‘Lanterns’ Is Really, Really Good—for the Most Part

Lanterns, the new show from DC Studios, is often awesome. Part rural detective mystery, part superhero origin, it’s got a story, characters, action, and chemistry that will, at times, bring you to the edge of your seat. There’s mystery, there’s DC lore, green constructs, you name it. And just when you are ready to stand up and cheer for what has been a comprehensive, fun, and engaging season of television, something happens. There are, somehow, still three episodes left. The eight-episode first season of Lanterns debuts on HBO and HBO Max on August 16 and continues with new episodes each week through October 4. For review purposes, Warner Bros. made seven of those eight episodes available to io9, and for the first five of those, we were all in. The fifth episode in particular is basically a perfectly epic finale for everything that’s been set up. From there though, the next two make a huge pivot that’s not necessarily bad or less interesting. It just feels like a completely different show, which drags the rest of the season down a bit. Hopefully, the finale saves it. The pieces and potential are certainly there, but we’ll find out when you do in October. Lanterns is, mostly, the story of John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). John is a former Marine sniper who has dedicated his entire life to potentially becoming Earth’s Green Lantern. It’s a job currently held by Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), a cocky former pilot who has been the Green Lantern for over 20 years. The show begins with Hal taking John under his wing as a trainee and, over the course of the show, we learn more about each of their backstories, how they feel about this situation, and so much more. © John Johnson/HBO Max At the same time, Hal and John begin investigating some mysterious happenings in rural Nebraska. On the surface, it looks like a situation that can be handled by the local Sheriff, played by Kelly Macdonald. But Hal thinks his intergalactic experience is better suited to solving the case. Soon, a massive plot unravels that puts not just the town, but the Green Lanterns and the world itself, in the crosshairs. With both of those throughlines happening in tandem, Lanterns works incredibly well. There are tons of twists and turns along the way, as well as a fascinating bottle episode packed with crucial context. With each revelation, not only are we dying to know what the hell is happening in the town, but consistently intrigued about Hal, John, and their tumultuous relationship. Do they trust each other? Should they trust each other? But then, at the end of episode five, a lot of that gets wrapped up, and the questions set in. Can this show sustain its momentum and excitement for almost another half a season? The answer, at least in part, is “No.” In episodes six and seven, the pacing, drama, and excitement are all dialed way down. Editing choices from earlier in the season undercut lots of the tension. And while you are interested in what’s happening because of how much you’ve invested in the characters, and there are still a few good moments sprinkled in (to describe any of it would be a huge spoiler, so we’ll keep it extra vague), episodes six and seven feel more like a disappointing second season instead of a cohesive continuation of the first. And it’s a huge bummer. Maybe that changes with events in the finale, but after watching all but one episode, Lanterns is an excellent show until it’s not. © HBO There’s still a lot to like about Lanterns, though. The biggest things are Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, who each play such dynamic, wonderful characters you can’t take your eyes off of them. It also helps that their back-and-forth frenemy chemistry is completely off the charts. Chandler is hilarious, annoying, and perfectly suave. Pierre is cold, calculating, and somehow completely human. The way the show then weaves each of their backstories into the main narrative gives each performance and character even more layers of greatness. The supporting cast is also very good, with special props to Jasmine Cephas Jones (Hamilton) and J. Alphonse Nicholson (They Cloned Tyrone), who play John’s parents. John’s upbringing and the decisions made by his parents are some of the most heartbreaking and fascinating things in the whole show, and seeing how those choices evolve over the years is very rewarding. Jones and Nicholson crush it. © HBO There’s also a steady drip of DC lore throughout that mentions, alludes to, and sometimes even shows characters like Guy Gardner, Martian Manhunter, Sinestro, Abin Sur, Superman, Batman, and others. Hal and John also use the ring a lot, but it never feels excessive, unless it’s supposed to. Overall, Lanterns is pretty great. The world-building, the lead characters, their dynamics, all wrapped around this middle-America mystery, really works. And while the back third of the season feels significantly less interesting, you have to give it credit for at least taking a big swing. Sure, you wish the whole thing was a bit more cohesive, a bit more measured, and maybe a tiny bit better. Even so, flaws and all, Lanterns is easily among the best superhero shows we’ve seen in a long time. Lanterns premieres on August 16. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.