How Lanterns Wisely Sidesteps Green Lantern’s Biggest Flaw

Spoiler Alert: Key Plot Points of “Lanterns” Season 1, Episode 1 Revealed

Before “Lanterns” even graced screens, it faced a daunting challenge: distinguishing itself from Ryan Reynolds’ much-maligned “Green Lantern” movie of 2011. Known for its over-the-top space operatics and overwhelming use of glowing green visuals, the film set a low bar. This posed the question of how “Lanterns” could harness the thrilling elements of the Green Lantern comics without echoing the previous movie’s excesses.

Thankfully, “Lanterns” strikes a balance. By weaving humor and astute dialogue that acknowledge the comic book’s inherent quirks, it manages to sidestep past mistakes. Audiences are treated to intriguing ring tricks like backup personality copies while grandiose displays of power are infrequent. This measured approach is bolstered by Guy Gardner’s prior demonstrations in “Superman,” which illustrated the DCU power ring’s capabilities. Instead, “Lanterns” occasionally showcases casual uses of the ring, turning it into tools like fake currency or everyday conveniences, with Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) adding levity through his unceremonial flights.

The series thrives on its detective drama essence, aligning perfectly with Hal Jordan’s low-key superhero style. His reluctance to don the Green Lantern suit unless absolutely necessary contributes to the narrative’s tension. When Hal finally employs the power ring in a significant way—thwarting an alien’s self-destruction—it marks a milestone within the storyline, both visually and narratively impactful.

Even had “Lanterns” chosen a heavy reliance on special effects, the risk of drawing links to the 2011 film would have been minimal. While “Green Lantern” was a brightly colored, sci-fi spectacle, “Lanterns” adopts a more restrained, atmospheric approach reminiscent of a “True Detective”-style buddy cop drama. The series thrives on its gritty aesthetics and the intricate, mysterious storytelling flair of Damon Lindelof.

Still, in its efforts to establish its own identity, “Lanterns” has clearly put an impressive amount of work into its understated aesthetics. Perhaps the best comparison point is the brief glimpses the series premiere offers of Hal’s Green Lantern outfit: it’s a far cry from Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern costume (which probably shouldn’t have been greenlit in any sense of the term). Of course, the “Lanterns” trailer had everyone saying the same thing about the show’s Green Lantern suit — namely, that its color scheme isn’t bright enough. You can never please everyone, right?