We’re only two episodes into Lanterns, but it is packed with Easter eggs and DC references. However, you may have missed some hilarious pop culture nods in the recent installment.
Warning, the following contains mild spoilers for Lanterns season 1 episode 2, so turn back now if you haven’t caught up. First, read our spoiler-free Lanterns review.
Partway through Lanterns episode 2, when Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart looks around Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan’s huge house for the Lantern, he stumbles upon some pictures on the wall from Hal’s time in the limelight. One picture shows Hal meeting the pope, another shows the hero sitting with ex-US President Barack Obama, and another shows Jordan standing with the cast of Harry Potter on the red carpet.
Now his rant in episode 1 makes a lot more sense. When he interrogates the alien, Jordan asks the suspected extraterrestrial some pop culture questions to prove he’s not human, including “Where does Harry Potter go to school?” Now, every English-speaking person should know that. When the alien fails to answer, Jordan says, “Harry Potter went to Hogwarts, you ignorant alien fuck!”
Lanterns fans are loving the little tidbits, as one wrote on Reddit, “God, this show is so fucking funny.” However, another has pointed out that Hal’s wall of celeb meetups is actually rather sad. “It really reinforces how alone he is and how the job is all Hal really has. Not a single picture of anyone he cares about. It’s a really fun way to set up his fear of being replaced and having no purpose.”
Hal’s loneliness is reinforced by his big empty house. He doesn’t even have a couch, just a sole camping chair positioned in front of a huge TV. Hal’s time as the Green Lantern meant he never got married or had a family, with his companion being an alien plant he keeps in his backyard. This might explain why he behaves the way he does, and why he is so eager to push John away at any given moment.
Some think his erratic behaviour puts him under suspicion of being the Manhunter, but I think his personality is the result of his job. Plus, there is a reason he would rather post up at a shabby motel in Nebraska and devote his life to the case rather than go home to his wealth.
Lanterns airs weekly on HBO Max and NOW. See our Lanterns release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One, and find out where Lanterns takes place on the DCU timeline.