Lathspell said:

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I'm in alignment with that thought process. I just read AgGrad's initial post as minimizing it a little more than I did.

As I've already said in one of my previous posts, my ultimate judgement will come down to how John and Hal are ultimately portrayed by the end of the season. I will reserve my final judgement until then because we really have no idea what showrunners are planning. I think several of the current criticisms regarding those characters or the plot, as has been revealed up to this point, are premature.

I will agree that, outside of The Batman or The Penguin show, I'm more invested in this than I have been in any other DCEU thing since probably Man of Steel.

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The Batman is the bar right now for me. Penguin is close, but I have a hard time not thinking of those as one. Lanterns is obviously a different vibe, so it'll be hard to compare, but we still have a while to go.

I'll caveat in that I didn't consider the Christopher Nolan Batman movies in that because they were stand alone. They were Batman movies and not DC Universe movies in my eyes.

AgGrad99 said:

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I didnt say it was a throw-away comment. It was just mentioned by her a couple times as an additional consideration.

I agree with your feelings, towards her comments. And I too, roll my eyes at people who always bring their situation back to race. But in reality, people still feel that way, so it's not out of character.

Was it a dumb footnote to their story? Probably. But in no way did I come out of that episode, feeling like his upbringing/training was about his race. It was about him not fearing anything, so he'd be chosen.

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That's literally what the whole episode was about, straight from the writer and DC studios itself. If you didn't pull that from watching the episode, I guess kudos for being extremely colorblind. But then again, it appears the writer wants the episode to highlight how different a bkack man would need to be raised to become a superhero, so she'd likely be disappointed you didn't pick up on that.

Average Joe said:

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FL_Ag1998 said:

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Saxsoon said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Vince Blake said:

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Finally got around to watching episode 3. While there were some good parts, overall that was a bad episode. I don't know the lore behind the character but John's backstory is just dumb. I could get it if the dad's rejection drove him crazy to put his son through all this training. The mom character was just bad. If you want to use a character to voice the challenges of a race of people, fine whatever, but when that same character robs her child of agency and puts him in dangerous situations, it really doesn't land the same. Also I feel like the backstory robbed John of a hero's journey of developing his own mastery of fear rather than just his parents shot apples off his head and made him walk home from the hood at night so he's not afraid of anything. It makes John look like this plastic android of a character.

I felt this episode set the show back and it wasn't needed or could have been done a lot better.

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I didnt think they harped on the racial challenges. She just mentioned it as an additional consideration, when they rejected her husband.

Not saying you are, but it seems like the racial component is being highlighted by by some posters, to a greater extent than the show did. The mere mention of it doesn't mean it's the characters sole motivation. It wasn't the main focus of the family/mom. But it was a consideration...which isn't something out of the ordinary in today's world.

She watched what it did to her husband, and was bound and determined to make sure it didnt happen to her son as well. She was forcing him to be great....as defined by the beings who would select him. She sees he has the chance to be the protector of the world, revered by all...and is taking drastic measures to insure he's chosen.

And I dont think it robbed him of his hero's journey. They are contrasting the free wheeling, improvising style of Hal, compared to John's robotic compliance. It's half the battle between John and Hal, and explains why he is the way he is.

It also sets up a showdown. Hal is thinking for himself, doing what he thinks is right. John is following instructions. Apparently his mentor doesnt think John is 'on their side'. I'm curious to find otu who is right/wrong...and if John can break ranks, if it's the right thing to do. Or will his upbringing force him to simply do as he's told.

It's like the scene when they first got to the stadium. Hal saw the Alien, and was keeping his distance. John wanted to follow the chain of command and notify the sheriff. Turned out Hal's approach was the right one.

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Great post.

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It's a great post...unless you hear multiple interviews by the writer of this episode and the actors which completely contradict it.

John Stewart being black was the main driving factor for this writer's approach to this episode.

Its expressed clearly in interviews and articles written about the episode which reaffirm the message from the episode. There's also an official DC studios showhost, Fantastic Frankey, telling everyone on social media that yes, Hal Jordan is racist and we should just accept it.

This isn't something we're making up or exaggerating. You can be ok with her message, but to claim its not there or we're making it up is patently false.

https://slate.com/culture/2026/08/lanterns-show-hbo-green-lantern-episode-3-john-stewart-aaron-pierre-black-race.html

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So, should race never be a plot point because people don't want to be reminded it exists?

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Nice try at a gotcha, lol, but who said that? I was simply pointing out that the writer was 100% intending for race to be a driving force of this episode.

Saxsoon said:

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FL_Ag1998 said:

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Saxsoon said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Vince Blake said:

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Finally got around to watching episode 3. While there were some good parts, overall that was a bad episode. I don't know the lore behind the character but John's backstory is just dumb. I could get it if the dad's rejection drove him crazy to put his son through all this training. The mom character was just bad. If you want to use a character to voice the challenges of a race of people, fine whatever, but when that same character robs her child of agency and puts him in dangerous situations, it really doesn't land the same. Also I feel like the backstory robbed John of a hero's journey of developing his own mastery of fear rather than just his parents shot apples off his head and made him walk home from the hood at night so he's not afraid of anything. It makes John look like this plastic android of a character.

I felt this episode set the show back and it wasn't needed or could have been done a lot better.

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I didnt think they harped on the racial challenges. She just mentioned it as an additional consideration, when they rejected her husband.

Not saying you are, but it seems like the racial component is being highlighted by by some posters, to a greater extent than the show did. The mere mention of it doesn't mean it's the characters sole motivation. It wasn't the main focus of the family/mom. But it was a consideration...which isn't something out of the ordinary in today's world.

She watched what it did to her husband, and was bound and determined to make sure it didnt happen to her son as well. She was forcing him to be great....as defined by the beings who would select him. She sees he has the chance to be the protector of the world, revered by all...and is taking drastic measures to insure he's chosen.

And I dont think it robbed him of his hero's journey. They are contrasting the free wheeling, improvising style of Hal, compared to John's robotic compliance. It's half the battle between John and Hal, and explains why he is the way he is.

It also sets up a showdown. Hal is thinking for himself, doing what he thinks is right. John is following instructions. Apparently his mentor doesnt think John is 'on their side'. I'm curious to find otu who is right/wrong...and if John can break ranks, if it's the right thing to do. Or will his upbringing force him to simply do as he's told.

It's like the scene when they first got to the stadium. Hal saw the Alien, and was keeping his distance. John wanted to follow the chain of command and notify the sheriff. Turned out Hal's approach was the right one.

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Great post.

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It's a great post...unless you hear multiple interviews by the writer of this episode and the actors which completely contradict it.

John Stewart being black was the main driving factor for this writer's approach to this episode.

Its expressed clearly in interviews and articles written about the episode which reaffirm the message from the episode. There's also an official DC studios showhost, Fantastic Frankey, telling everyone on social media that yes, Hal Jordan is racist and we should just accept it.

This isn't something we're making up or exaggerating. You can be ok with her message, but to claim its not there or we're making it up is patently false.

https://slate.com/culture/2026/08/lanterns-show-hbo-green-lantern-episode-3-john-stewart-aaron-pierre-black-race.html

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John Stewart's very creation was a political statement

He was unemployed in his debut comic due to higher percentage of black unemployment in that era, he was a black activist and a symbol of black power politics. Stewart had to protect a racist politician who was instigating a race riot. The guardians called Hal a bigot because he didn't like John as his backup.

This show pales in comparison to his original comic debut in terms of black politics. If they didn't touch on it at all would be a disservice

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You're 100% correct. His origin story that you described (which the writer claims didn't exist), was better IMO than the one we got in this show. Its more nuanced and realistic than this ham-fisted nonsensical TV version involving lunatic parents abusing their kid. That's the upbringing of a future serial killer, not a future galactic hero.

No one is saying that tv shows can't touch on race. Its how its done that determines whether its good or not.

Here's a fantastic take on the current problem with the way DC and Lanterns is approaching racism in the Green Lantern story.



Ya'll keep misleadingly claiming that we don't want any mention of race or racism in this show. That's not what we're saying and we've made it very clear its not, so I can only assume it's intentional so that you can avoid acknowledging our point and continue to try to "win" this discussion.

We're simply saying there's an authentic and nuanced way to handle discussions of racism in tv shows, and Lanterns is the exact opposite of that. I actually lived every minute of the 1990's as well and racism was handled a thousand times better in movies and t v shows back then.

Here's a perfect example of what I'm talking about.



Just these few comic panels he mentions puts this show to shame.

Lathspell said:

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The point is, in today's media, it is ALWAYS the plot point when there's a black person involved. And it gets more and more ridiculous as they buy-in to critical race theory.

Movies like Hidden Figures, The Green Book, Remember the Titans, etc. These all centered around race. They are all fantastic movies because they were based in reality. Critical race theory is NOT reality. It is complete bull**** that I, and many others, will outright reject.

ETA: And if a movie were put out that portrayed ALL black people as poor, or violent, or otherwise lesser-than, I would reject that as well. CRT causes brainrot.

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I'm 27 and basically all of DC media while I was growing up had John as the main GL. When I was a kid, he was just a marine veteran. In his original debut, he was kind of portrayed as a 'black power' type character. That was all retconned by the time I was getting into DC. This show seems to be kind of mixing the two and it's only three episodes in so we have no idea where it will end up. My biggest issue with John's portrayal, so far, is the decision to make him an 'artist' rather than an architect. I don't see why this change was made, especially with there being another human GL who is an artist.

I thought it was made obvious in this episode that his artistic ability is what allows him to create very intricate things with the ring, though I would assume a similar assumption could be made of an architect who is more on the creative side. Artist just assumes the creativity part.

Quote:

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If Im wrong, so be it. I'll just keep watching the show and enjoying it.

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No one here is saying you can't, so if you enjoy it, more power to you.

FL_Ag1998 said:

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Saxsoon said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Vince Blake said:

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Finally got around to watching episode 3. While there were some good parts, overall that was a bad episode. I don't know the lore behind the character but John's backstory is just dumb. I could get it if the dad's rejection drove him crazy to put his son through all this training. The mom character was just bad. If you want to use a character to voice the challenges of a race of people, fine whatever, but when that same character robs her child of agency and puts him in dangerous situations, it really doesn't land the same. Also I feel like the backstory robbed John of a hero's journey of developing his own mastery of fear rather than just his parents shot apples off his head and made him walk home from the hood at night so he's not afraid of anything. It makes John look like this plastic android of a character.

I felt this episode set the show back and it wasn't needed or could have been done a lot better.

---

I didnt think they harped on the racial challenges. She just mentioned it as an additional consideration, when they rejected her husband.

Not saying you are, but it seems like the racial component is being highlighted by by some posters, to a greater extent than the show did. The mere mention of it doesn't mean it's the characters sole motivation. It wasn't the main focus of the family/mom. But it was a consideration...which isn't something out of the ordinary in today's world.

She watched what it did to her husband, and was bound and determined to make sure it didnt happen to her son as well. She was forcing him to be great....as defined by the beings who would select him. She sees he has the chance to be the protector of the world, revered by all...and is taking drastic measures to insure he's chosen.

And I dont think it robbed him of his hero's journey. They are contrasting the free wheeling, improvising style of Hal, compared to John's robotic compliance. It's half the battle between John and Hal, and explains why he is the way he is.

It also sets up a showdown. Hal is thinking for himself, doing what he thinks is right. John is following instructions. Apparently his mentor doesnt think John is 'on their side'. I'm curious to find otu who is right/wrong...and if John can break ranks, if it's the right thing to do. Or will his upbringing force him to simply do as he's told.

It's like the scene when they first got to the stadium. Hal saw the Alien, and was keeping his distance. John wanted to follow the chain of command and notify the sheriff. Turned out Hal's approach was the right one.

---

Great post.

---

It's a great post...unless you hear multiple interviews by the writer of this episode and the actors which completely contradict it.

John Stewart being black was the main driving factor for this writer's approach to this episode.

Its expressed clearly in interviews and articles written about the episode which reaffirm the message from the episode. There's also an official DC studios showhost, Fantastic Frankey, telling everyone on social media that yes, Hal Jordan is racist and we should just accept it.

This isn't something we're making up or exaggerating. You can be ok with her message, but to claim its not there or we're making it up is patently false.

https://slate.com/culture/2026/08/lanterns-show-hbo-green-lantern-episode-3-john-stewart-aaron-pierre-black-race.html

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That person is just an idiot, and thats an idiotic opinion they have.

Lathspell said:

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I thought it was made obvious in this episode that his artistic ability is what allows him to create very intricate things with the ring, though I would assume a similar assumption could be made of an architect who is more on the creative side. Artist just assumes the creativity part.

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I guess, for me, the concept of a Green Lantern that is an architect vs a Green Lantern that is an artist is so similar that it bothers me that they would change it at all.

Makes more sense for a marine to be an artist on the side than an architect on the side is the only thing I can think of.

That's fine and I don't think it would bother me if there wasn't another human GL that is specifically an artist.

leftlane4passing said:

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That's fine and I don't think it would bother me if there wasn't another human GL that is specifically an artist.

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Kyle could be more artsy and abstract while John is rigid and more practical/pragmatic with their respective art

Even though during my one semester as an architecture major, we stayed pretty abstract.

AgfromHOU said:

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leftlane4passing said:

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That's fine and I don't think it would bother me if there wasn't another human GL that is specifically an artist.

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Kyle could be more artsy and abstract while John is rigid and more practical/pragmatic with their respective art

Even though during my one semester as an architecture major, we stayed pretty abstract.

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I feel like the chances of the DCU adding enough Green Lanterns to make it to Kyle is pretty low but still. I know what you mean though.

leftlane4passing said:

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AgfromHOU said:

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leftlane4passing said:

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That's fine and I don't think it would bother me if there wasn't another human GL that is specifically an artist.

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Kyle could be more artsy and abstract while John is rigid and more practical/pragmatic with their respective art

Even though during my one semester as an architecture major, we stayed pretty abstract.

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I feel like the chances of the DCU adding enough Green Lanterns to make it to Kyle is pretty low but still. I know what you mean though.

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Yeah I bet they skip him and Simon and go straight to Jessica or Jo

I'm curious how many here consider Hal to be dead in 2026 and how many think it's the "Hal-ogram"

bearamedic99 said:

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I'm curious how many here consider Hal to be dead in 2026 and how many think it's the "Hal-ogram"

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That thought honestly didn't cross my mind

I was thinking since the robots can assume any shape, maybe at some point the robot is Hal and that is who is there in the stadium.

Something along these lines is where I'm at. Like 51% this 49% he's actually dead.

I've seen some online guesses that the Gaurdian who visted John's parents might actually be a manhunter. That stems primarily from the fact that the comics-based Gaurdians are smaller, while Martian Manhunters are very tall like we saw Laura Linney's character transform into. It would actually add some more wrinkles to the story and possibly tie into a longer running conspiracy by Manhunters to infiltrate Earth.

The creating the episode at the end tells you who the Manhunter is

They certainly want you to believe Zoe is the manhunter.

Maybe the ring should've picked Will Macon, he's truly living without any fear.

That was a good episode. Definitely need more Sinestro.

CharleyKerfeld said:

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Really great episode. They've shown skeptical John enough that you realize he doesn't trust anyone, including what the Guardians are suddenly insisting he has to do with Hal and the ring. Doesn't pass the smell test of the benevolent overseers of the universe.

Love the machine that he built to dig, that was some classic GL. Also the Hector Hammond reference.

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John respects Hal. He clearly isn't going to take the ring, even if he thinks he deserves it. He needs to earn it.

AgLiving06 said:

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CharleyKerfeld said:

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Really great episode. They've shown skeptical John enough that you realize he doesn't trust anyone, including what the Guardians are suddenly insisting he has to do with Hal and the ring. Doesn't pass the smell test of the benevolent overseers of the universe.

Love the machine that he built to dig, that was some classic GL. Also the Hector Hammond reference.

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John respects Hal. He clearly isn't going to take the ring, even if he thinks he deserves it. He needs to earn it.

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I agree. I think John respects/trusts Hal more than anyone else on the show, despite all the reasons in the world to despise him. It definitely feels like the Guardians are trying to get Jon to take over as GL before he and Hal figure out what's going on in Nebraska.

I really want John or someone to say to Laura Linney, "So, you guys are like the Guardians of the Galaxy?" and her saying, "No, no, we can't call ourselves that."