HUNGRY FOR ANOTHER superhero show – but with a twist? Well, the new DC series Lanterns could be for you then.

Here’s what you need to know.

What’s it all about?

Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan

Lanterns is the third TV series in the DC Universe (DCU) – yes, that’s different from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, if you’re new to this world. 

The story goes back to the Green Lantern comics, which debuted in 1940. You might also remember that Ryan Reynolds played the character Hal in the Green Lantern film in 2011. But you don’t need to know anything about the Green Lantern film or comic books to watch this. 

That’s because this eight episode-long series is a newer take on the tale, and is aimed not just at superhero story fans, but people who are into detective stories à la True Detective or Slow Horses. 

Who’s behind it – and who stars in it?

Aaron Pierre as John Stewart HBO Max HBO Max

Chris Mundy is the showrunner, which is significant as he was also the executive producer of True Detective and Ozark. So that gives us some clues as to the kind of vibe he’ll be bringing here. Also involved are Damon Lindelof, who was behind Lost, The Leftovers and Watchmen, and former CIA officer and writer Tom King, who is known for comic books like The Vision. 

The show is set in the same universe as Supergirl, Superman and the TV series Peacemaker.

As for the cast, we have Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) and British actor Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge) who play the Lanterns: Hal Jordan and John Stewart.

Here’s how HBO Max described the plot:

The series follows new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery with cosmic ties as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

This is how the LA Times describes Hal Jordan in particular:

The Jordan that the audience gets to know is a bit surly and self-centered. A former military test pilot turned space cop, Jordan knows he’s good at his job and has grown used to doing things his way. He has no problem expressing his displeasure at being inconvenienced by his unwanted trainee or earthbound law enforcement officers.

Jordan has been assigned to train Stewart, who is a new recruit. But this is unusual – typically, a new Green Lantern is only assigned after a previous one dies. Jordan isn’t delighted about the situation – what does it say about his own career and mortality? And will the pair of them even get along? 

But what are the Lanterns?

Effectively, the Green Lanterns are ‘interstellar peacekeepers’ – they wear rings that give them special powers. In this series, they’re cops. The Lanterns wear a special ring which they can use to give them special powers and manifest things, or even fly. Handy, that.

In Lanterns, the pair are sent to a town in Texas to deal with the aftermath of a mass shooting at a football game. The Sheriff (played by Kelly McDonald) is worried about the townsfolk, but also it’s believed an alien was involved in the shooting. So the Lanterns are supposed to suss this all out.

What are critics saying?

The NPR critic John Powers said:

…”Lanterns” shows the trickiness of retooling comic-book characters for a grown-up audience. If the show is too comic-booky (ph), viewers like me will get bored by the CGI mayhem and mind-numbing superhero mythology. If they’re not comic-booky enough, the genre’s loyal fans will feel cheated of the geeky, fun stuff that made them fans. It’s not only in “The Odyssey” that you must find your way between Scylla and Charybdis.

The Nightly said in its review:

Kelly McDonald as Sherriff Kerry HBO Max HBO Max

It’s streaming on HBO Max now.