Towards the end of Lanterns’ fifth episode, I had to double-check with myself that this wasn’t the finale of the first season. It probably easily could have been, but nope, we have three more episodes to go. But until then, we got a very action-heavy episode that wrapped up quite a lot of plot points in the 2016 plotline. So was it all action and no substance, or did the episode deliver?
We pick up where we left off last week, with John pinned in the car wreck against the power pole. Unfortunately for him, the car sparked and exploded with him inside. Of course, we know he’s not dead or in any real peril, as we see him in the 2026 segment in the season opener. But dick move on Hal’s part, leaving John for dead like that. Thankfully for him, Zoe came to his “rescue”, but made a point of leaving him to cook in the car just long enough to have his skin peel off and fry his nerve endings. She can fix him, but at what cost? Hal of course, is the cost and considering how he just left John for dead, it probably wouldn’t be a wild take to have John take the ring for himself, leave Hal for dead, and assume the mantle of Green Lantern.
But John gets super jaded this week. Not only did Hal leave him for dead, but he learns that the Manhunters are actually the invention of the Guardians themselves. Between these betrayals, the anger he felt when he was told he would have to take the ring from Hal instead of earning it, and the violence that befell the town of Rushville, John basically gives up. He does eventually take the ring from Hal and kills Zoe, but he ultimately resigns as a Lantern-to-be (thus paving the way for Guy Gardner to become a Lantern in Superman). John probably feels how a lot of Hal Jordan fans feel to be honest, jaded. The move is very out of character, and I can’t help but wonder why they thought having him be okay with killing John would be accepted.
We got a lot more context for Zoe this week before she met her end. She is the benefactor and protector of the town, and as Sheriff Kanementions, they were getting on fine before Hal and John showed up. They had health and security. Sure, it was in exchange for harbouring a supposed intergalactic war criminal, but Zoe hasn’t done any crimes in Rushville, it seems. She was totally using them as a human shield, but for decades, they were safe, so you have to wonder if Hal was in the right for wanting justice against the Manhunter here. I particularly liked the opening scene, which flashed back to Sheriff Kane trying to escape from the criminal underbelly of Gotham, only for Zoe to save her. The cost? The willingness to sever her own finger, which she did. She had no idea Zoe would grow it back for her, but the conviction was enough to cause an alliance between the two of them.
Of course, between Antaan tearing the city apart looking for the Manhunter (whom they believe to be Macon thanks to Hal’s deception) and Macon putting a kill order out on Hal, Rushville becomes a warzone, with laser-missiles destroying whole buildings and armed aliens blowing themselves up. Total chaos. We did learn that Antaan was once married to the person we know as Zoe, but he didn’t buy that Macron was the person he once loved, ultimately ripping his heart out to prove his humanity. Hal ultimately disposes of Antaan but it did feel a bit laissez-faire and unremarkable.
With 2016’s story arc seemingly wrapped, my guess is we’ll now pivot to the 2026 plotline and figure out who wanted Hal dead. My guess: Noah. Both his grandparents were killed this week, and he may harbour some extreme resentment towards Hal as a result. He had a brief scene with Zoe about the importance of listening and remaining hidden, and I think that was more for the audience’s benefit. Plus, he may be part Manhunter if he inherited some of Zoe’s DNA. Stay tuned!
