Introduction

When Lanterns was announced, my inner nerd was excited beyond words. A big reason for that is my love for Green Lantern, who sits comfortably in my top ten favorite comic book superheroes, especially in the DC universe. On top of that, DC seemed to be bringing serious talent to the project with James Gunn, James Hawes, and a cast of well-recognized actors attached. When Episode 1 aired, I was glued to the screen. Now, three episodes in, some of that enthusiasm has been replaced by a measure of worry. Here’s why, in our first impressions of Lanterns on HBO Max.

Why You’ll Like This

Lanterns isn’t an animated series like most Green Lantern adaptations have been. This is a live-action series that leans mature and genuinely dark. Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his trainee John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) are tasked with investigating a string of deaths in Rushville, Nebraska that appear to be linked to an alien threat. The premise might sound oddly goofy if you’re picturing something like True Detective, but it works here for a few key reasons.

First, we get to witness not only Hal Jordan’s ending but also John Stewart’s true beginning. Both Lanterns are often interchangeable in DC lore, with most stories focusing on one or the other. Here, both are given real space to develop. John’s journey to being chosen for the Green Lantern Corps and his rise toward becoming the iconic hero fans know is explored with more depth than most adaptations have ever attempted. Second, the murder mystery itself carries real weight. It isn’t light-hearted in the slightest. People are dying in Nebraska, and if the cause is an alien threat, there aren’t many people equipped to handle it outside of those whose powers originate from beyond the stars.

Three episodes in, I’m also genuinely enjoying the pacing of Lanterns. The timeline switching feels a bit jarring at first but slowly begins to cohere in satisfying ways. Hal’s origins are examined briefly while John’s past gets more attention than usual, and the murder plot weaves between both timelines effectively. I can’t wait to see how Hal eventually passes the ring (especially after a particular line in the Episode 3 finale) and how John steps into that power. I feel fans will love that Lanterns doesn’t try to rebuild the Green Lantern mythology from scratch. We know how the Lantern powers work, the oath they live by, and that some of them fall — like Sinestro, played here by Ulrich Thomsen. There are more surprises waiting for longtime Green Lantern fans that I won’t spoil here.

Is It Worth Three Episodes?

Here’s where my worries come in. Lanterns has the potential to be good — maybe not great, but good. However, some of the creative decisions being made around specific story beats are genuinely questionable.

In Episode 3, John’s childhood is finally explored, providing context for scenes in earlier episodes involving apple-shooting and John’s seemingly fearless disposition. My reaction to how this was handled was closer to appalled than impressed. The episode shows not once, not twice, but approaching three times an adult placing an apple on a child’s head and shooting it off. The intent seems to be illustrating how extreme John’s upbringing was and why he was chosen for the Corps. The execution, however, is something else entirely. We live in an era where we regularly see teenagers and kids imitating dangerous TikTok and YouTube trends with real-world consequences, and a scene like this on a mainstream superhero series feels like a blatant lack of care from the showrunners. It should have been handled differently, and at minimum flagged by someone in the approval chain.

Beyond that, the CGI is inconsistent. There are times Lanterns looks incredible with characters flying through the sky and the space prison holding Sinestro look genuinely impressive. Then you get moments where the CGI is so heavy and unpolished that it tips into unintentionally goofy territory. Three episodes in, Lanterns isn’t fully delivering on the potential of the franchise. The suit in particular isn’t doing it for me either, if I’m being honest.

Conclusion

Lanterns has genuine potential to be a fun, engaging 8-episode series that ties meaningfully into future DC movies and shows. I can see where the story is trying to go, and for the most part, it could get there well enough to earn some real praise by the time it concludes. But there are too many small issues stacking up right now: the ho-hum CGI in places, a few characterization choices that don’t land, and at least one sequence that shows a real disregard for who might be watching. Yes, Lanterns is clearly made for adults. The series features sex scenes (handled tastefully enough), brutal confrontations, and unfiltered crime scenes. Even so, a mature audience-focused show still needs to be thoughtful about what it portrays and how. Right now, Lanterns is interesting but not yet incredible — and for a franchise this rich with potential, interesting alone isn’t enough. I’m still watching and still hoping it gets there.