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This review is based on the first seven episodes of Lanterns.
The DCU has got off to a mixed start. While Superman soared, Supergirl was more the woman of yesterday than tomorrow.
Yet I’ve enjoyed the small screen offerings from this nascent shared universe.
Creature Commandos impressed me with its weird confidence, while Peacemaker season 2 didn’t exactly dazzle but definitely entertained.
So with that in mind, I was quite excited for the new show Lanterns, which I was assured was like an odd mix of True Detective and a space adventure like Doctor Who.
So does Lanterns burn bright or is it another dim bulb?
Well, I’m pleased to say that in the blackest night of the streaming era, this is one show I’m happy to give a ring-ing endorsement (especially episodes three, five, and seven).
But I’m getting ahead of myself; what’s this sci-fi thriller about? The show follows two Green Lanterns – think of them as space cops armed with a powerful ring that gives them incredible powers.
Our heroes are partners Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), a cocksure veteran who doesn’t play by the rules, and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), whose laces are so straight you could use them as a ruler.
While training one day, Hal gets a report of a mass shooting in Rushville, Nebraska and flies off to investigate, convinced this is no run-of-the-mill spree killing.
DirectorJames Hawes, Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, Alik Sakharov
WritersChris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, Tom King
CastKyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Nathan Fillion
Release dateLanterns premieres on HBO on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in the US and August 17 in the UK.