The ghosts of Rushville come back to haunt our Lanterns with another murder mystery.
The previous episode of Lanterns season 1 ended with the Manhunter’s demise. But the events of 2016 aren’t done with our heroes just yet. This episode takes a break from the action to explore all the characters and how they’ve changed or grown.
Spoilers for the following Lanterns season 1 episode and speculation will be discussed.
An unlikely connection brings John and Hal back together after years of bad terms.
In 2026, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) has reconnected with his siblings and founded an architectural firm with his brother Marcus (Jared Grimes). However, his rejecting the ring has strained his relationship with his parents. Their firm Stewart Brothers closes a deal for underground shelters in Midway City, referencing both John’s personal experience in Rushville and the recent destruction in Metropolis. His mother Bernadette (Jasmine Cephas Jones) reaches out to have him make up with Hal (Kyle Chandler) in Rushville.
At the cafe, John quickly realizes Bernadette set them both up. His old mentor has no intention of apologizing, and holds them both responsible for the town’s death and destruction. He breaks Hal’s nose and leaves.
Even in death, Jordan is a Lantern at heart.
That same night, Kerry calls John to tell him about Hal’s death, fully catching viewers up to the flash-forward in Episode 1. She explains that after she and her husband split 3 years ago, Hal wrote to her from federal prison, and moved back to Rushville after his release. Despite Rushville fully hating him, he never gave up trying to make amends for his recklessness. This only won Kerry over, who started a private relationship with him. John stays the night at Hal’s place in town.
The next morning, Hal’s autopsy reveals the killer walked up in front and cleanly shot him, without resistance. They suspect the killer broke his nose, which John hides. Kerry manages to delay the announcement of death long enough to investigate the murder and organize a funeral. They also find a device that can only Hal’s live voice can open.
While preparing to have dinner at Kerry’s place, John decides to call the current Green Lantern using a sky signal. This angers some townsfolk, whom John fights off defending himself. He later has dinner with Kerry and her son Noah (Shea Pritchard) but is arrested once she learns about the fight, which also included her ex-husband Billy (Jason Ritter).
Hal’s funeral shows us both his brash outward persona and just a touch of sincerity.
The next morning, Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) visits John. He convinces the current Lantern to steal Hal’s decommissioned ring from the Guardians in Oa, claiming Guy owes his current position to John’s decision to reject the ring. Before leaving, Guy reveals Sinestro was broken out of prison.
After Marcus bails him out, he calls his other brother, Aaron, to pick up his father, John Sr., who has been causing a scene at the retirement home. At Hal’s home, the young waitress Maggie (Hannah Christine Shetler), who saw John with Hal but kept quiet about it, pays him a visit. She demands reparations for the damage caused to her in 2016, or else she tells Kerry about his visit to Rushville the other night.
Later that day, John attends Hal’s funeral. The old Lantern is dressed in his uniform and the ring, with Guy leaving after declaring he and John are even. Only he, Kerry, and Carol Ferris (Amie MacKenzie) attend his burial, during which John gives a tragically ironic eulogy written by Hal himself.
That night, John digs up Hal’s casket, during which Stewart Brothers’s business deal falls apart. He takes the ring and summons Hal’s consciousness.
What comes next on Lanterns season 1?
In some ways, our heroes’ path forward is clear. With the Halogram, John can open Hal’s alien device. A confrontation with Hal’s killer and Sinestro is looming. Still, Lanterns season 1 episode 6 keeps its mysteries close to the chest.
The biggest question, of course, is who murdered Hal. Although everybody in Rushville had a reason to kill, his autopsy strongly points towards somebody he knows. This is because he never put up a fight and supposedly allowed them to get close enough to shoot him.
Another mystery is how involved Noah is in Zoe’s plan. After all, she did tell him to “remember what [she] told [him]” before her death in 2016. The boy also exhibits an interest in politics, and even presidency, and is well-liked across town—all of which are Manhunter-like traits. Being Zoe’s grandson naturally makes him a suspect in Jordan’s murder.
Last but not least is how much Hal knew. He seemed to know something was unfolding in Rushville, and enough to warn John not to tell anybody about his arrival. All these mysteries await, and the only one capable of unraveling them is Hal himself.
The next episode of Lanterns season 1 will be released on HBO Max.
Source: YouTube
