To say that HBOMax’s new series, ‘Lanterns,’ has been stunning would be the understatement of the century. The show has been exceptional to say the least. While the episodes to this juncture have been exceptional, they had never quite reached the point of perfection. That was until the 6th entry in the season dropped, giving audiences an hour of purely perfect television. Providing what felt like a season premiere to the final 3 episodes, “Bad Optics” masterfully weaves the threads that will lead audiences to the end of the season while providing by far the best character development and interactions that audiences have seen to this juncture. ‘Lanterns’ has been exceptional, but with “Bad Optics,” ‘Lanterns’ was perfection.
After ping ponging across time, ‘Lanterns’ has finally landed at the doorstep of Hal Jordan’s corpse and into ‘Lanterns’ latest mystery: who killed Hal? After receiving a call from Sherriff Kane, John returns to Rushville in search of Hal’s killer and to put their past to rest. This episode gracefully weaves together the various plot points that have been introduced throughout the season, hurtling audiences directly towards what will be an explosive finale. No stone was left unturned as each micropoint made by the show paid off in this episode. Nothing was by accident. All of it was deliberate. ‘Lanterns,’ hands down, has the best writing staff in TV right now.
Green Lantern Corps
For the first time this season, audiences were given a true overarching view of the Green Lanterns. “Bad Optics” had not one, not two, but three different Lanterns and at no point did it feel like too much. Each Lantern was unapologetically themselves while interacting amongst each other. True, audiences didn’t see Hal interact with Guy, but they were given Guy’s recollection of his encounter. Lanterns, by their very nature, are pit against one another. This created a dynamic within the show that allowed for three separate people to embody the same responsibility, but in completely different ways. This was ‘Lanterns’ at it’s best.
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Within the dynamics of the Green Lanterns, one thing became very clear: John Stewart is the future Green Lantern of the DC Cinematic Universe. Aaron Pierre held his own throughout this episode outstandingly. The need for both Hal and John to be on screen for the show to hit it’s true stride each episode dissipated, giving Pierre and Stewart their true moment to shine. Of course, the chemistry between Chandler and Pierre is at an all time high and throwing Nathan Fillion into the mix added, not subtracted, to the sum of the show, but it’s Pierre’s Stewart who has emerged as THE Green Lantern. Given his performance over this season, audiences are in for career defining performances from Pierre in the near future.
All Roads Lead to Rushville
Following what felt like a season finale with what felt like a season premiere within a single season is a gamble. The potential for so many things to go wrong becomes magnified tenfold when the question becomes “well…what comes next.” That was my personal issue with the previous episode. I just couldn’t figure out where the show was headed. “Bad Optics” put any concern that most audience members had to rest. Utilizing call backs, head nods, and easter eggs throughout the episode, ‘Lanterns’ connected each thread and sinew that it had developed over the season into a beautiful tapestry primed and ready for the impending finale. Any loose threads from here on out should be considered by design and NOT a plothole. ‘Lanterns’ has proven over the course of this season that they will leave no stone unturned and no loose end unresolved.
Part of what has made ‘Lanterns’ must see TV is it’s masterful use of pacing. With lots of talk about episodes being moved around before the start of the season, it’s clear the showrunners have a plan in mind that they are executing flawlessly, with “Bad Optics” being by far the best paced of the series overall. The show feels like a bomb that’s been intimately and delicately put together over time and it’s now primed to explode over the next two Sundays. Never giving too much or too little, ‘Lanterns’ has kept audiences engaged by piecemealing the information together by design. As much as many would claim they know where the show is headed, they don’t. ‘Lanterns’ has developed a top tier, well paced mystery thriller that has me excited for what comes after a finale that is still two weeks away.
Final Thought:
Providing the much needed shot of adrenaline that the DC Cinematic Universe has sorely needed, ‘Lanterns’ is an absolute rock star of a TV series. It’s well paced mystery and high octane action have made it must see TV weekly. With it’s latest addition, ‘Lanterns’ delivered a perfectly packaged and paced hour of television that ranks amongst the very best to grace the small screen, leaving audiences locked in for the upcoming finale.
