Lanterns Season 1 Episode 3 Review: John Stewart’s Destiny Doesn’t Look So Bright

Lanterns Season 2 Episode 3 not only does a great job connecting the pieces of the previous episodes, but creates a solid origin story for John Stewart. It’s been a while since an origin episode worked for me, but I’m very happy with Lanterns‘ execution.

The pilot episode‘s opening had me slightly concerned since it seemed like it was so sudden with John’s father testing him. However, Lanterns Season 2 Episode 3 “OutKast” not only expands on why this happened, but also the circumstances that John’s parents faced.

Here, we learn that John’s father was actually one of the candidates to become a Green Lantern. However, he was absolutely terrified, which caused him to be declined and led to Hal Jordan’s recruitment. Due to this, one Guardian decides to mend the bridge with John’s parents.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t John’s father who wanted to toughen John up; it was his mother. That conversation she has with the Guardian not only explains why John’s parents had him go through all that, but also has a deeper societal message.

The racial themes of Lanterns Season 2 Episode 3 are definitely emphasized here through John’s parents guiding him. They act like any tiger parent would, pushing their child to become what they want him to be. They want him to live up to those expectations because, in those circumstances, they were looked down upon.

Yet, John shows those emotional undertones that he’s not okay with living like this. Although John’s parents are deeply devoted to making John fearless, you get a sense that they may be somewhat abusive to John. This feels apparent through John’s mother, who constantly tests him.

In fact, it was John’s mother that wanted him to act as target practice so he could prove he didn’t show fear. It recontextualizes that opening moment because you’d expect his father to be the one who came up with the idea. However, his mother being the one to think it up on the spot makes you less sympathetic for her.

That said, Lanterns Season 2 Episode 3 “OutKast” does still make time for John’s mother to rationalize herself. She’s sincere when she advises John about becoming that inspiration for younger boys, but with a slight desperation. She just wants John to get his fair shot since no one else would let them.

When John explains this to the Guardian, who was there when he was a baby, there’s this hidden disdain he has. Even the Guardian knows that John shows some distate for being that isolated from his family. That said, it doesn’t compare to how he was dishonorably discharged from his military position.

John’s mission entailed him keeping eye on a terrorist, but his arrival was messy and his downtime did a number on him. However, when the target was eventually close, Hal Jordan decided to intervene last minute, destroying the compound and arresting the terrorist himself. Due to this, the blame was placed on John, but he was secretly beloved by his surperiors.

This entire sequence hammers in those cultural ideas of stereotypical expectations. Considering where John, a light skin Marine who’s a nobody, and Hal, a white man popularized thanks to his Green Lantern ring, were here, it plays into that idea of “wrong place, wrong time.”

John getting blamed for Hal’s actions is a contributor of the systemic racism, and perhaps classism, that’s present in Lanterns. Plus, with the Macons’ ideology basically being conservatism, it’s hard to not see the effects of racism playing a role in John and Hal’s present.

However, this turns out to be a positive for John since Hal was going against the Guardians’ orders to involve himself on Earth. Due to this, John is given the choice to replace Hal under the guise that he’ll be under Hal’s tutelage for the time being. It doesn’t sit well with his parents in the present when Hal comes to visit.

Those last few moments of Lanterns Season 2 Episode 3, when John does test the ring, adds some optimism to this episode. With all the coldness John’s parents have shown, it’s satisfying to see John finally get his shot when he’s at art school. That scene with, presumably, one of the Guardians plays out exactly as you would, but in a way that still feels emotional.

At this point, I’m left wondering whether or not John told his parents about the Guardians’ plans. Nonetheless, Lanterns Season 2 Episode 3 perfectly establishes John Stewart’s origin story through a culturally refreshing perspective.

Stray Thoughts:

• Hal Jordan going against the Guardians’ orders is a 100% on him and I wonder how this’ll play out later on.
• The episode’s title, “OutKast”, definitely has more than one meaning here even though they played two of their songs.
• I’m surprised we got hints at John Stewart’s architectural background since his origin mostly focuses on his military past.
• I was hoping we’d get to see a front-facing reveal of the Guardian, but it’s also weird that they can change form.
• I also like how they connected the bird construct from Season 1 Episode 2 and how it sewed doubt into John’s beliefs of hope.

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

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