Breaking Down the Ending of ‘Lanterns’

Who was the second undercover Manhunter?

With the multiple timelines and an understated approach to some traditionally flamboyant DC comics lore, Lanterns has not been the easiest show to follow in a good way. Watch the episode once to soak in the vibe, and then a second time to make sure you did catch everything that happened.

Congruous to every other episode this season, Lanterns finale was pretty lowkey compared to some superhero shows—and that’s just fine! This is a television show that knows it’s a television show. Making a six-hour movie is actually not the goal. Finales don’t actually have to end with world-ending action sequences and huge explosions. They just have to wrap up the season’s storylines and get you hyped for the next go-around. The season finale of Lanterns absolutely did just that.

We learned that Zoe was secretly an alien earlier in the season. The finale revealed that the second, and sneakier Manhunter, was Kelly’s son Noah! He has two moms in a way that only comics could come up with–somehow Zoe’s Manhunter healing powers impregnated Kelly back in the day. Flash forward to the recent past, and he’s the one who broke Sinestro out. He’s conflicted about his Manhunter programming and asks John to kill him, which John of course refuses to do. The threat of evil, and potential for good, remains in Rushville. But Noah’s not the one who killed Hal Jordan—even though that’s what he confesses to John.

John Johnson/HBO Max

How did Hal Jordan die?

We learn in the finally that Kerry, of all people, was Hal’s murderer. After getting divorced and rebounding with Hal for quite some time, she shot him to protect her son when he discovered his Manhunter identity. She’s known all along. So that’s how he died. In a football stadium, of all places! You can’t do that to Kyle Chandler!

Speaking of, does this mean that this is the last we’ll see of Chandler’s Green Lantern in the show? Not only did Hal die, but after charging his ring in the present John “erased” the helpful hologram Hal. Is he gone for good? Probably not, but be careful what you wish for. Sinestro claims that he can resurrect him, and there is such a thing as a zombie Black Lantern. He could very easily come back wrong.

And sidebar... was that romance really worth it? Even before she killed Hal, Kerry’s entire town hated him and tried to burn him alive in his own home. Yeesh!

John Johnson/HBO Max

What’s the deal with the Yellow Lantern?

John’s ring may glow green, but the lantern he got from Sinestro and used to charge his ring was yellow. There is a group of Yellow Lanterns in the comics who derive their power from fear. What John’s doing is pretty much brand new as far as the lore is concerned.

So, is John Stewart fully a Green Lantern now?

Not really. At the end of the episode, he tells Guy Gardiner that he’s taking over as Earth’s protector. He’s doing it his way as an “independent contractor” with a little bit of fearless and a little bit of fear. Is it weird that this reminded me of the Monsters, Inc. ending? Anyway...

When Aaron Pierre shows up in Man of Tomorrow next summer and/or in a potential Lanterns season 2 he will be the current DCU’s Lantern. He’s just not totally yellow or green. We know that he’s extra gifted with his powers. Remember the bird? If anyone can handle the green and yellow remix, it’s him. The series has not been renewed for a season 2 yet, but come on! Can we get on that ASAP, please?