'Lanterns' Season 1: Episode-by-Episode Re-cap and Review
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
By Jack Ransom - August 17, 2026
TV - Premium TV
The third DCU project to hit the small screen after Creature Commandos and season two of Peacemaker. After a divisive couple of first trailers which seemed to abandon any essence of the colour most associated with the two lead characters, a few weeks ago a final trailer arrived which seemed to flick the positivity switch into overdrive and immediately increase the anticipation and stakes around this project given the middling reception to Supergirl on the big screen at the end of June.
Latest Episode
Episode 1 - "Pilot" 4/5
The pilot episode begins after a fatal shooting, both Green Lantern, Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) set out to prove it was an extra terrestrial event. The pilot seamlessly establishes a brilliant dynamic between Hal and John: the former a jaded, snarky, effortlessly brash veteran and the latter a stoic, dry-witted, motivated and rule-abiding trainee. The blend of mutual respect and irritation is a pairing that I am already hooked on and eager to see continue over the course of the show. The episode divides into three time periods (1996, 2016 & 2026), which builds character, small town intrigue and a final shot that certainly already establishes wider repercussions and ideas for the DCU going forward.
This is a strong pilot episode that impressively grounds and explores the idea of Green Lantern in a murder mystery that I hope keeps up the mystique, whilst also tapping into a potential wider galaxy to explore along the line. Like Peacemaker (and what Clayface also looks to be delivering) it also showcases how these projects can feel distinct in their stylistic and dialogue choices, yet also understandably feel like they are in the same universe as Superman & Supergirl.
Episode 1 of 'Lanterns' Season 1 is streaming now on HBO Max.
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