“The penultimate episode of Lanterns is emotionally charged, digging into Hal Jordan’s devastating past.”
The end is near; this is already the penultimate episode of Lanterns! Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, it stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, Kelly Macdonald, Garrett Dillahunt, and Poorna Jagannathan. A new episode is now streaming on HBO Max.
HAL JORDAN’S PAST
While we got John Stewart’s full backstory in the third episode of Lanterns, the series hadn’t explored Hal Jordan’s past yet. This episode finally digs a little deeper into it, both through a flashback and conversations with Hal’s younger consciousness from the ring. And Hal Jordan’s story is quite devastating. It’s a tragedy, and looking back at his funeral scene from the previous episode makes this revelation all the more heartbreaking.
He is a broken character even more so than what we thought in the previous episodes. It also reinforces the idea that he was a hero despite his flaws and he really did try to do good. This episode draws a parallel between Hal and his father, and the transition between the flashback and the present day in 2026 really accentuates that—from one grave to another. It offers a possible answer as to who killed Hal Jordan. And it might have been himself. If next week’s finale reveals that he did die by suicide, that would be one of the most heartbreaking superhero deaths ever put on screen. Obviously, it’s just a possible answer and not the full picture, but considering what we see and learn in this episode, it’s certainly plausible. Someone else killing him is also a possibility.
By not giving us the answers right away, the episode lets the audience meditate on the information they’ve been given. It allows viewers to form their own theories before the truth is unveiled. But it also leaves room for the audience to process what they’ve just learned. Hal’s past is emotionally charged. It’s a lot to take in.
HAL AND JOHN
Moreover, this episode gives us a new dynamic between Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Throughout the series, we’ve seen the two constantly at odds. John met Hal when it was already too late, when Hal was at the end of his career and completely lost. So, their relationship could never truly work. John also had his own problems.
But in this episode, we see a different Hal. He compliments John for being able to do something that other Lanterns couldn’t, despite being dead and despite the differences between John and the Hal he once knew. We see a Hal Jordan who could have been the best teacher for John. A Hal who cares. And we see a John who says exactly what he feels and is no longer a mystery to the audience.
It’s soothing to see this new dynamic between the two. Considering John’s past, that’s all he ever needed: a good teacher. But it’s also heartbreaking because Hal is dead. It’s too late for him, but not too late for John.
VERDICT
The penultimate episode of Lanterns is emotionally charged, digging into Hal Jordan’s devastating past. The episode also offers a different dynamic between John Stewart and Hal Jordan, one that is both soothing and heartbreaking.
A new episode of Lanterns is now streaming on HBO Max.
Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
