© DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures
Lanterns delivers a rich dramatic experience that primarily focuses on mystery and investigation, creating an engaging atmosphere that keeps viewers invested throughout its events. However, it lacks the science-fiction elements usually associated with the characters in this universe. This approach is a double-edged sword: on one hand, it resulted in a very enjoyable and compelling story, while on the other, it led to changes to many of the fundamentals of the Green Lantern universe, some of which were logical and reasonable, while others were completely illogical.
Photo by John P. Johnson – © 2025 – HBO
One of the series’ greatest strengths was the impressive performances of its cast. Aaron Pierre did an excellent job portraying “John Stewart,” while Kyle Chandler excelled in the role of “Hal Jordan.” The series also succeeded remarkably well in focusing on John Stewart’s character development by exploring his past in a deeply dramatic manner and highlighting its impact on his journey and the psychological struggles he experiences. The deep conversations between the two protagonists also effectively reflected their differing philosophies and their individual perspectives on the concepts of will and fear.
© DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures
On the other hand, one of the series’ most notable weaknesses was the implementation of major and illogical changes to the fundamentals of the Green Lantern universe. The most prominent example was having John Stewart charge his ring from a lantern created by “Sinestro” that carries the essence of fear, in addition to the absence of the iconic Green Lantern suit from John Stewart even after the events concluded. The series also suffered from severely neglecting the science-fiction aspect and the space adventures that usually define this universe, despite the fact that they could have been successfully implemented, as we have seen in the Star Wars series.
© DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures
The criticisms became even more significant with the way Hal Jordan’s character arc was concluded and killed off during his first appearance in the cinematic universe, in an unfulfilling manner, accompanied by major changes to his personality and principles. Although this decision may have been intended to set up future events involving the character of “Parallax,” this setup felt poorly executed and unconvincing. In the final episode specifically, the changes from the comics appeared to lack a solid foundation, making the series fall short of capturing the true spirit of the Lanterns universe.
© Photograph by Courtesy of HBO Max
Ultimately, Lanterns is an excellent series from both a dramatic and storytelling perspective. It deserves credit for delivering an enjoyable journey filled with mystery and exciting events, even if some of the fundamentals of the comics were distorted and could have benefited from more logical changes. Based on its strengths and weaknesses, the series deserves a rating of
7.5/10
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