So, bro, I’ve watched the first five episodes of the HBO Max series Lanterns. You can catch the series in Hindi on JioHotstar as well.
Each episode is roughly 50 minutes long, and after the fifth episode ended, I literally felt, “Wow, what an awesome ending!”
I’m really looking forward to the second season… Well, actually, the way that episode wrapped up felt exactly like a season finale. But then I realized—bro, the real show isn’t over yet; there are still three more episodes to come.
Plus, the trailer for episode six is already out on social media, and it sets up yet another major mystery surrounding Hal Jordan—something that was also teased at the very end of the fifth episode.
So, without giving away any spoilers, let’s talk about what I thought of the first five episodes of Lanterns.
Let’s spill some tea!
Lanterns Feels Like Men in Black, But Much Darker
If you’ve watched the DC Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds, that’s great; having seen it myself was an advantage here, as some of the characters and names from that film are used in this series.
In fact, while watching Lanterns, I was constantly reminded of the Men in Black movies.
In MIB, aliens live among humans, but the general public is unaware of their presence. Only the Men in Black know who the aliens are, why they’ve come to Earth, and how to handle them if they cause trouble—whether that means apprehending them, sending them back to their home planet, or, if necessary, eliminating them.
The basic concept of Lanterns felt quite familiar to me. Aliens are present on Earth; ordinary people go about their normal lives, while behind the scenes, the Green Lanterns handle issues related to those aliens.
No, no wait.
Here, everyone knows who the Green Lanterns are, where they come from, and so on; they are essentially celebrities among ordinary humans.
It blends these alien and Green Lantern superhero elements with a murder mystery thriller. The only difference is that Men in Black presented this same idea through the lens of comedy and entertainment…
…whereas Lanterns approaches the concept from a much more serious, dark, or superhero-centric perspective. Honestly, I found that approach interesting.
Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s Dynamic Is the Real Hook
In the series, Hal Jordan is currently the Green Lantern, but he has a trainee named John Stewart under his wing. Hal’s task is to train John to become the next Lantern. However, the series poses an intriguing question:
Is Hal Jordan actually ready to hand over his role to someone else? After all, training a newcomer is one thing, but stepping aside and relinquishing his own position is something else entirely.
On the other hand, John Stewart certainly has the potential to be a superhero, but is he truly ready to shoulder a massive responsibility like that of a Green Lantern?
The dynamic between Hal and John—and their bickering chemistry—is what makes the series so interesting.
It doesn’t feel like a typical teacher-student relationship; they work together, yet there is a constant mix of trust and tension between them.
Lanterns Gets Much Better From Episode 3
Yes, the first couple of episodes take a bit of time to get going. The story doesn’t rush to establish its world and characters. It might feel a little slow at the start, but the series really hits its stride from the third episode onwards, with both the mystery and the characters becoming increasingly compelling.
And the fifth episode? Man, it’s absolutely explosive—it delivers genuine satisfaction. The scale, the tension, and the ending, it truly feels like a season finale.
That’s exactly what has me so curious: if so much happens in just the fifth episode, what on earth do the creators have in store for the remaining three?
Honestly, I started this series without much hope—you know how DC can be—but they really changed my mind, bro. They’ve cooked up something so good that after every episode, you just feel compelled to watch the next one.
The Hindi Dubbing Is Surprisingly Good
Even the Hindi dubbing is truly amazing; they didn’t force translations for English words where it wasn’t needed—it feels natural, using the kind of conversational Hindi-English mix that’s pleasant to the ear and familiar.
Should You Watch Green Lantern Before Lanterns?
Also, here’s a suggestion: watch the Green Lantern movie once so you get a sense of the characters. It’s not a huge issue if you don’t, but it would certainly be helpful.
Is Lanterns Worth Watching?
Overall, Lanterns isn’t a fast-paced superhero show; it doesn’t rely on a constant spectacle of action or VFX. It is a serious alien mystery centered on an experienced Green Lantern and the new trainee set to replace him.
If you are looking strictly for superhero action, the start might feel a bit slow; however, if you want to see a concept like Men in Black—involving hidden aliens—but with a darker, more mature, and serious tone, then Lanterns is worth a shot.
Based on the first five episodes, I’d easily give Lanterns 4 out of 5 stars. I’ll provide a final rating only after the entire series concludes.
Lanterns Age Rating and Family-Watch Warning
And yes, the series carries an ‘A’ rating. While bloodshed, violence, and dismemberment have become standard fare for ‘A’-rated content these days, you might want to avoid watching this with your family—unless you’re comfortable seeing a man walking around naked in front of them.
If you’ve watched Lanterns, did it give you Men in Black vibes too? Let me know in the comments.
See you in the next content review.