Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler Discuss Penultimate Episode of HBO's "Lanterns"
In the second-to-last episode of HBO's series "Lanterns," John Stewart uncovers new aspects of Hal Jordan's past, while the duo confronts a new threat on a desolate planet.
HBO's "Lanterns" deepened the relationship between John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) in its penultimate episode, which aired Sunday night. The story opens with a 1975 flashback showing a young Hal refusing to hand over a baseball, hinting at early family tensions. In the present, John exhumes Hal’s body, retrieves a decommissioned power ring and uses a Halogram to open a lockbox that reveals a dark-matter portal to another world.
On the other side, the pair arrive on a ruined planet identified by John as the former home of Anton (Paul Ben-Victor), destroyed by the Manhunter. While navigating the hostile environment, John is saved by the Halogram from a lethal gas. Pierre told Deadline that John’s perception of Hal evolves throughout the series, likening it to assembling a 1,000-piece puzzle where new pieces constantly reshape the picture.
The episode also explores Hal’s childhood trauma, revealing that his father, a test pilot, committed suicide and left a note suggesting Hal would be better off without him. This revelation adds a layer to Hal’s character, with the Halogram stating, “I’m not fearless because I’m brave. I’m fearless because I’m broken.”
Kyle Chandler noted that the show’s detailed storytelling is designed to engage viewers emotionally, describing the moments as “fence posts” that actors can build around. The episode concludes with the emergence of Sinestro, who has been hiding on the planet, setting up the final confrontation.
Pierre hinted that the upcoming finale will highlight a profound, if not fully understood, respect and brotherly bond between John and Hal, emphasizing that John has come to accept Hal’s core identity despite lingering uncertainties. "Lanterns" returns next Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.