Lanterns Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Hal and John Have Trust Issues

Lanterns Season 1 Episode 1 laid the groundwork for what we know about these versions of Hal Jordan and John Stewart. With Season 2 Episode 2 “Trust Fall”, they’ve got more to learn about each other if John really wants to become a Green Lantern.

What we understand about Hal and John’s dynamic is that it’s complicated, given how John’s in training for the past few months. From the trailers, we have insight into the fact that John is Hal’s replacement, but it seems like Hal’s grudge is starting to show more.

This can be felt early on, when Hal decides to test John by having him fly with the ring. John might not be able to, but he’s successful in a different way: he conjures a bird construct that helps him through Lanterns Season 1 Episode 2.

That’s not the weirdest part: John’s construct still exists without the ring’s power. Not only does this show John’s potential in overtaking Hal, but also highlights why the Guardians want him to replace Hal. If John can do that without the ring, what else is he capable of?

This question is constantly looming over the two throughout this episode of Lanterns, even when Hal tries to present his case. It’s like Hal is trying to make himself valuable as seen when he’s trying to get Kerry’s attention. Yet, everyone else dismisses Hal because they want some normalcy.

That sense of normalcy is seemingly removed because of the Macons, who’ve integrated so much anti-alien tech just to get on a Green Lantern’s level. Given the weird alien detectors in the field, the Macons really believe they’ve got a chance against any cosmic threat. Yet, Kerry wants to keep this under wraps.

We’ve understood that the Macons don’t trust any aliens, but the way they’ve integrated themselves here makes them suspect. Even though we know they’re working for a higher power, there’s this feeling that, somehow, they’re in this for themselves. Plus, their slightly right-wing nature suggests they have a more greedy perspective.

What they don’t already know is that there are aliens on Earth, just not in Nebraska. John faces the brunt of them after he feeds Hal’s “plant”, Earl, and gets into an intense and physical confrontation. 

After an action-packed sequence along a highway, John discovers Antaan, who seems to know something about Manhunters he doesn’t. The usual exposition drop is given for fans familiar with Green Lantern lore. The Manhunters were created for peacekeeping in the galaxy, but ended up being destroyers.

However, this guy takes an unusual approach in recruiting John, giving him the experience of loss that they had. Although this provides a terrifying realization for John, it does feel like more could have been seen as a viewer. That said, it does a good job creating those important questions.

One of these questions is what Antaan really sees in John to make him an effective tool. The bird construct is a clear indicator that John could basically find out the Manhunter’s identity, but it’s a small start for John. The only hinderance to this is that he’s on the clock and has to figure this out quickly.

All things considered, it definitely feels like Lanterns is setting up John’s new friend for more. Given John’s previous interactions with Zoe in the pilot episode, she shows to have a particular way with John.

The way that she talks about being with the Macons and John trusting Hal does give you a feeling she may want more. Whether that’s actually a better life outside of the Macons or possibly something much more grander may yet to be seen.

Hal does seem to recognize this as seen in his bedside conversation with Kerry about Sinestro. He seems to have much of a displeasure talking about him, but also seems to have his own worries about him. Given how Sinestro is known to be Hal’s mentor in some capacity, his thoughts couldn’t have been clearer.

When John returns to Hal, the lingering question of potential comes back into the light. With John’s ability to keep a construct alive, not only does it show he can surpass Hal, but how Hal’s desperation is getting the better of him. It’s why he goes to the Sciencells to get answers from Sinestro, only to be met with manipulation.

These transitions of power within the Green Lantern Corps seem to have a deeper role to play within Lanterns. It clearly plays a role within the shaky teamwork that Hal and John share, but it could explain why Sinestro decided to rebel in the first place. This is all still a mystery that’s counting down, adding to the thrill overall.

Lanterns Season 2 Episode 2 plays with Hal and John’s dynamics with intense trust exercises while carefully exploring the lore of “Green Lantern”. While there are still many pieces in this puzzle to put together, it follows up the pilot episode quite well. Now, only time will tell how Hal and John’s mission will be accomplished.

Stray Thoughts:

• If Sheriff Kerry is actually friends with the DCU’s Commissioner Gordon, I’m going to be incredibly happy.
• Why did Earl remind me of Frank the Plant from Harley Quinn just a bit?
• Hal really wants to get back with Kerry and it was funny to see him react when Kerry was trying to get her husband’s attention.
• All the photos in Hal’s “house” are pretty funny when you think back on Hal’s interrogation in the previous episode. No wonder Hal was uptight about that Manhunter’s opinions.
• I’m pretty sure that Antaan is going to be revealed as Atrocitus most likely by the Season 1 finale.

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New episodes of Lanterns premiere at 9 PM EST every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.

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