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Season 1 – Lanterns

Play trailer 2:35 Poster for Season 1 – Lanterns Next Ep Sep 13 Drama Sci-Fi Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 111 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Based on the DC comic "Green Lantern," drama series "Lanterns" follows new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan. These two intergalactic cops are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. In association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, the HBO series provides a fresh live action take on the popular universe and its characters. Emmy nominee Chris Mundy serves as showrunner and executive producer for this original detective story.
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Lanterns — Season 1

Lanterns — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Lanterns lights the way to a controlled and fantastical escape, in which Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre bring audiences into their world of wonder through fearless performances, grounded writing, and charismatic chemistry.

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Audience Says

Tempering superhero spectacle with prestige drama, Lanterns is a well-written mystery that shines thanks to the magnetic alchemy between Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre.

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Critics Reviews

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Melanie McFarland Salon.com Aug 25
The world of “Lanterns” prefers to be bracingly honest about our false assumptions about heroism and whether the people we deem to be noble really are... That is what makes a Lantern a hero, and this adaptation one of the best of its kind in a long time. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers The Travers Take Aug 21
3/4
Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre go way beyond the call of comic-book duty to bring humanity to the usual alien mashup. Much appreciated. Go to Full Review
J. Kelly Nestruck Globe and Mail Aug 21
The Green Lantern mythos is too goofy to be grounded no matter how much swearing or sex is added in. I’d rather HBO had hired co-creator Damon Lindelof to make another season of Watchmen instead. Go to Full Review
Jeanine T. Abraham VisAbleBlackwoman (Medium) 4d
5/5
DC Comics' Lanterns episode three, written by Vanessa Baden (Animal Kingdom, writing credit), is some of the best writing I’ve experienced on a TV series this year. Go to Full Review
André Didyme-Dôme Rolling Stone en Español 5d
The series stumbles over exposition, loses momentum, and sometimes mistakes solemnity for slowness. But Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre sustain their conflict with a humanity that no glowing construct could replace. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Sean O'Connell CBR Aug 28
9/10
A mature, dark mystery that’s carried by two impeccably cast leads that packs numerous surprises in every episode. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Anthony R @Bulldogking61 1d I made it to 2 episodes. Kyle Chandler is great, the rest of the show is complete racism whining, dumb plot... it's just bad. Do the writers even know how rings work? See more Wesley Iuri S @RT70439033 1d Falta aspecto espacial na série, há um exagero no uso de visual humano para os alienígenas e destruíram completamente o Hal Jordan, que já foi o maior Lanterna Verde da DC. See more Dean R @Deanr46 1d I don't understand why writers keep reshaping beloved characters around divisive political beliefs. Do they enjoy the outrage and loss of viewers? The frustrating thing is Ep 3 was compelling. The damage John's parents inflicted on him is right there. But the official podcast makes the writers' intent much clearer. Vanessa Baden Kelly connects their behaviour to "Black excellence" and the belief that Black children must be better to succeed. John Stewart doesn't need childhood abuse to make him exceptional, or Hal diminished to make him worthy. The idea that traumatising a Black child can be partly justified because that's what it takes to produce greatness isn't progressive. It's an ugly racial stereotype dressed up as empowerment. There was a brilliant tragedy here: parents so convinced their child was destined for greatness that they damaged him trying to prepare him. Race didn't need to justify it. Victimhood disguised as plot. Green Lantern has been mishandled yet AGAIN. See more Joseph O @Jolivarez 1d Started off decent. A little slow but building up. Dork really get caught up in all the politics and what not. After episode three just seems a little too much hate so I’m gonna find a better show to watch See more Philip D @RT06430278 1d I'm having a blast with this. Aaron Pierre is a perfect John Stewart, they have fully won me over with his characterization after episode 3. Can't wait to see where the show ultimately ends up going - there's been so much chatter online that I've been forced to block certain feeds out in fear of spoilers. See more MystCraft T @MystCraft24 1d making a show about Green Lanterns who are space cops dealing with extraterrestrial (outer space) threats is fucking genius. anyone crying about John Stewart's background being too racist or political anything does not know that this has been the character since the existence See more Read all reviews
Lanterns — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 16, 2026 Pilot After a fatal shooting, Green Lantern Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart set out to prove it was an extraterrestrial event. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 23, 2026 Trust Fall Green Lantern Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart investigate a deadly shooting to prove an alien force was involved. Details Episode 3 Aired Aug 30, 2026 OutKast John's parents train him to become the perfect candidate for the next Green Lantern. However, as John trains under Hal, he is disillusioned by Hal's teachings. Details Episode 4 Airs Sep 6 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 5 Airs Sep 13 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 6 Airs Sep 20 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 7 Airs Sep 27 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 8 Airs Oct 4 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 9 Aired Aug 14, 2026 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 10 Airs undefined Lanterns Join Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre and the creatives behind Lanterns as they explore the contentious relationship between Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Details
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Season Info

Director
Geeta Vasant Patel, James Hawes, Stephen Williams
Executive Producer
Chris Mundy
Screenwriter
Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, Tom King
Network
HBO Max
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 16, 2026
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