Something Afoot in Rural Nebraska

After Supergirl was met with, at best, lukewarm reception at the Box Office, there were some who were proclaiming that “the DC UniverseThe successor to WB's failed cinematic universe, the DCEU. Headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran, this new DC Universe carries over some continuity from the former film and TV series while crafting a new, rebooted universe for the future. is dead.” Those who wanted nothing more than to see the new cinematic universe, spearheaded by James Gunn and Peter Safran, go down in flames were gleeful at the fact that Supergirl bombed, deciding that this was the obvious harbinger of the co-heads' firings. Obviously the DCU was flawed from the beginning, they thought, and there was no way it could ever recover from the hit.

Of course that’s silly. Cinematic universes take time to build, and Gunn and Safran have been clear from the beginning that they’d be taking big chances, and bigger risks, with the DCU, not just to set it apart from the DC Extended UniverseStarted as DC Comics' answer to the MCU, the early films in the franchise stumbled out of the gates, often mired in grim-dark storytelling and the rushed need to get this franchise started. Eventually, though, the films began to even out, becoming better as they went along. Still, this franchise has a long way to go before it's true completion for Marvel's universe. that came before, but also from the Marvel Cinematic UniverseWhen it first began in 2008 with a little film called Iron Man no one suspected the empire that would follow. Superhero movies in the past, especially those not featuring either Batman or Superman, were usually terrible. And yet, Iron Man would lead to a long series of successful films, launching the most successful cinema brand in history: the Marvel Cinematic Universe. as well. This was getting built over time, and the key pieces would fall into place as the universe came into focus for viewers. Supergirl failing to take off doesn’t stop the next works that were already in production, and there was already another piece falling into place within months of Supergirl: the new HBO series Lanterns.

Yes, a Green LanternMade up of aliens from sectors scross space, the Green Lantern Corp. defends the universe against threats with the power of the Green Light of Willpower. show, illustrating that enough time had passed since the Box Office failure of Green Lantern back in 2011 and that we could finally start expecting these ring-slingers to show up in movies and shows again. And while there were some in the fanbase that weren’t happy the hero (well, heroes, really) were getting “shoved” over to a television series, there were plenty that were interested in seeing just what a long-form Green Lantern adventure could look like. And from this first episode (and the reviews of those who have already been able to see more of the series), the DCU is back on track (no matter what the angry online trolls might say).

Lanterns is focused on Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), a former USAF pilot turned intergalactic space cop serving in the Green Lantern Corps., and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), a Marine and new backup recruit for Hal, should anything ever happen. In 2016, where most of this episode takes place, Hal is forced to train John in the use of the ring, but he’s not at all happy about it. He’s especially acerbic, dismissive and rude to John, seemingly hating the fact that he has to train this recruit (although the specific reasons for his anger aren’t yet clear).

After letting John borrow the ring for a short stint, the two get a message from Hal’s ring. A holographic projection of Hal reports that, “there’s hail in Rushville, Nebraska,” which sends Hall flying off to the town while John is forced to follow being (by plane, and then by car). What they find when they arrive is the site of a mass shooting, seemingly having taken place at a high school football game for unknown reasons. But Hal has his doubts, with the evidence not lining up. Something about this whole scene feels wrong. Alien, almost. And if it is alien, that’s Hal’s jurisdiction. He just had to get onto the case, with John in tow, to see what’s going on.

Considering the works we’ve seen in the DCU before this, Lanterns is a big swing. It’s not a big, superheroic adventure, like Superman, nor an intergalactic revenge quest, like Supergirl. This series sets itself apart from the various movies and shows we’ve seen before (even the likes of Creature Commandos and Peacemaker), as it sets its own path for superheroic storytelling. Honestly, it’s pretty well unlike anything we’ve seen from any of the superhero cinematic universe shows before, and that’s a good thing. It shows the depth and breadth possible in a cinematic universe, and it lets those in the audience know that even if they don’t like one thing from the franchise, there will be more, and different, stories coming up around the bend.

Inspired by the likes of True Detective, Lanterns is a crime thriller, first and foremost. Yes it has an intergalactic space cop, and his trainee, as the protagonists, but this is a murder mystery first. The villains might be aliens (although we’re too early in the story to know how that’s going to play out) but the story is relatably down to Earth. A grizzled cop, his brash partner, and a long case ahead of them with no clear suspects or easy answers. This first episode sets the stage for the case ahead, and it raises a lot of questions that only add to the mystery.

What this first episode really does is get us into the headspace of the two characters. Chandler’s Hal is moody, temperamental, and pretty gruff, but there’s a sarcastic charisma to the character that works. Hal is a character that could come across as too put upon, too angry, but because of Chandler’s deft touch with his performance, the character is actually kind of likeable, even when he’s being a real shit head. And, the episode makes it clear that for all his attitude, he’s actually really good at his job as a Green Lantern.

Pierre’s John, meanwhile, is far more straight-laced. He wants the job as a Green Lantern, and he’s been practically training for it his whole life. He’s learned, by his father’s hand, to have no fear, but he also has a well developed sense of duty. He’s the straight man to Hal’s world weary performance, and the two do balance each other out pretty well. You get the vibe from the two of them that they could actually be good partners on the job, as the respect John has for Hal (even when it’s not always earned) is there. If only they could actually figure out how to work together.

The vibe of True Detective comes through not just with the characters – the two of them not getting along together, but still having a case to work – but also from the feel of the show itself. A case in a small town in rural America. Locals that don’t want the cops around. A mystery bigger than it might seem at first glance. And, the story does take place over a span of years, although it’s hard to say just how much of the series will take place in 2016, and how much in 2026, from this first episode. It teases us with information, but isn’t willing to play its cards yet… just like with True Detective.

I don’t want to make it sound like Lanterns is unlike any superhero series we’ve seen before, mind you. I’d say a close parallel would be Watchmen, the HBO sequel series that came out in 2019. That show, too, featured a twisty case in rural America, but it also had a larger story it had to tie into to justify its own existence. Here, Lanterns can do its own thing. It’s part of a larger cinematic universe, yes, but its story ambitions are focused inwards, not outward. It may take place in the same universe as Superman, but this first episode makes it clear we’re getting a different kind of story. Down to earth, without a lot of bright colors and cute dogs (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Honestly, this first episode makes clear that, above all else, this is going to be a solid take on Green Lantern. It distances itself nicely from what came before for the character in previous media while still feeling connected to the characters and stories we know. This episode sets a solid benchmark for the series to come, getting viewers sucked in and ready for the grand mystery. And with seven episodes to go, I’m very eager to see what comes next.