Review: Lanterns – A big thumbs-up for the new DC Universe

Today marked the end of the first season of Lanterns, and after eight episodes and about seven weeks, I can honestly say that I enjoyed it. It’s the kind of show that I think easily falls into the “love it or hate it” category, and I don’t think there’s much middle ground. Personally, I’m definitely in the first camp, and honestly, I think Lanterns is a huge win—especially coming from someone who’s never been a big fan of DC productions over the last few decades.

When I was a kid, I used to watch the Arrowverse, and even though I realized that many of the shows were mediocre, they were somehow a guilty pleasure for me. Up to a point, of course, when I gave that up too, and that’s pretty much where my enthusiasm for DC shows ended. I can’t say the DC movies ever blew me away either.

There was, however, one series that I really liked, and I still regret that it didn’t get another chance: Swamp Thing. And recently, The Penguin wasn’t just good—it was great. The problem is that, before Lanterns, I had absolutely no idea whether I’d be interested in a series about Green Lantern. After the 2011 fiasco with Ryan Reynolds, I wasn’t even particularly attached to the character anymore.

Well, after eight episodes, the situation has changed.

"Lanterns" gets off to a slow start, but quickly finds its footing

The first few episodes threw me off a bit. The timeline shifts weren't very easy to follow at first, and Hal Jordan's demeanor—played by Kyle Chandler—was downright irritating at times.

On the other hand, I liked John Stewart right from the very first episodes. Aaron Pierre manages to create a character who is very different from Hal, and the relationship between the two gradually becomes one of the most interesting aspects of the series.

Much of the season revolves around a mystery, and the show makes sure to give us enough information to start piecing things together. The first half introduces us to the story and provides the necessary context, while the second half shifts the focus more toward the present timeline and John Stewart’s attempt to find out what happened to Hal.

I'll admit that at first I wasn't convinced this structure would work. As the story unfolded, however, things started to come together both on screen and in my mind, and that made the ending work much better than I expected.

A well-balanced story and two excellent actors

The story in Lanterns isn't overly complicated, nor is it the kind that tries to blow your mind with every episode. And I think that's exactly where one of its strengths lies.

It’s a well-balanced story that knows what it wants to say and doesn’t try to be smarter than it is. The mystery is intriguing enough to keep you watching, but it doesn’t overshadow the characters or turn the series into a puzzle that’s impossible to follow.

Both Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler give excellent performances. To me, Pierre is one of the show’s biggest surprises, and I think John Stewart has enough potential to become one of the key characters in the new DCU.

Nathan Fillion also appears as Guy Gardner, and his presence is important not only for the character but also for what the Lanterns represent in the broader context of the DC Universe. Fillion also plays Guy Gardner in Superman, which makes the connection between the film and television productions much clearer.

HBO is on

Another thing I can't help but mention is the production.

"Lanterns" clearly feels like an HBO series. Not just because of its visuals, but also because of the way it’s structured. A great deal of attention is paid to the characters, the dialogue, and the atmosphere, and the series doesn’t feel the need to throw special effects in your face every five minutes just because we’re talking about Green Lantern.

From my perspective, this is exactly the kind of show DC needed on TV, and I think it comes very close to the level we saw in The Penguin.

What I Don't Understand About the DC Approach

There is, however, one thing I honestly don't understand.

Why do we have a clumsy Green Lantern on the big screen—one we somehow end up laughing at—while on the small screen, DC is building characters so firmly rooted in the universe?

When you see what they did to John Stewart and Hal Jordan in Lanterns, it's hard not to think about how different things might have been for Green Lantern under different circumstances.

I'm not even sure exactly how to interpret the season finale or what it means for the future of Green Lantern in the DC cinematic universe. There’s already speculation about John Stewart appearing in Man of Tomorrow, and after what I’ve seen here, I’d really love to see the character continue on the big screen.

But beyond Green Lantern, what I appreciate most about everything James Gunn has created so far is the diversity.

Before Gunn took over at DC, I felt like almost everything was focused on Superman and Batman. And yes, I completely understand why. They’re probably the company’s most important and best-selling characters. For me, though, that focus had become a limitation.

Even when movies like The Flash or Aquaman came out, I had the impression that they were designed more to complement the Superman/Batman universe than to truly function as standalone stories that could branch off in their own directions.

Lanterns show me that there's room for so much more.

Conclusion

Overall, Lanterns is a good series. It’s not perfect, and I don’t think it will be everyone’s cup of tea, but personally, it hooked me enough that I looked forward to it week after week and left the final episode satisfied with what I’d seen.

I liked John Stewart and Hal Jordan, I liked the direction the story took, I liked the atmosphere, and, most importantly, I liked the fact that, for the first time in a long time, I once again felt that DC can make shows that I’m genuinely interested in.

From me, Lanterns gets a 8.5/10.

And I truly hope there will be a sequel. We live in a time when good TV shows get canceled after just one or two seasons, while mediocre productions easily make it to five, six, or even more seasons...