In the penultimate episode of Lanterns, the series finally delivers the dynamic duo fans have been craving. John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and a digital echo of Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) join forces, and their unlikely partnership cracks open a mystery that changes everything we thought we knew about the late Green Lantern.
The episode opens in 1975, with a young Hal Jordan getting scolded by his coach for hogging the ball during a game. His father, Martin, steps in, not to reprimand but to praise his son's tenacity, leading to a brawl with the coach. Later, at an airstrip, Martin hands Hal a key on a chain, promising it opens a safe with secrets meant only for them. This flashback sets the stage for the present-day investigation, where John and Kerry (Kelly Macdonald) have found that very safe.
Back in 2026, John is trying to get the Halogram to open the safe, but the AI insists on involving the authorities—namely, Kerry. John resists, revealing the complicated history between Hal and Kerry, but the Halogram remains stubborn. On their way to the sheriff's office, John tries to ditch the program by removing the ring, but the Halogram persists, even noting that John's ability to do so is something other Lanterns can't manage—a nod to John's unique potential.
At the sheriff's office, they find a note about a "hat ceremony" at the high school, where Kerry's son Noah (Shea Pritchard) is expected to announce his college plans. John and the Halogram attend, and the AI spots the Green Lantern beacon with names scribbled on it, questioning why everyone seems to resent Hal. Meanwhile, Maggie (Hannah Christine Shetler) confronts John again about his actions on the night of Hal's death, and he hands over his watch as collateral.
After the ceremony, Kerry meets John in the science lab, where she's surprised by the Halogram. The AI asks who killed him, but Kerry deflects. When pressed about Hal's opinion of John, she says Hal saw John's success like his favorite football team—a stark contrast to the bitter Hal we've seen. The Halogram, suspicious, tells John he believes Kerry is the killer and insists they open the safe without her.
Inside the safe, they find a backpack with a gun and a grocery bag containing a portal—similar to the ones the Guardians used. They activate it and step through to a desolate alien world, a graveyard of a civilization destroyed by the Manhunters, as John recalls from his abduction by Antaan (Paul Ben-Victor). In the distance, a green light beckons, and they row across a vast lake toward it, sharing a heart-to-heart about John's meeting with Hal on the night he died.
This episode finally gives us the team-up that makes Lanterns shine, blending detective noir with cosmic sci-fi. The revelation of the alien graveyard and the mysterious green light sets up a finale that promises to answer the biggest questions. As John and the Halogram row toward the light, the series proves it can balance character drama with otherworldly stakes, much like the best detective thrillers.
With only one episode left, Lanterns has officially rewritten its own rules, and the payoff is immense. The partnership between John and the Halogram is the heart of this episode, and it's a reminder of why this series is a must-watch for sci-fi fans. The truth about Hal's past is just the beginning.
