The Green Lanterns, an elite interstellar police force from the DC Universe, have been brought to life in a new HBO series called 'Lanterns'. Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, the show features Green Lanterns Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, and John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre. The series takes a gritty, murder mystery approach, following Jordan and Stewart as they investigate a mysterious murder in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska.
The show's non-linear structure, jumping across different periods, intentionally drip-feeds viewers with information and character backstories, allowing them to piece together the story as they go. This approach builds an intriguing mystery, with understanding John Stewart's strict upbringing or Hal Jordan's past giving the investigation and story weight. The show's slow but rewarding pace has garnered praise, with Episode 7 being particularly notable for bringing together previous plot threads.
Aaron Pierre is perfectly cast as John Stewart, embodying the stoic, disciplined nature of a military man who was raised with a specific, conditioned relationship to fear. His character arc grows naturally across the episodes, handling heavy dramatic beats brilliantly. Kyle Chandler, on the other hand, plays a tired, depressed, and worn-out Hal Jordan, which has left fans dismayed. This portrayal strips away the kind, loyal, and Maverick-like charm that defines Hal Jordan in the comics.
The show's push for realism extends to its visual design and sci-fi elements, using a darker, muted emerald tone for the Green Lanterns' constructs. The action set-pieces are okay, and the overall cinematography is cinematic and grand. However, the grounded aesthetic hurts the Manhunters, the original android police force, which are depicted as less imposing and iconic than in the comics.
Despite some criticisms, 'Lanterns' has received praise for its performances, with Poorna Jagannathan turning in a compelling performance as Zoe, and Sinestro making a brief, intriguing appearance. The show's setting in Rushville and its grounded take on the characters have been praised, making it easy to follow and understand the story despite the time jumps.
The show's creator, Chris Mundy, made it clear early on that this would be a grounded, gritty, True Detective-style murder mystery rather than a cosmic space opera. This approach has paid off, with the show sitting in third place on the reviewer's list of favourite comic book shows, just behind What If...? and The Penguin.
With the season finale approaching, viewers who have been struggling to piece together the story are advised to give it a few more episodes. The reviewer was personally impressed by Episodes 3, 5, and 7, and believes that the show has the potential to move higher up the ranks depending on how the finale fares.
Key points
- The show's portrayal of Hal Jordan has left fans dismayed, stripping away his kind, loyal, and Maverick-like charm.
- The show's non-linear structure builds an intriguing mystery, with understanding character backstories giving the investigation and story weight.
- The show's grounded aesthetic and performances have received praise, making it a compelling watch despite some criticisms.
