Lanterns has flipped the script on Inexperienced Lantern tales in a serious approach. Although many years of DC Comics have ready followers for intergalactic struggle and fan theories concerning the Blackest Evening storyline and the incorporation of the Purple Lanterns, the DCU TV sequence has gone one other approach. Impressed extra by True Detective, Lanterns has confirmed itself to be a gritty, largely Earth-bound thriller for the titular superheroes. That stated, the thriller could also be confined to a small city in the course of nowhere, however it nonetheless has galactic implications as Kyl Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart try and determine the mysterious Manhunter that apparently has taken root in Rushville, Nebraska.
The thriller of who the Manhunter is has been certainly one of many questions lingering over the sequence with every new episode, with followers pondering who it may be and the present itself seemingly pointing one other approach. To that finish, this week’s episode of the sequence appeared to take away the thriller completely and level to 1 character absolutely. That stated, all the indications that the episode makes use of to level on the Manhunter’s identification arrive alongside a serious twist. Much more intriguing, although, is that the potential reveal of the Manhunter doesn’t imply the mysteries of Rushville are any clearer. Spoilers comply with.
Lanterns Zeroes in on the Manhunter’s Id With a Huge Shock
One factor is obvious throughout most of this episode of Lanterns, and it’s that the present needs us to consider that Garret Dillahunt’s William Macon is the Manhunter. He’s clearly a person about city who’s revered by everybody and wields immense energy, however issues take a flip with the character. In Macon’s weird nude scene, the indicators largely appear to level elsewhere, as Macon himself admits that the Manhunter was a savior to him, curing him of most cancers and placing him of their debt.
That awkward scene provides option to one other, as Macon’s Zoe involves John Stewart’s resort room the place they’ve intercourse once more, however afterwards she makes a declare that actually stands out, telling John that she hopes he’ll hearken to Macon’s risk and depart city so he doesn’t get killed. This sparks a confession from John that he’s not leaving, partially as a result of he thinks everybody round him is mendacity to him. The tantalizing confessions preserve coming, although, as Zoe remarks: “After I inform you what I do know, every thing adjustments…I can’t do this.” She goes on to disclose that she doesn’t owe Macon; the truth is, Macon owes her, including: “He was dying once I met him, and I saved his life, and now I’m making an attempt to save lots of yours.”
All that positive feels like one thing the Manhunter would possibly say, particularly after Macon himself revealed that his life was saved by the entity. Whilst all indicators level towards Zoe now, the massive twist occurs, as a laser beam flies out of the sky and blows up her automotive, seemingly along with her in it. The explosion and obvious demise of Zoe leads Hal and John to the Atlas Inc slaughterhouse, the place somebody posing as “Hector Hammond” (a reputation each comedian reader ought to acknowledge) reveals that his title is definitely Hector Gutierrez, and he works for the manhunter, occurring to disclose that their identification is Will Macon.
By the subsequent scene, we’re not completely positive what to suppose; the indicators preserve being switched round, and the clues aren’t completely coming collectively. Jordan reveals what Sinestro informed him about Manhunters, which aligns with what John beforehand heard from the aliens in Episode 2, that they assimilate into commuities by attaching to weak spots, occurring to discover a path to energy and manipulate threats into believing something they need.
“Sound like anybody we all know?” Hal asks, and John’s expression makes it clear that the reply is sure, however the title that comes out of his mouth is clearly not the one he was pondering of. That stated, Jordan clearly picks up on it after which makes a pointed statement: John wasn’t unhappy about Zoe being blown up by the laser, however the specter of his mother and father being impacted the identical approach was the primary time he appeared remotely afraid.
“You’re not upset as a result of you realize Zoe isn’t useless, and I don’t understand how she managed to get out of that automotive alive until she’s a manhunter,” Jordan says earlier than asking John how lengthy he’s identified it was her. Stewart confesses he hasn’t, and he “simply had a sense.” Hal makes use of it as an opportunity to supply up an precise lesson for his protege, telling him that was his man speaking to him and he ought to pay attention.
There’s Nonetheless a Thriller in Rushville
All that in thoughts, it positive looks like Lanterns has unmasked the Manhunter, with all indicators pointing to Zoe Macon regardless of her truck blowing up from an area laser. That stated, the outdated adage a few character demise in fiction (did you see a physique?) rings loudly by the episode’s finish. Each Hal and John consider it, however the hassle, after all, is that Jordan has formally taken issues into his personal palms, leaping from the automotive as soon as once more and leaving John inside to crash right into a pole.
Even with the Manhunter seemingly unmasked, although, there are nonetheless main plot developments round Rushville that ought to have followers pondering what comes subsequent in Lanterns. Particularly, did the Guardians have the Manhunter positioned there? Or was Abin Sur going considerably rogue? Moreover, what’s the Manhunter planning for this hit squad that’s on the best way to get their very own revenge?
Moreover, all of these questions don’t even scratch the opposite facet of the equation, which is, what’s Hal Jordan planning on doing? Based mostly on the callback to Episode 1 and his epic roll out from the automotive, this time sporting the ring himself and never leaving it behind for John, he’s clearly taking issues into his personal palms as to what to do subsequent, and which means reducing John out of the query.
It additionally units up yet one more thriller: What occurs to the Inexperienced Lantern ring? We all know that in 2026 neither John nor Hal has it, and Man Gardner does. So regardless that it looks like we all know who the Manhunter actually is, the thriller simply obtained much more intriguing.