# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/61 "2026-08-26T19:59:32Z")
You get the sense that Jon is basically Tiger Woods except with being a Green Lantern instead of Golf. His father basically molded him for one thing from day one. Really really enjoying this show so far. The very grounded story lets them dump a huge amount of comic lore that in a more fantastical setting would probably turn a lot of viewers off. ---
**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 31, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/62 "2026-08-31T14:01:26Z")
It seems my wild speculation was pretty close to the mark. I now have to wonder about the symbolism of birds in the show. They clearly have some bigger meaning. ---
**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 31, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/63 "2026-08-31T14:07:19Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > It seems my wild speculation was pretty close to the mark. You were pretty much spot on there. I liked the origin story for John. I was wondering whether they would ever get to his architect background. I would like to see something similar for Hal, to find out what happened in 2006 that made him so disillusioned. ---
**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 31, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/64 "2026-08-31T14:08:10Z")
The episode explained a lot of where John Stewart comes from. The training his parents gave him was brutal. (And another thing; it seemed odd that John Stewart Sr had two sons before naming the third one John Stewart, Jr.) ---
**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 31, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/65 "2026-08-31T14:14:41Z")
It happens. My great-grandfather named his third son after himself. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/66 "2026-08-31T16:00:35Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I now have to wonder about the symbolism of birds in the show. They clearly have some bigger meaning. I think they explained it right here. He thought the birds were the guardians’ spies so they became important to him. That’s why he manifested a bird when he tried to fly. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/67 "2026-08-31T16:02:29Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I would like to see something similar for Hal, to find out what happened in 2006 that made him so disillusioned. Presumably, Sinestro. The whole situation with him seemed to happen shortly before 2016. ---
**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 31, 2026, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/68 "2026-08-31T16:14:33Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I think they explained it right here. He thought the birds were the guardians’ spies so they became important to him. I must have missed that. I will re-watch the episode later today. I am now very curious about whatever Hal and Sinestro have going on. BTW, is Sinestro a poster child for nominative determinism or what? ---
**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 31, 2026, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/69 "2026-08-31T18:46:53Z")
As I understand it, Sinestro trained Hal Jordan but then turned to the dark side and Hal was the one who captured and imprisoned him. Hal didn’t know of the existence of the Manhunters so perhaps Sinestro is the one who brought it to Rushville? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/70 "2026-08-31T19:26:28Z")
Some comics lore that may or may not be a spoiler (this might have already been mentioned in thread but I don’t think so). In the comics Abin Sur was transporting Atroticus who basically has the same origin that Antaan has on this show at the time when he crashed and encountered Hal Jordan. ---
**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 31, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/71 "2026-08-31T19:33:47Z")
Ditto my Dad. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/72 "2026-08-31T21:05:28Z")
I think one interesting fact from the episodes is that the Guardian implied a bunch of other people were tested and failed before Hal Jordan was picked. I believe in the comics it just just him and Guy Gardner, and Hal just happened to be closer. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2026, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/73 "2026-09-01T09:10:50Z")
I liked Laura Linney as the suitably charming yet untrustworthy Guardian. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/74 "2026-09-01T12:23:54Z")
Frankly I loathe John’s parents, they both should be in jail and their sons sent to non-insane/criminal relatives. And John himself… seems to be more SS material than a Green Lantern, he seems like he will obey any order, no matter how illegal or degrading. Hal Jordan seems like jerk too, but at least he seems to have his own moral code. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/75 "2026-09-01T12:32:05Z")
When they did the William Tell act in the backyard, I wondered if the neighbors ever looked into their yard to see what they were doing. Because if the neighbors had done so, surely they would have placed a call to the child protection authorities. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/76 "2026-09-01T13:36:47Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The wall that John stood in front of was covered in bullet holes even before the apple was shot. It was clear that this wasn’t the first time it happened, maybe not even the 20th time. None of those kids wanted to be subjected to GI Joe’s version of William Tell. > > Regardless of the affection that dad showed little John after making applesauce, there was something **really** screwed up about that guy. Note that the bullet holes were at different heights. Ya know, most parents mark their kids’ growth with pencil marks… > [@Tamerlane](#): > > The Shazam films? > [@Quimby](#): > > I was talking about the James Gunn incarnation of the DCU. The Shazam films are linked to _Peacemaker_, as per the scene in the credits of the second Shazam film where the Peacemaker crew consider recruiting him, and then leave in disgust. Fortunately the likelihood of seeing that character again is small, given how bad the second film was in general. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/77 "2026-09-01T13:43:32Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The Shazam films are linked to _Peacemaker_, as per the scene in the credits of the second Shazam film where the Peacemaker crew consider recruiting him, and then leave in disgust. > > Fortunately the likelihood of seeing that character again is small, given how bad the second film was in general. I believe James Gunn said something to the effect that outside of the flashbacks seen in Peacemaker season 2, everything else is non-canon to the new DC movie-verse. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/78 "2026-09-01T20:26:09Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > So… John’s dad obviously failed the “are you afraid” test and that is why he trained his son like that right? Not to toot my own horn or anything… but called it! A bit weird to turn it into a black/white thing instead of a normal person/psycho thing, but that is just her opinion. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/79 "2026-09-01T21:08:01Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Not to toot my own horn or anything… but called it! _cough_ > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I’m digging it. I wonder what the deal is with John Stewart Sr. He didn’t want his kids watching Hal’s interview, and then asked John the same “are you afraid” question. Maybe he ran into Abin Sur first and said yes? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374/80 "2026-09-01T21:17:42Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > A bit weird to turn it into a black/white thing instead of a normal person/psycho thing, Much of the creative team behind this episode are African American and the “official podcast” dove into the issues of race and how it played into the choices. It also notes that Hal Jordan isn’t afraid in part because he doesn’t care. I’m also reminded of the little exchange where John says he’s patient, and the woman says “No you’re not.” Waiting all night in an office isn’t patience, it’s the drive to not let an opportunity get past you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lanterns-the-green-kind/1032374.md?page=5)