The“Lanterns”season one finale dropped Sunday night, and it did the one thing comic fans never forgive: it killed Hal Jordan for real. Kyle Chandler’s version of the legendary Green Lantern is dead and staying dead, and the internet has been loud about it ever since.
The backlash isn’t just about the death. It’s about what John Stewart does next. Aaron Pierre’s John solves Hal’s murder, then lets the killers walk away, and that choice split the fandom straight down the middle. Slate critic Sam Adams defended the finale, comparing it to classic detective noir like“The Maltese Falcon,”and said he’s baffled anyone is upset. His only note for a possible season two? More weirdness, less waterboarding.
There’s more riding on this than one character. A second season is in the works but hasn’t been greenlit, and DC’s catalog just became part of a $110 billion acquisition that closed Tuesday, so every show is suddenly up for discussion. Comic purists want the lore respected. Casual viewers just want a good story. Those two groups rarely agree.
Where do you land: should Hal Jordan stay dead, or does this show owe fans a resurrection?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.