TV Series Review: Lanterns (2026) HBOmax *No Spoilers*

TV Series Review: Lanterns (2026) HBOmax No Spoilers

Lanterns - HBOmax

Personally I think the new DC Studios, Lanterns series is one of the best DC shows in quite some time. It even edges out The Penguin for me (just barely) because it has likeable characters.

Don't get me wrong, The Penguin is a standout drama series for sure, but I prefer heroes to villains (or anti-heroes for that matter) even if villains get the better monologues. It's nice to have a show like Lanterns, where the heroes are the most interesting part of the story, and you hope they triumph in the end.

That said, I have never really been a fan of the Green Lanterns. I don't have a preferred Lantern. The character was always just one of the lesser cool members of the Justice League to me. The only reason I even know Hal Jordan's name is due to the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern movie. Prior to that I just knew the character as Green Lantern.

The only reason I know of Guy Gardener is from the Superman movie... and the only reason I know John Stuart is his name being dropped as the other potential Green Lantern that Ryan's film could've featured.

So... Lanterns has made Hal (Kyle Chandler) and John (Aaron Pierre) infinitely more interesting characters to me.

The show is essentially a kind of buddy cop series (albeit intergalactic cops) with John being the new recruit and Hal being the current Lantern for Earth. They are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

From what I understand Lanterns does take some license with the main character's backgrounds, and their path to the Green Lanterns, but it's not something I've bumped into, given my limited knowledge of the material in general. That aside, their backstories and relationship with each other all make perfect sense to me, and really explain each's motivations.

At the time of writing I've seen seven of the eight episodes, (next week is the finale's first airing on HBOmax), and every one has had plenty to like. The only episode I bumped into was episode 3, which is entirely devoted to John's backstory.

The episode itself is great (don't skip it) but I was far more interested in the murder mystery, which this episode does almost nothing to move forward. Hence I bumped into it because I had to wait another week (the series was released as a weekly not a binge) to see any progression on. I actually find it a little annoying that quite a few modern TV series have devoted a whole episode to a flash back. I'd much rather see brief glimpses or at least only a half an episode at most, when the main story is really engrossing.

The only other thing I bumped into was the timeline does jump around quite a bit. Not a bad thing but if you happen to miss a title card for what year the next few scenes happen in it can be a little confusing. It is necessary for this story though, particularly because it does allow for a really great plot twist at the end of the first episode.

What I find quite impressive about the series is that it would fit in with any of the recent DC universes we've seen. The tone works exactly right for Chris Nolan's, Zack Snyder, or Matt Reeves' films, but it also fits right in to James Gunn's Superman/Supergirl films too (aptly demonstrated in the series at one point).

I've enjoyed it every week thus far, and am hoping the final episode will stick the landing. I have some confidence it will. I'd certainly watch a second season of this show, but I wonder if it would be as intriguing without each character's backstory being a critical part of the mix?

Let's hope we get the chance to find out.

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