Green Lantern Series “Lanterns” Soars to 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, Offering DCU a Much-Needed Revival

Lanterns

Photograph by John Johnson/HBO Max

The DCU is navigating uncertain territory, placing its faith in a singular new series to guide it toward brighter horizons. That series is Lanterns, an HBO Max production inspired by True Detective and centered on the Green Lantern mythos, premiering this Sunday.

Early critical reception suggests the series may succeed in its mission, earning a verified 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 40 reviewers, a robust sample size. This places Lanterns among the highest-rated DCU projects to date, though it trails just slightly behind The Penguin, which holds a 95% score. Below is a comparison of current DCU project scores:

• Creature Commandos – 95% critic score, 79% audience score
• Peacemaker – 93% critic score, 83% audience score
• Superman – 83% critic score, 90% audience score
• Supergirl – 52% critic score, 73% audience score

The success of Lanterns is pivotal for two key reasons. First, the DCU urgently requires a strong follow-up after Supergirl, which was not only poorly received critically but also represents one of the most significant superhero box office failures in recent memory.

Second, this marks only the second DCU project developed without James Gunn’s direct creative oversight. His involvement in Supergirl resulted in disappointing outcomes, whereas his delegation of Lanterns to Damon Lindelof—known for Watchmen and The Leftovers—has yielded positive results. Lindelof brings a distinctive storytelling sensibility that contrasts sharply with Supergirl’s dual creative departures in writing and direction.

Initial fan sentiment was skeptical, as promotional materials emphasized minimalist visuals and character-driven dialogue over traditional Green Lantern spectacle. However, as the series unfolded, it revealed its cosmic elements and superhero dynamics, ultimately achieving a compelling balance between grounded storytelling and otherworldly adventure.

Kyle Chandler portrays Hal Jordan, the Earth’s designated Green Lantern in DC canon for nearly a decade prior to Superman’s rise. Aaron Pierre plays John Stewart, a role that quickly gained traction among fans after his performance in Netflix’s Rebel Ridge, leading to his casting within a month.

At its core, Lanterns functions as a murder mystery with implications extending into the broader DC Universe, potentially serving as a strategic introduction to a cornerstone Justice League figure at a time when the franchise desperately needs such anchor characters.

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