# Lanterns (the green kind) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [August 17, 2026, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374 "2026-08-17T05:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/41 "2026-08-20T20:42:03Z")
Yes. That was a joke. Clearly not a very good one. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/42 "2026-08-20T20:43:43Z")
Well, in my defense - I _am_ a bit thick at times. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/43 "2026-08-22T02:15:22Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > That’s what I thought, but my memory is swiss cheese. So far, the ring doesn’t have a weakness to cheese… I hope they skip that detail. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/44 "2026-08-22T03:42:33Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > and that doesn’t match any of the previous stories in other media. Maybe I am reading this wrong however, in the comics wasn’t Guy Gardner the first choice and Hal was just closer? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/45 "2026-08-22T03:59:11Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Maybe I am reading this wrong however, in the comics wasn’t Guy Gardner the first choice and Hal was just closer? According to the DC Wiki, not exactly; they were both worthy, but yes, Jordan was closer to Abin Sur’s crash site. > [@](#): > > When the previous [Green Lantern](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Green_Lantern_Corps "Green Lantern Corps") of [Sector 2814](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Sector_2814 "Sector 2814"), an alien named [Abin Sur](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Abin_Sur_(New_Earth) "Abin Sur (New Earth)") crash-landed on Earth, he had to choose someone to replace him shortly before he died.[[9]](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Guy_Gardner_(New_Earth)#cite_note-9) The two most worthy men on the planet to pass his [ring](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Green_Lantern_Ring "Green Lantern Ring") on to were Guy Gardner and [Hal Jordan](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Hal_Jordan_(New_Earth) "Hal Jordan (New Earth)"). Hal was chosen because at the time he was closer to the crash site, becoming the first Green Lantern of Earth almost purely by chance. [https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Guy\_Gardner\_(New\_Earth)](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Guy_Gardner_(New_Earth)) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/46 "2026-08-22T04:12:41Z")
Okay. I am wondering if maybe they exchanged John Sr. for Guy Gardner in that part of the story. The ring first asks John Sr. if he is afraid and his response is 'WTF?". The ring then moves on to the second choice and Hal answers “no”. Granted that is massively speculative, which is half the fun of a show like this. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/47 "2026-08-22T04:18:23Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > According to the DC Wiki, not exactly; they were both worthy, but yes, Jordan was closer to Abin Sur’s crash site. Also, the “they were both worthy, Hal was just closer” was undoubtedly a retcon; Hal first appeared in the comics in 1959 (with the [original Abin Sur story](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Showcase_Vol_1_22), which is also the first appearance of a “modern” Green Lantern); Guy first appeared in 1968. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/48 "2026-08-22T04:41:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Also, the “they were both worthy, Hal was just closer” was undoubtedly a retcon Was it? To me, a retcon is when they add something that contradicts previously established lore; that sounds more like they just added extra details. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/49 "2026-08-22T04:53:10Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Was it? To me, a retcon is when they add something that contradicts previously established lore; that sounds more like they just added extra details. I think of it as a retcon; AFAIK, there was no mention of a second candidate in the original story. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/50 "2026-08-22T16:16:54Z")
> [@digs](#): > > So far, the ring doesn’t have a weakness to cheese… What? Not even yellow American or cheddar? Imagine melting a huge block of cheddar and completely encasing him. He’s cooked. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/51 "2026-08-24T15:44:47Z")
Watched episode 2 last night. A question for those who may have read the comics: Is John’s ability to maintain the bird unusual/impossible for the average green lantern? Is the fact that it is a live creature also weird? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/52 "2026-08-24T21:46:28Z")
I seem to remember comic Hal creating a functional duplicate of himself, with a working ring no less. Remember nothing about the context, mind you, so take it for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/53 "2026-08-25T16:26:38Z")
Never read the comics but that was explicitly stated in the show, it IS a massively impressive feat. Even Hal looked a bit shocked at first. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/54 "2026-08-25T16:44:48Z")
The Wikipedia article on the character John Stewart says \> Unlike other Green Lanterns, Stewart does not wear a physical ring, with his body acting as a ring and his heart a battery. This unique connection also grants him keen senses, allowing him to perceive things beyond the capabilities of ordinary Green Lanterns. I haven’t read the comic books either so I don’t know which one says that. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/55 "2026-08-25T16:48:14Z")
might want to spoiler that. They have barely started scratching the surface of his abilities. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/56 "2026-08-25T16:49:30Z")
Done, I think. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/57 "2026-08-25T20:46:56Z")
They’re only half-second flashes with no context, but a couple of the shots from the Episode 3 trailer seem to line up with this theory. Especially John Sr. angrily shooting a TV with young Hal on it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/58 "2026-08-25T21:05:09Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > So… John’s dad obviously failed the “are you afraid” test and that is why he trained his son like that right? Out of nowhere a big green bubble forms around you and pulls you away into the sky. A voice asks you if you are afraid. What kind of normal person _wouldn’t_ be? Is someone without _rational_ fear a good person to give enormous power? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/59 "2026-08-25T21:13:18Z")
There might be a problem with this. The Wikipedia page has two footnotes. The first, a history of John Stewart, doesn’t mention this anywhere in the article. The second, a collection of academic essays, shows only snippets on Google Books but search provides no hits for either John Stewart or Green Lantern. Maybe some animated series started this, but a quick search didn’t turn up any other confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/60 "2026-08-26T17:04:18Z")
It’s obviously not a great test, but fear is the path to the yellow side. I guess the complete inability to feel fear comes in handy when that is your only means of corruption. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374.md?page=4)