‘Lanterns’ Episode 6 Recap: The Hunt for Hal Jordan's Killer Begins
John Stewart questions his role as a Green Lantern while investigating the death of his predecessor, Hal Jordan, in the latest episode of the HBO series.
Episode 6 of HBO's "Lanterns" leaves the fate of the series' central conflict unresolved, shifting focus to the investigation of Hal Jordan's murder. The episode picks up just before the flash forward that opened the series premiere, where John Stewart and Sheriff Kerry Kane discover Hal Jordan's body in the Rushville, Nebraska football stadium.
John was lured to Rushville by his mother, Bernadette, who claimed Hal wanted to apologize. While the apology was a fabrication, Hal did reveal a real friendship with Bernadette, a revelation that led to an argument between Hal and John. John broke Hal's nose before leaving town, a detail that would look suspicious to Sheriff Kane.
New Lantern, New Troubles
John's troubles escalate when he gets into a fight with Billy Macon and other townspeople after activating a Lantern-Signal left by Hal's replacement, Guy Gardner, portrayed by Nathan Fillion. Despite playing it cool with Kerry and her son Noah at dinner, John is arrested and later bailed out by his brother Marcus. Marcus, along with their other brother Andre, co-founded a firm where John works as an architect, designing panic rooms. The brothers refer to John as "Chosen," a nod to his past as a Green Lantern and his parents' favoritism.
John was scheduled to pitch an underground bunker system to Midway City, but he remains in Rushville to provide Hal with a proper burial. He obtains a uniform and ring for Hal from outer space, even delivering a eulogy written by Hal himself. The eulogy reflects Hal's anxieties about his mortality and his desire to have mattered.
Unraveling the Mystery
Driven to uncover who killed Hal, John digs up the body, retrieves Hal's decommissioned ring, and activates a digitized doppelganger of Hal, who reacts with dismay to the news of his death. While examining Hal's belongings, John and Kerry discover a key to a storage locker containing an inaccessible cosmic-cube vault.
Meanwhile, a teenager named Maggie attempts to extort John for reparations related to the Lantern/alien/Manhunter battles, threatening to report seeing him with Hal on the night of the murder. John is also tasked with caring for Hal's sentient, carnivorous plant, Earl.
The episode also highlights inconsistencies in the town's portrayal, questioning why Hal, responsible for numerous deaths in Rushville, was walking unarmed prior to his murder and why Sheriff Kane faced minimal repercussions for their relationship.
The narrative sets up a compelling mystery around Hal Jordan's death and continues to explore the complex nature of being a Green Lantern. The episode concludes with John Stewart questioning his own suitability for the role after recognizing the egomaniacal tendencies of past Lanterns, including Hal and Guy.