Lanterns Episode 4 Twist Reveals Zoe as the Manhunter

Contains spoilers for “Lanterns” Season 1, Episode 4 — “The Weenie”

For much of the first half of “Lanterns” Season 1, the show has kept viewers guessing about the true nature of its shadowy villain, Manhunter. Now, the secret behind the extraterrestrial threat lurking in Rushville, Nebraska appears to have been exposed — assuming, of course, the series is not setting up another major reversal before the finale. By the closing moments of Episode 4, “The Weenie,” Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) piece together that Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan) is the Manhunter. On paper, it is a bold reveal, especially since the very same episode seems to show Zoe being destroyed by a deadly satellite strike. Still, for anyone tracking the clues closely, the twist is less shocking than the series wants it to feel.

The warning signs begin almost as soon as William Macon (Garret Dillahunt) enters the story. He is presented as intensely paranoid, suspicious of outsiders and fiercely protective of his compound. And yet, he openly acknowledges that he is not truly the one in control. Zoe, meanwhile, moves through the place with remarkable freedom. She interacts with the Green Lanterns without much restriction, despite William’s obvious distrust of them, and her relationship with John unfolds in surprisingly public fashion without provoking the kind of reaction one might expect from him. Taken together, those details strongly suggest that Zoe holds far more power than she lets on. If there was still any uncertainty, her words shortly before the satellite incident come close to confirming that something much larger is happening beneath the surface.

In that sense, the evidence has been hiding in plain sight. That may also explain why “Lanterns” briefly appears to kill Zoe off and positions the fake Hector Hammond (Jason Manuel Olazábal) as the obvious culprit. The move gives the audience a reason to look elsewhere, if only for a moment, while the real answer sits just out of focus.

Then again, it would be risky to take any “Lanterns” reveal at face value. The series is part mystery thriller, and it comes from co-creator Damon Lindelof, a storyteller known for misdirection, layered reveals and late-stage narrative upheaval. With credits that include “Lost,” “The Leftovers,” “Watchmen,” and “Mrs. Davis,” Lindelof has built a career on keeping audiences uncertain until the last possible moment. With half of “Lanterns” Season 1 still ahead, Zoe’s apparent unmasking as Manhunter may be the truth — or just the next carefully placed trap.

So for the sake of speculation, let’s take a look at who else could still turn out to be the Manhunter. Perhaps it’s William Macon after all — he certainly seems strange enough to be a robot from another world in disguise. There’s also Antaan (Paul Ben-Victor), whose true motives may not be what they appear. Perhaps it could be Jason Ritter’s seemingly harmless Billy Macon, or even Kelly Macdonald’s Sheriff Kerry Kane. What about Laura Linney’s Guardian of the Universe? How do we know she’s who she claims to be?

You get the picture. It could be anyone, really. The show could even take the “creepy child” route and reveal the Manhunter as Cary Christopher’s unassuming young Noah Macon. Didn’t he learn to throw that football a little bit too quickly after John gave him some pointers?

“Lanterns” Season 1 is available on HBO and HBO Max.