Lanterns (2026). DC found its best show, but fans are still arguing

Veteran Green Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan arrives in Nebraska. Officially, he is there to investigate. In reality, he is running from his own past. Working alongside him is rookie John Stewart. Young, ambitious, with his own demons. Together they hunt a killer, but the case turns out to be bigger than a simple criminal investigation.

The show's main theme is not rings or superpowers. The main theme is fear. What it means to be fearless. Can fearlessness be taught. And what you lose when you stop being afraid altogether.

What Works

Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. This is the strongest part of the series. Chandler plays a tired man who broke inside long ago but keeps smiling. Pierre plays a young man who still believes in the system. The Hindu writes Chandler and Pierre are so damn good together that they make the whole thing feel considerably more coherent than it actually is. The Playlist notes their oil-and-vinegar chemistry means they do not merely disagree, they steadily bring out each other's deepest insecurities.

The genre. This is not a superhero show in the usual sense. It is a neo-noir detective story that happens to have cosmic characters. The Hindu compares it to True Detective but notes the show sometimes bounces between small-town crime drama and character-heavy television. ScreenRant called it the best superhero TV show of the last seven years, second only to Watchmen.

Emotional depth. The Playlist writes the show puts genre TV to shame because it tells a poignant story about fear, legacy, and breaking cycles. NPR notes the show focuses on the characters' internal battles rather than costumes and special effects.

Ratings and viewership. Critics are almost unanimous. On Rotten Tomatoes the show holds 92-95% from critics. Metacritic gives 72/100 based on 38 reviews. IMDb holds 7.8 out of 10. The premiere amassed 9.3 million global views in just three days, making it DC's biggest debut for a scripted series. Episode 4, The Weenie, earned 8.6 on IMDb, a franchise high.

What Does Not Work

The audience score. This is where the real drama begins. The show launched with an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. After the finale, it plummeted to 70%. This is the lowest audience score among all DCU projects. For comparison, Creature Commandos has 79%, Superman has 90%, even Supergirl has 72%.

The finale. The reason for the drop is the finale. It revealed that Sheriff Kerry Kane murdered Hal Jordan. Fans were furious. One viewer listed iconic villains such as Sinestro, Atrocitus, and Black Hand before expressing frustration. Another called it the stupidest decision, build up and pay off ever. Viewers also criticised the lack of action and poor visual effects. They mocked the wirework during John Stewart's first flight sequence. One fan called it one of the worst flying scenes I have ever seen. Another asked why a CW Supergirl flight from 2015 looked better.

John Stewart never wore the Green Lantern suit. Showrunner Chris Mundy explained the team scrapped the costume because where their story ended, that just felt like the most poetic. But fans widely rejected the reasoning. One fan wrote the finale should have ended with John Stewart's ring lighting up, eyes glowing green, and the suit forming around him.

The pacing. The Hindu notes the writing struggles to make eight episodes feel tight. The detective plot sags at times, and the conspiracy plot is largely forgettable.

The script scatters. The show tries to be a detective story, a drama, a superhero show, and a parable about trauma all at once. The Hindu writes you can feel that tug throughout its eight episodes.

What Critics Say and Ratings

Critics are almost unanimous in praise. Salon called it one of the best of its kind in a long time. ScreenRant predicted it was bound to become the best live-action DC TV show for many. Nerdist writes the finale mostly sticks the landing, with acting and craftsmanship to rival the best of HBO's prestige television.

But there is another side. The San Francisco Chronicle described Chandler's portrayal as unhinged and raw. One of the main reasons was the character's frequent use of profanity. NPR notes fans may be disappointed by the show's brooding tone.

My Verdict

7.5 out of 10

This is the best DC project since the first season of Peacemaker. Maybe even better. Chandler and Pierre carry the show on their shoulders. The themes of fear and fearlessness are handled honestly, without pathos. Visually, the show looks expensive and restrained at the same time.

But the audience score did not drop by accident. The finale genuinely divided viewers. The decision to kill Hal Jordan at the hands of a sheriff with no superpowers feels contentious. The absence of John Stewart's costume throughout the entire season is frustrating. And the script sometimes does not know what it wants to be.

If you are ready for a slow, grim, talky show about people in Green Lantern suits who barely use their rings, this will work for you. If you expected cosmic action, wait for season two.

Will There Be a Season 2

HBO has not confirmed a second season yet. But there are several signals. Co-creator Damon Lindelof confirmed writers are working on ideas for season 2. Showrunner Chris Mundy said the team is happy and proud of season 1, and if there is more, great. According to Variety, the show was averaging over 12 million viewers per episode in the US and 19 million internationally. But HBO may delay a decision due to Skydance's recent acquisition of Warner Bros. .