Lanterns Season 1 Finale Reaction: Noah's Secret, John's New Oath and an Ending That Satisfies

We reached the end of Lanterns season 1, and our verdict is clear: this was a "really really great first season." There was love for the tone, the acting and the writing, with everything "really really spot-on," and the ending holds up even if no second season ever comes.

The Noah reveal proved the fan theory right

Going in, there was a worry that we would not find out as much as we wanted. Instead, the finale showed that the people who had been saying it was Noah were right. What we still want is the how: how a manhunter could also be human. It must have had something to do with Kerry's finger, but the request was clear: "I want to know the sciency bits behind it."

We liked the way the show brought us back to nature versus nurture. Noah took the blame for something he did not do, to protect his mom, and the answer the finale gives is that you get to choose who you are.

John Stewart chooses the ring on his own terms

John gets to choose to be a Green Lantern on his terms, writing his own oath even though the lore says the ring chooses you. The idea of embracing his fear was a really beautiful concept, because fear is actually helpful, like an inherent fear of snakes that keeps you safe. Being a Green Lantern is not about being fearless but about willpower and overcoming fear, which is why Batman can use the ring.

It doesn't seem like John was ready before. He was raised to be a soldier who took orders without questioning them, yet he had the soul of an artist and had to reconcile all of himself to become Earth's Green Lantern. We also loved where John and Hal's relationship ended up.

Kerry, Hal and two very different mothers

When Kerry stood up for Hal in front of the town, it was "the hottest thing anyone's ever done." Their love story was cute and heartbreaking, because you know what happens to them.

The mothers make John and Noah foils. Kerry poured love into her miracle baby so that, perhaps, he could defeat his programming, while John's mother put him in dangerous situations to make him unafraid. That treatment was "super messed up," but the realization that it came from love made his embrace of her moving. As we talked it through, the thought was that John has not forgiven her, and that maybe he simply understands. Understanding and forgiveness are two different things.

What could come next

It's unclear whether Sinestro will make good on saying he can bring Hal back, and it feels like anytime you get into necromancy territory, you should just step away. Apparently in the comics John has a sister who becomes a permanent construct, and people online have suggested the Hal hologram fills that role here, which we think is super cool. There may have been news that Aaron Pierre is in the next Superman movie as Green Lantern. And apparently the oath began when Hal Jordan made it up so he would not recharge his ring in silence.

Do you want season 2 to explore the other lantern colours, or did this finale close things out well enough on its own?