HBO’s new series Lanterns makes a bold narrative choice by eliminating one of its titular heroes in the premiere episode. The show opens in 2016 with established Green Lantern Hal Jordan training his successor John Stewart as they investigate a shooting in Rushville, Nebraska. However, the episode pivots to 2026, where John returns to the same location to discover Hal’s lifeless body in the football field bleachers, bearing a fatal gunshot wound.
While Hal’s death appears final, the series has plans to continue exploring his character through footage shown in promotional materials depicting events from 2016. This suggests much of the season will unfold across the decade separating the two timelines, with Hal and John working together to solve the initial murder case. Additionally, a digital consciousness of Hal exists within his Power Ring—a backup the character should have maintained regularly but neglected over the years. Though this version could theoretically help John investigate Hal’s death in 2026, a critical problem emerges: Hal’s ring is nowhere to be found at the crime scene.
The mystery deepens when considering that Guy Gardner now serves as Earth’s Green Lantern in the present day. Gardner’s rise to the position raises compelling questions about what transpired during the missing decade and why neither Hal nor John retained the role. Most importantly, viewers must determine who orchestrated Hal’s murder and discover the whereabouts of his missing ring as the season unfolds.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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