IR TV Review: LANTERNS - EPISODE 1 [DC/HBO]

The concept of a Green Lantern show might need to feel a little more grounded than recent DCU entries. The pilot of “Lanterns” starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan ticks a lot of different boxes but it depends where it is going and the application of the setting. The prologue sets up a cool premise of a mentor/trainee scenario where the mentor doesn’t really care. Lanterns get the moniker “space cops” here which gives it a MIB feel in a way but also because of the pairing. It involves an incident in Nebraska which both functions as a jump off point but also as a centrifuge (and subterfuge).

Before an epilogue, it really delivers on the gumshoe instinct while actually keeping the ring use to a minimum (and thereby giving its use more power) which is both smart but might be a deliberate choice if the finale needs a lot of effects. There are time jumps so it is interesting where certain ideas might end up. Certain characters and their relationships might be too coincidental so it depends how closed this world is. The mythology of being picked as a Lantern also is a little elusive but that might be part of the mystery of the series. While many F bombs are thrown around, it is not trying to be bonkers like "Peacemaker" but that was inherently in that character. “Lanterns” establishes itself as not too much but not too little with its future still open. B+

By Tim Wassberg