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Lanterns

The discourse around LANTERNS has been an interesting one. Perhaps it is more algorithm-based than widespread fact, but the internet would lead me to believe that there are some Green Lantern fans who are upset with the adaptation and its treatment of one of its most beloved heroes, Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler). Much like the Resident Evil gamers who took umbrage with Zach Cregger’s cinematic adaptation, there is a passionate group of Lantern fans who are irked to see the established storylines tampered with.

Despite the shouts from this vocal minority, LANTERNS is a surprisingly grounded, well-crafted mystery that features spectacular performances from its two leads, Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. Whereas PEACEMAKER was a bombastic, over-the-top showcase of vulgarity and excess, LANTERNS is more tonally similar to another phenomenal HBO limited series, WATCHMEN. Stark colors, earnest characters, and serious themes aren’t at all what I was expecting, but they are exactly what we got.

This is not to say that LANTERNS doesn’t have its lighthearted and humorous moments. As Jordan, Chandler can make you laugh in one moment and infuriate you in the next. His delivery is perfect for the character, and he continues to show why he is one of the most reliable artists working in entertainment today. He already has Emmy-caliber performances in FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and the underrated BLOODLINE, and yet I’d make the argument that his work here may be the best of his career. We know his Hal is the Green Lantern, which makes him a hero, but sometimes, he certainly doesn’t fit the mold. Meant to serve as a mentor to future Lantern John Stewart (Pierre), he sees the younger man as a threat as opposed to a teammate.

In contrast to the brash, hot-tempered narcissist that is Jordan, Stewart is stalwart and quiet. He is self-assured and exudes a seething intensity from behind his fierce eyes. Pierre’s resume is far less prolific than Chandler’s, yet his embodiment of John Stewart is complete. He feels less like a character and more like a machine; a man built for the job that he and his family believe has always been his destiny. This sentiment can be applied to both Pierre and Stewart. As the series progresses, we learn more about why his stoicism is so complete and why he is willing to put up with Hal’s unconventional ways.

Despite being set in the DCU, LANTERNS keeps its superhero action to a minimum. The story, built around the murder of Hal (no real spoiler there; it’s the setup of the entire show), is told in a nonlinear timeline. There are action sequences here and there, the ring still does its Green Lantern things, there are aliens around that are up to no good, and there are other tidbits and characters that remind us that this is a world in which superpowers and extraterrestrials with ill intent lurk among us, but this isn’t SUPERMAN or SUPERGIRL. It is not a constant barrage of explosions and battles, but rather a character-driven drama.

The relationship between Hal and John is strained, yet the dynamic between the two is complex. It is oftentimes the reason the series works as well as it does. Chandler and Pierre make a formidable team, whether they are sparring, cooperating, or existing somewhere in-between. Stewart has already been confirmed as a character in the upcoming Gunn-helmed SUPERMAN sequel, MAN OF TOMORROW. Jordan’s future is a little murkier. No matter what lies ahead for both men, what they have done in LANTERNS is fantastic, and for me, it establishes the series as one of the biggest surprises of the year.