HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ Review: Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre Shine Beneath the Shadow of Prestige Influences
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, film critic Charlotte Thompson writes in an exclusive review:
Of all the superheroes whose stories could be grounded in a gritty, realistic tone, Green Lantern seems an odd candidate. A character charged with maintaining intergalactic order via a magic ring bestowed by blue alien beings stands at the polar opposite of Bruce Wayne’s dark, street-level Gotham. Under the management of James Gunn, the DC Cinematic Universe has generally leaned toward a brighter, more comic-book-inspired tone—as seen last year in Superman, which featured Guy Gardner, one of the Lanterns played by Nathan Fillion, as a comedic side character.
However, Lanterns is a genuine HBO original drama. While the prestigious network has adapted to the marketplace by producing shows like Game of Thrones spin-offs or The Penguin, it maintains its distinct structural boundaries. For instance, Peacemaker, which fits snugly within James Gunn’s signature style, is a Max original, whereas Lanterns was developed directly for the main HBO network, and its borrowing from the network’s previous hits is plainly evident.
The show’s dry irony and grounded fantasy evoke 2019’s Watchmen—a natural point of comparison given that Damon Lindelof, creator of Watchmen, is one of the three co-creators of Lanterns. Meanwhile, the complex relationship between the leads—Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his trainee John Stewart (Aaron Pierre)—spanning two distinct timelines, mirrors the structure of True Detective. Showrunner and co-creator Chris Mundy previously worked on the latest season of True Detective, as well as crime dramas like Ozark and Bloodline. Prominent DC Comics writer Tom King rounds out the creative trio.
Genre-blending is common in superhero storytelling, but Lanterns lays out these influences with striking directness. Kyle Chandler plays Hal Jordan, a weary, veteran pilot grappling with aging and obsolescence, once again stepping into the role of a middle-aged mentor with rugged charm and a Texan drawl (some key scenes even take place on a high school football field, nodding to Friday Night Lights). Opposite him, Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart is quiet, authoritative, and reserved, displaying a controlled violence—a performance recalling his breakout turn in the action film Rebel Ridge as a former Marine reluctantly drawn into a small, unwelcoming town.
The narrative unfolds in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska, where Hal and John set aside their differences to investigate a mysterious shooting that Hal suspects has alien origins. His assessment proves correct, much to the frustration of local Sheriff Carrie (played by Boardwalk Empire’s Kelly Macdonald). Yet, with the arrival of extraterrestrials, the series refrains from chaotic, CGI-heavy spectacles; instead, these shape-shifting aliens take on human appearances (one even bears a striking resemblance to Ozark star Laura Linney).
This visual approach keeps the series grounded. Hal almost never wears his superhero suit, preferring a simple brown jacket instead. Though he is Earth’s first Lantern, the only other Lantern we meet is his banished former master, Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), who appears entirely human save for his pointed ears. Because John has not yet donned the ring full-time, neither can fly, leaving them to travel by car. The fantasy elements of the Green Lantern lore, such as a carnivorous plant Hal keeps as a pet, are relegated to brief appearances.
By stripping away many traditional Green Lantern tropes, the series centers its focus on the concept of appointed authority. Unlike Superman, who is inherently heroic, Lanterns are selected by a council of Guardians, raising questions about true merit and worthiness.
The characterization of the two leads stands as the strongest element of Lanterns. Chandler and Pierre deliver compelling performances within their familiar archetypes. It is particularly satisfying to see Aaron Pierre in a dramatic role following his success in Rebel Ridge. One of the standout episodes explores John Stewart’s backstory and his rigorous upbringing by his parents (Jasmine Cephas Jones and J. Alphonse Nicholson), who sought to mold him into an ideal candidate for the Guardians. Much like Watchmen, the series engages with the distinct challenges of a Black superhero. This is woven naturally into John’s identity, his talent for drafting, and his passion for birdwatching—most notably through the intense self-restraint he must exercise while partnered with an arrogant, less qualified white man.
Hal frequently retells the story of how he acquired the ring: a mystical voice trapped him in a green bubble, asked if he felt fear, and when he replied “No,” granted him the power. But the series questions whether absolute fearless behavior—which John’s parents relentlessly sought to instill in him through cruel tests—is truly a virtue. Hal himself admits his bravery stems from a lack of emotional attachment. His pilot father died during his childhood, and his sole piece of advice to John is to avoid deep emotional bonds. Hal’s bravado is ultimately a shield for his nihilistic worldview.
Pierre and Chandler make every effort to step out from the shadow of True Detective‘s archetypes, and while their constant bickering in the car strongly echoes that series, a distinct, tense chemistry forms between Hal and John. The plural title Lanterns serves as the root of this friction; standard protocol dictates that only one Green Lantern should be assigned to a planet at a time, making John’s presence a direct challenge to Hal’s authority. Hal responds by dubbing him “Junior.” To Hal, John can be a student or a successor, but never an equal partner.
Alongside this strong central dynamic, other subplots feel less compelling. As the narrative progresses and the hunt for a “Manhunter”—a lethal shape-shifting entity—unfolds, each Lantern is assigned a romantic storyline. Hal becomes involved with Sheriff Carrie, while John forms a connection with Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan), the wife of local tycoon William Macon (Garret Dillahunt). The observations and conversations between John and Zoe about life in conservative Rushville carry more weight than the dynamic between Hal and Carrie, yet neither romantic subplot matches the pull of the primary relationship between the two leads.
Ultimately, watching Lanterns gives the impression of a superhero story striving to adopt the aesthetic of a prestige drama. While the series struggles at times to emerge entirely from the shadow of its inspirations—and the pairing of police procedural tropes with glowing green lasers occasionally produces tonal friction—it finds its rhythm whenever Chandler and Pierre are exchanging sharp, barbed dialogue.
Lanterns premieres August 16 on HBO and Max, with subsequent episodes airing weekly on Sundays.
