CinePals React to Lanterns Episode 2: "It's Awesome, Really Awesome"

We came away thoroughly impressed with the second episode of Lanterns, calling it a strong follow up that answers just enough questions while stacking on new mysteries. "It's awesome. It's really really awesome" summed up the reaction, and later came the point that "for a second episode, this is really good."

What stood out most to them was pacing. They felt the show is "doing a really good job of just like, you know, answering a few questions, but then like peppering in even more questions and like just gradually introducing more and more characters and threats," a structure they said kept them wanting to keep watching immediately.

Sinestro's Surprise Cameo Catches the Hosts Off Guard

The reveal that Sinestro appears in this episode landed as a genuine coincidence for the hosts, since they had just been researching him from viewer comments before hitting play. They were also surprised by his look, having pulled up an image beforehand of a younger, almost Superman-like version of the character, only for the show's older take to throw them off. Learning that Sinestro was once a Green Lantern who personally trained Hal Jordan added a gut punch: "Okay, that sucks. He was like big man on campus was Sinestro and then he literally trained the greatest lantern of all time."

John Stewart's Willpower Impresses: "He's Pretty Formidable"

The hosts were especially taken with John Stewart, pointing to his ability to manifest and sustain a small bird using sheer concentration without even wearing a ring as proof of extraordinary willpower. They tied this back to the earlier flashback of his father shooting an apple off his head as a child, reading it as evidence he has been conditioned for calm under pressure for a long time. "He's pretty formidable and I'm really enjoying him as a character" was the take, with his composed demeanor set against Hal Jordan's more chaotic energy.

Theories on Hal's Fading Powers, the Sheriff, and Zoe's Mystery

When Sinestro called the manhunter the second biggest threat, the hosts spent time guessing who the first might be, floating John Stewart, Sinestro himself planting fear, or even Hal Jordan being secretly unwell. "Maybe he's got like a brain tumor or something, like maybe something is happening within him" was one theory, given that the ring does not seem to heal its wearer. They also praised Kelly Macdonald's Sheriff for standing her ground against Hal in a male-dominated small town, and flagged Zoe as a genuine enigma whose backstory and trustworthiness remain unclear.

A Possible Setup for Martian Manhunter

The hosts closed by wondering aloud whether the manhunter storyline is building toward introducing Martian Manhunter into the DC Universe, since they could not recall him appearing yet under James Gunn's slate. "I wonder if this is how we find Martian Manhunter." If so, the vengeful aliens hunting the creature in Rushville might not be the good guys after all.

Do you think the manhunter hiding in Rushville is connected to Martian Manhunter's future in the DC Universe?