The inaugural episode of the new DCU series, Lanterns, has concluded with an ending that has ignited considerable backlash from a segment of Green Lantern enthusiasts. Showrunners, however, indicated that this response was anticipated.
The episode's conclusion leaps forward approximately a decade, revealing the apparent corpse of Hal Jordan on a football field. Notably, his Green Lantern ring is absent, and John Stewart is not in possession of it. The narrative structure suggests the series will interweave storylines from two distinct timelines: 2016 and 2026. Creators have stated that in the present-day timeline of 2026, Hal Jordan is indeed deceased, a revelation that has deeply upset some fans of the character.
Reactions on social media platforms captured this sentiment. One fan expressed their decision to cease watching, stating, "Officially done with Lanterns thanks to the ending, imagine starting the new DCU and you don't have Hal Jordan. Pathetic on [James] Gunn's part. F**k off, DCU." Another fan, using a Green Lantern-themed profile picture, was critical of the show's direction, calling it a "Garbage universe that disrespects the characters of DC." This fan also mentioned boycotting other DCU content. Concerns were also raised about Hal Jordan's portrayal, with some viewers finding his depiction as older, cynical, and an alcoholic to be disrespectful to the character's comic book origins.
"It definitely isn’t honoring the comics," commented one fan. "This portrayal of Hal is terrible. And killing Hal in the first episode is stupid, even if it isn’t really him. He needs to be the focus; otherwise, this is not going to succeed. A buddy space cop show needs both buddies to work."
Frustration was voiced by another viewer regarding the narrative trend of portraying legacy heroes negatively: "Why do they always have to turn our legacy heroes into depressed addicts that are shamefully, degenerate, sad, lonely, disgraces of themselves?" The controversial ending also led to speculation from one DC fan that it might explain why prominent actors have reportedly passed on Green Lantern roles, remarking, "Now I see why no big star wanted to play Hal Jordan."
Despite the strong negative reactions, the ending proved divisive, with some viewers finding it to be an effective narrative hook. Showrunner Chris Mundy explained to IGN that the creative team aimed to make the central mystery as impactful and emotionally resonant as possible for both the characters and the audience. Mundy stated, "We needed whatever that mystery was to be as meaningful as possible and as emotional as possible for John, for Hal in a way, but also for the audience. So it felt like [the right thing to do] in a show about someone trying to hold onto this thing, losing it, and then where does he end up and why? And can we do the math to get to that point? How do we use that?"
Mundy further elaborated on the responsibility of such a choice, noting its significance and the effort to ensure it illuminated both John and Hal's characters. He expressed gratitude for the cast's confidence and faith in the show's handling of the material, acknowledging that the decision was "kind of big and scary."
Adding to the discussion, some online speculation suggests that Hal Jordan may not be definitively dead, contrary to the creators' statements. The introduction of shape-shifting aliens and a holographic representation of Hal within the first episode has fueled these theories among viewers questioning the perceived reality of events.