Fans of HBO Max's new comic book adaptation think they've already worked out the secret behind episode one's twist ending. The first instalment of Lanterns is now available as of today (August 17), streaming on the platform as well as NOW and Sky TV.
The series follows superhero Hal Jordan, otherwise known as Green Lantern, as he looks to train former marine John Stewart. However, the unlikely duo end up coming across an otherworldly mystery in a small Nebraska town.
Shock twist in premiere
The eight-part series concluded its premiere episode with a shock twist ending many did not expect. As the episode progresses, Hal proves that whatever occurred in Nebraska, which resulted in a deadly shootout at a local football game, was between alien beings. He even interrogates the prime suspect and seemingly tricks them into revealing they are not actually human.
These events are actually taking place in 2016. Earlier in the episode, the opening scene takes place even further in the past, showing a young John Stewart, along with his brothers, watching Hal on TV back in 1996. However, there is also a third timeline where some key moments take place in the series.
Grim discovery in present day
During the last moments of the episode, we find ourselves reuniting with John Stewart, but this time in present day 2026. Sheriff Kerry has been in touch and called him back to Nebraska. This time, however, they have made a grim discovery. She leads him to the location of Hal's body, sat in the same venue that the football game took place a decade ago. He is bloodied up and John discovers that his ring, which gives him his powers, is missing.
It is a huge shock twist that the showrunner for the series, Chris Mundy, has called a "big and scary" decision to kill off such a huge and storied character in the DC canon. However, it seems many fans are not convinced all is as it seems.
Fan theories abound
A common idea between several viewers is that the body is not really Hal. They seem to think it is either an alien shapeshifter, or a construct much like the Hal hologram seen early in the episode. One person suggested: "I think the dead Hal Jordan is actually a construct. It was established early on that the ring can create constructs of Green Lanterns because their minds are periodically backed up."
While someone else theorised: "He's definitely not dead/staying dead. we learn 14 different alien species can create a human body indistinguishable from the real thing and his ring is gone - when a lantern dies their ring floats off to get the next wearer More than enough reason to doubt he's actually dead." Another agreed: "As for Hal, I don't think that's actually his body. They made sure to have John say that there were aliens that could fool our x-rays."
Others think he may be resurrected later on to become a Black Lantern. And another popular theory is that it will be an iteration on a popular comic book story line and Hal will become or was, the villain Parallax. In the comics, Parallax has appeared as a parasitic yellow energy monster that possessed Hal as well as a cosmic entity being the personification of fear. As one person explained: "Hal hasn't been Green Lantern since John was chosen, he's been Parallax playing the role. The ring being missing is a dead giveaway, as are all the hints about how Hal doesn't care about anything but the ring and the job."
Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max, NOW and Sky TV.
