HBO and DC Studios’ ‘Lanterns’ Debuts with 95% Rating on Rotten Tomatoes

The new DC universe detective series Lanterns premiered to glowing critical acclaim. According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 95% Fresh score based on 73 reviews, alongside an 85% Popcornmeter audience rating.

The story follows Green Lantern Corps veteran Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his young partner John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). The duo investigates a mysterious murder in the fictional town of Rushville, Nebraska.

A Neo-Noir Detective Thriller in the Style of ‘True Detective’

Swapping traditional comic book cosmic battles for a gritty, grounded thriller, writer Tom King confirmed the series was pitched as “True Detective meets Green Lantern.”

In its review, Rolling Stone magazine called the show a superhero genre deconstruction reminiscent of Watchmen, praising the chemistry between Chandler and Pierre. Sci-fi elements remain intact, with cosmic rings of power and interplanetary threats gradually weaving into the investigation.

Creators and Its Place in the New DC Universe

Chris Mundy (Ozark) serves as showrunner, co-writing the series with Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) and Tom King.

The cast also features Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner.

According to the official DC site, Lanterns is part of Chapter One of James Gunn’s revamped DC Universe, titled Gods and Monsters, with events from the murder mystery directly influencing future theatrical films from the studio.

The first season consists of eight episodes, airing Sundays on HBO and HBO Max. The finale is set to air on October 4, 2026.

Previously, we published a detailed plot overview and full release schedule for all episodes of Lanterns on HBO Max.