HBO's Lanterns is barreling toward its finale, and Episode 5 just delivered a gut punch that rivals any superhero movie's third-act reveal. The quiet town of Rushville finally erupts as Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) close in on the Manhunter—only to discover that the enemy has been hiding in plain sight all along.
The peace Rushville has enjoyed traces back to the day Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan) arrived. Using her mysterious abilities, she healed William Macon (Garret Dillahunt) from cancer, saved Kerry Kane's (Kelly Macdonald) life, and brokered countless other quiet bargains to keep the town safe. No wonder the locals would die to protect her—and for a moment, even John seems tempted to side with her if it means getting the Green Lantern ring. But when the dust settles, and John hands the ring to the Guardians, few characters escape unscathed.
In an exclusive chat ahead of the premiere, Jagannathan and Dillahunt opened up about the episode's jaw-dropping twist, the emotional weight of their scenes, and what it was like bringing this strange, layered story to life.
Poorna Jagannathan Was 'Completely Shattered' by the Twist
Jagannathan admits she had no idea who she was really playing until she read the script's final page. "They didn't tell me! I read it in the script," she says, still sounding amazed. When her character dies in a car crash mid-episode, she assumed her run was over. "I was like, 'Okay, it's been a great ride. Loved being part of this universe. Thank you for having me.'"
Then came the reveal: Zoe is a Manhunter—a revelation that shattered every assumption she'd made. "I just assumed it'd be a man. I assumed it'd be a white guy," she explains. "I was completely shattered when I read that. Everything I knew so far was just gone." She immediately called creator Chris Mundy at midnight, screaming. "I texted, and then I called, and then I screamed, and then I left an audio message. I can't describe the feeling. I've never had it in my entire life."
That sense of shock is exactly what the show aims for, and it's a twist that rivals some of the best twist endings in modern storytelling. For Jagannathan, the challenge was to play Zoe with layers that could hold up to the reveal. "Villain isn't really the right term," she says. "She's an antagonist, but her motives are complex. She genuinely believes she's helping."
Garret Dillahunt's Most Revealing Scene Yet
Dillahunt's Macon has been a study in contradictions—a man who projects strength while hiding deep scars. Episode 5 pushes him to extremes, including a scene where he strips down in front of Hal and John to prove he's not hiding anything. "It is memorable," Dillahunt laughs. "I thought those days were over."
Preparing for the scene meant getting into the best shape of his life. "I knew that Zoe had healed Macon. He still has the scar from his port from when he was battling cancer, and then he became this sort of preternaturally fit old man," he explains. "I felt an onus to try and get in as good a shape as I could, so I worked really hard, and barely ate that day, and sipped water and ate rice cakes."
Jagannathan teases him: "His workout routine to get fit started that morning." But Dillahunt insists it was worth it. "It was a very supportive set and well-lit, and they took good care of me. I think the scene works. It's funny, it's weird, it's uncomfortable." Jagannathan adds, "We were all at the scene. We were like, 'Holy shit, this is happening.' We were so excited."
That willingness to go to uncomfortable places is what makes Lanterns stand out in the superhero genre. As our own analysis of the show's female characters notes, it's breaking the mold by giving its women—and its villains—real depth.
What's Next for Rushville?
With the Manhunter's identity revealed and John's decision to hand over the ring, the stage is set for a chaotic finale. But as Jagannathan hints, nothing is ever simple in Rushville. "The town's secrets aren't done yet," she teases. "There's more to come."
For fans of twisty, character-driven sci-fi, Lanterns is delivering in spades. And if you're hungry for more mind-bending reveals, check out our list of thrillers that channel Agatha Christie's style—or revisit The Undoing for another dose of suspense.
Lanterns airs Sundays on HBO and Max.
