by Ricardy Herard
As a kid, one of my favorite superheroes was Green Lantern. The concept fascinated me greatly, the idea of having a power ring that you could make anything with. The idea of flying through space, fighting menacing villains, and protecting the universe. This was why I was so excited to hear about Lanterns, the newest DCU show that followed Hal Jordan and John Stewart, arguably the most famous Green Lanterns in the DC universe.
I used to watch the Green Lantern animated series back on Cartoon Network as well as the Justice League show from the early 2000s, so I was already familiar with not just the characters, but also the obscure information surrounding the Green Lanterns and their unique adventures. But how does Lanterns hold up when compared to other Green Lantern media? Is it any good? After watching the first five episodes, all episodes currently out at the time of writing this, here is my spoiler free review of Lanterns from the perspective of a Green Lantern fan.
Starting with episode 1, let’s talk about what Lanterns establishes right off the bat. We are introduced to our two main characters, Hal Jordan played by Kyle Chandler and John Stewart played by Aaron Pierre. What Lanterns does is unique, presenting itself in the style of a gritty, mature buddy cop show. The plot involves Hal Jordan training John Stewart to be another Green Lantern of Earth after he was personally chosen by the Guardians of the Universe. A few minutes into the first episode, Hal and John fly off to Nebraska to solve a mystery involving aliens hidden on Earth, giving us the main plot for the show. Unfortunately, this means the adventures of our characters will be almost completely terrestrial, but that’s not a dealbreaker for me. So, what does Lanterns get right?
First, I think the show’s characterization is amazing. Kyle Chandler portrays Hal very well, portraying an older, more jaded version of the character. He’s rough on John Stewart who stays composed most of the time but clearly has many frustrations with his mentor. I don’t want to reveal too much of the character’s inner conflicts, but Hal seems to have very personal reasons for his treatment of John. A Green Lantern is supposed to be without fear, and Hal constantly says that he isn’t afraid, but there’s one thing about John that has him worried.
The special effects are also well done, even if there’s not many of them. The show is quite grounded to say the least, and the powers of the ring aren’t used much, but it is cool when we do get to see it in action. The flying looks cool, but the real highlight is the constructs. Especially the way they are manifested by the characters. One thing I appreciate is how the show accurately portrays the ways that the characters use their rings. Hal is about precision, making simple constructs that get the job done, coming together and falling apart like sand. John is all about detail. His constructs are like complex machinery, not hollow, made with every bolt.
One place where the visuals do fall short, however, is space stuff and general superhero work. A lot of people pointed this out when the trailers were first released, but the colors are very muted. The constructs are a nice, shiny green, but on the rare occasion that we see the Green Lantern suit, it doesn’t seem that vibrant. I’m not asking for some distracting, neon green, but it would be nice for it to have a little more visual clarity. The suit just isn’t doing it for me, and it’s a little disappointing that we have yet to see a character with their iconic look. I just want the characters to look a little bit more like Green Lanterns. Another issue is aliens. The show is all about looking for aliens disguised on Earth, and I recognize this is a little nitpicky, but the aliens are always disguised. They look like humans the whole way through, even in intense scenes, and have only gotten teases of their true forms. We’ve only seen one alien fully in the show so far, and the design wasn’t all that interesting. There are two episodes left, so I’m hoping the show’s climax will drift into space and superhero elements a little more.
Next, how’s the story? I think it does certain things well, if not others. As a mystery, there definitely is one. The characters do plenty of sleuthing, but in my opinion, it doesn’t seem like the kind of mystery where you can follow along yourself. It feels like the mystery is second to the show’s main element: the characters and their goals. Without giving away too much, Hal is very attached to the ring and his role as Green Lantern while John is gunning for those things himself.
We see a lot of his backstory as well, seeing what John has gone through since he was a kid to get to this point. Some people were not fans of the themes brought up by the show, but I personally think the discussion is done well and really helps define John’s character. As of the latest episode, the characters are at what I’d say is their lowest points. Hal’s character arc went in a shocking direction; one I didn’t expect but don’t exactly hate. John is also starting to rethink some of the values he held earlier. What the show is doing has me hooked, and I’d like to see where the characters end up.
By the time you’re reading this, episode 7 will be out and maybe even the whole show. I for one will be seeing Lanterns through to the end, but should you watch it too? If you’re looking for a classic Green Lantern adventure with sci-fi elements and alien intrigue, this is probably not the show for you. You’ll find it a little slow paced. If you want a detailed mystery that you can watch and solve along with the characters, you’ll find it a little fast. Lanterns is less of a mystery thriller and more of a drama.
If you want to see complex interactions between two iconic Green Lantern characters, one with deep writing and unique interpretations that feel fresh without compromising their past characterization, you’ll find Lanterns to be decent if not surprisingly enjoyable. The show is not for everyone admittedly, but I think those that do like it will find it to be some of the best Green Lantern media we’ve seen in a while, and I’m one of those people.
