Ever since Lanterns was introduced, the DCU TV sequence was in comparison with HBO’s True Detective and revealed to be a grounded investigation sequence, not an intergalactic house cop present as some followers hoped. Now that the sequence is right here, that comparability has confirmed to be an apt one, with a central thriller driving all the pieces ahead as Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart seek for the identification of the hidden Manhunter hiding in Rushville. The results of that could be a compelling narrative, not just one that has comedian followers hooked for the ways in which it’s remixing and transforming Inexperienced Lantern, however due to the central thriller: Who’s the Manhunter?
This week’s episode of Lanterns, nevertheless, regardless of ending beforehand with the thriller itself being the most important factor on our minds, decides to press pause on it as an alternative and inform one other (equally compelling) story, John Stewart’s DCU origin. Over the course of an hour a whole lot of reveals and particulars are made clear by Lanterns. Not solely can we get to see how John’s household life and upbringing have been actually designed for him to develop into Inexperienced Lantern, however the episode itself is structured round him being interviewed by one of many Guardians of the Universe to find out if he’s really match for the position. In that second, although, one other thriller occurs, as an unannounced character is noticed.
Who Was Being Interviewed By the Guardian Earlier than John?
Close to the beginning of Lanterns episode 3, John falls from the ceiling (later revealed to be from a portal) and finds himself in an deserted mall. The placement itself isn’t that scary, although, as indicators with literal arrows abound to information him the place he must be. John navigates his manner by way of a dilapidated storefront to seek out himself at a literal supervisor’s workplace. As he raps on the door, the Guardian opens it and greets him…however they’re additionally not alone.
Standing subsequent to the Guardian is one other particular person, an unnamed white man who exits the room as they open the door whereas John watches. They haven’t any dialogue; the Guardian doesn’t say something to them to point their title, and that’s it; they stroll away and out of the episode.
The credit for the episode seem to disclose extra about this thriller particular person, with actor Joel Berg credited as simply “Marine” for the episode, seemingly indicating {that a} fellow service member has been tapped by the Guardians as a possible Inexperienced Lantern and simply had his personal interview with them. The results of this character’s presence, although, is one which has created an all-new thriller that the present itself nearly has no time for: Who is that this man?
One assumes that, primarily based on the tenor of all the pieces else within the episode and John’s supposed future, this random man that doesn’t actually have a title isn’t price spending all this time fascinated with. From my perspective, this character’s presence makes it clear that the Guardians are far craftier than John is giving them credit score for.
The episode establishes {that a} slew of individuals are sought out by the Inexperienced Lantern ring and requested, “Are you afraid?” earlier than it lastly makes its approach to Hal Jordan. With that in thoughts, and seeing this man within the flesh as one other interviewee with the Guardian, that makes it clear that that they had backup plans in place in case John Stewart wasn’t in a position to examine all of the containers they wished him to so as to develop into Hal Jordan’s substitute.
I’ll posit this. If the Guardians have been keen to go after another person to be doubtlessly be Inexperienced Lantern that wasn’t John, that additionally implies that their intentions and concepts go even additional past what he thinks. As such, this will tie into the Manhunter thriller in a manner, since John himself has already stated the Guardians wouldn’t let it’s positioned on Earth. Do we all know that for certain? John wasn’t even their solely option to develop into Inexperienced Lantern; why wouldn’t there be different plans in play by the Guardians that he’s unaware of? There’s additionally the potential created by this thriller character’s presence that the identical resentment John’s father had for Hal might be repeated, a cycle of grudges that has one other particular person making an attempt to show themselves for the chance of sporting the ring.
Or, there’s an excellent simpler rationalization: the Guardians sought out one other particular person and had his exit occur to see how it could make John react. Would he present the identical resentment as his dad? Would he get offended and throw off his willpower? I feel that is why this thriller character was there. He’s not a secret DC character whose future can be decided later; like so many different moments of the episode, he was a plant, a take a look at to see in the event that they discovered the proper particular person. By episode’s finish, it’s clear they did.