HBO's 'Lanterns' Stars Break Down John Stewart's Unforgettable Origin Story in Episode 3

Image via HBO Published Aug 31, 2026, 6:52 PM EDT Therese Lacson is a Senior TV Editor who has been with Collider since 2021. She got started in this business over ten years ago working primarily as an interviewer and critic. At Collider, she works closely with the features team to support the writers and also ideates and develops content daily. She has covered major industry events including Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, and San Diego Comic-Con. Although she reviews and covers both film and television, her focus is in television and her expertise is in fantasy and sci-fi genre shows. Her favorite shows to cover include House of the Dragon, Bridgerton, Fallout, 9-1-1, and Rivals. Sign in to your Collider account Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Lanterns Episode 3.Lanterns took a sharp turn in this Sunday's episode as the focus shifted away from Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart's (Aaron Pierre) investigation in Rushville and turned to John's origin story. Episode 3, "OutKast," reveals not only how John became a Green Lantern but also the story of his parents and how John's father (J. Alphonse Nicholson) nearly took Hal Jordan's place back in the 90s. The episode shows us that the Guardians first came to John Stewart Sr., but he failed the test they offered him, and it left him traumatized. When Lianna (Laura Linney), one of the Guardians, comes to visit the Stewarts to apologize for the incident, she informs John's mother, Bernadette (Jasmine Cephas Jones), that he might have the potential to become the next Green Lantern. From that point on, Bernadette and John Sr. begin training their youngest son to become fearless, putting him through rigorous training all the while hoping that the Guardians are watching and take notice of him. By the time he's been dishonorably discharged from the Marines and has gone to art school, John is contacted by the Guardians and successfully passes the test. Collider sat down with both Nicholson and Jones to break down the Stewart family dynamics and how his unique childhood has impacted the Stewarts over the years. 'Lanterns' Proves That There Were No Half Measures With John's Childhood "...I think she feels a bit powerless in that moment and very confused and not really sure what the next move is, but decides it and fully, fully, fully goes for it." Image via HBO COLLIDER: Jasmine, Bernadette is such a strong character, but her decision to train John to become this perfect Green Lantern is definitely a drastic one to make when he's just a baby. Where do you think that motivation of hers comes from? JASMINE CEPHAS JONES: I think the motivation comes from seeing John Sr. go through the trauma that he goes through in the beginning of the episode, and knowing that he's fully qualified for that role, but wasn't picked for certain reasons. So, that's the seed and the start of the idea, and she decides to drive that force. And since John is so young, she can get to him and psychologically get into his brain before the rest of the world does. He's still young enough, and she can start with him at a really young age. So I think that's why there's a little look from Laura Linney's character where she looks down while little John is still in her arms, and I think that's also another seed as well. Do you think that's why Bernadette is the one who takes on the conditioning more than John Sr. does? Because I feel like she's the one who's always spearheading some of these these initiatives. JONES: Yeah, I mean, she says in the beginning, in that scene where she's sitting down in the kitchen, that her family is falling apart. I think it's a way for her to get her power back, and in some shape or form, heal the family through guiding her younger son into this great destiny. I think she has this idea and she goes for it, and it's a big way for her to get her power back because I think she feels a bit powerless in that moment and very confused and not really sure what the next move is, but decides it and fully, fully, fully goes for it. Yeah, she doesn't take any half measures. The Moment That Changed the Stewarts' Lives Looms Large Over Them "He's already living every day with a little sense of fear about what life looks like for him and his children." Image via HBO J. Alphonse, there's such an impactful moment in that episode where Bernadette asks the Guardian, "Do you know what it's like to ask a black man if he's afraid?" Can you talk about how you think that moment really changed John Sr.'s outlook towards his life changed after that? J. ALPHONSE NICHOLSON: Yeah, for sure. I think the moment where he gets semi-abducted and pulled up into this green bubble floating in the air, it is a traumatic situation for him. He's already living every day with a little sense of fear about what life looks like for him and his children. I can only imagine how hard it was for him to go up in the ranks in the military during that time. Even during the '90s, it was probably extremely hard for him, and so to have that moment and to kind of feel like he failed, obviously had a devastating effect. But, as always, the black woman is there. She pulls him up by his bootstraps and helps him up and lets him know that he's seen. You know, she apologizes to him for not seeing him at first, which is really cool. And this amazing transition happens where she pours confidence into him, and he says, "Okay, if I wasn't able to land the mark, if I wasn't able to walk through this moment and be fearless, let me make sure my son is," and so he listens to his wife's advice. I think he dives straight in as well, even in moments where we feel like it's a little scary or he's a little apprehensive, which I think is great levity and kind of funny in the episode. Do John Sr. and Bernadette Regret How John Was Raised? "I think it's only natural and human that they may feel that way, but when he goes on to make them extremely proud..." John Sr. and Bernadette decide this choice for John so early on in his life, and John Sr. accurately points out that their son will probably hate them for raising him like that, but do you think for John Sr. it's worth it at the end of the day because his son does become actually a Lantern, or is there ever any regret or doubt in their mind of how they raised their son? NICHOLSON: You know, being a father, that question sits with me because, yeah, you always have a little bit of regret of how you may have raised your child. I've never shot an apple off my son's head, I swear, but there are definitely some things that I've done that I look back on and say, "Man, I wish I wouldn't have said that, or I wish I wouldn't have approached it that way." I think it's only natural and human that they may feel that way, but when he goes on to make them extremely proud and to become a Green Lantern, I'm sure, for them, is very much an accomplishment, and they feel like, hey, all this training has paid off, despite what type of trauma it may have on him. It's paid off. JONES: And I think just to back up what Jay just said, I think that even though this training that they do is very, very intense, I think also, along the way, they're describing why they're doing these things from jump with John, so he understands what his destiny is and why they're doing it. There's even a scene at the end where Bernadette says it's a human feeling to not want to hurt the people that you love. Even though they're doing this really disciplined training, at the same time, it's really important for their kids to know that they love them and there is a reason why they are doing this, and to describe it and make sure that it's clear as to why. 'Lanterns' Proves John Stewart Never Needed Hal Jordan in Episode 3 "I think they'll always be that rock for him." Image via HBO When we see at the end of that episode that Hal has gotten to their house before John. It's sad, because John doesn't even get to be the first one to deliver the news to his parents. Where do you think John Sr.'s mind was at when he sees this guy who basically took his life appear at his front doorstep to be like, "Hey, I have some good news for you." Where do you think his mind was, seeing him sitting across from him at that kitchen table? NICHOLSON: Oh man, I can only imagine, because we pick up during the middle of that conversation; you can see the frustration that's there. You can see that's happening with them, but I'm sure he is extremely frustrated. And but also, like, who is this guy? Like, you're going to train my son? Really? No, he's well-prepared, and so I think that attitude is there, and probably a little animosity for sure. He's looking at this guy and saying, "Man, that should have been me." And I would have been kinder to someone I was training, or maybe he would have had a different approach. So I think all the thoughts were there, but picking up in the middle of that scene is fun as well, and letting the frustration kind of just live for where it's at. What is it like playing a character from different points of their life? Because the episode kind of jumps around, how is it, as an actor, getting into the role and being like, "Okay, this was 20 years ago when my character's mindset might have been different as opposed to now." JONES: Well, one, just getting into prosthetics is a whole journey within itself. That was like almost two hours of just making yourself look old, so you're watching yourself age as it's happening, which is crazy. But I also think at that point they're a little more laid-back because I feel like they've accomplished all that they can accomplish to train their son — whatever that next step is, it's out of their hands. I think they'll always be a grounding force for John; if he needs to call them for anything or to talk over anything, I think they'll always be that rock for him. But I think they're a little more eased back at this point in time and not so harsh. Release Date August 16, 2026 Network HBO Showrunner Chris Mundy Directors James Hawes Writers Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof Cast Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Nathan Fillion, Kelly Macdonald, Jason Ritter, Garret Dillahunt, Nicole Ari Parker, Ulrich Thomsen, Poorna Jagannathan, Sherman Augustus Franchise(s) DC Universe Creator(s) Tom King, Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof