max in the U.S. and third globally, according to third-party tracker FlixPatrol. The series marks a significant win for the DC Universe, particularly following the box office performance of Supergirl.
Lanterns centers on John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), a Green Lantern in training, and his seasoned, somewhat jaded mentor Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler). The duo is dispatched to a small Nebraska town to investigate a mass shooting. Jordan suspects extraterrestrial involvement, a hunch that is eventually confirmed. As they delve into the town's mysteries, they uncover secrets that suggest the presence of aliens disguised as humans.
Critics have drawn comparisons between Lanterns and HBO's acclaimed series Watchmen and True Detective. Polygon's Corey Plante described it as "True Detective with superheroes," highlighting its thematic depth and its use of superhero mythology to explore complex issues. The series has been noted for its examination of the Black experience in America, touching upon inherited trauma and the distribution of power, much like Damon Lindelof's work on Watchmen.
A Shocking Season Finale Twist
The premiere episode concludes with a significant cliffhanger, flashing forward ten years from 2016 to 2026. In this future timeline, Stewart reunites with Sheriff Kerry Kane (Kelly Macdonald) at the site of the original shooting. They discover Jordan deceased, his Green Lantern ring missing, and his body covered in snow. However, a lingering question remains: was the body discovered truly Hal Jordan, or an alien impostor, given the show's premise that extraterrestrials can perfectly mimic human appearance.
Show creators Damon Lindelof and Chris Mundy discussed the controversial decision to seemingly kill off Jordan. Mundy believed the death would infuse the narrative with emotional weight, while Lindelof initially had reservations about the potential fan reception. If the creators are to be believed, Jordan is dead, and the remainder of the season will interweave the 2016 investigation with Stewart's 2026 probe into Jordan's demise. Fellow Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) is set to appear in the 2026 storyline. Both Gardner and Stewart are slated to appear in the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, suggesting their survival beyond the events of Lanterns, unlike Jordan.