HBO's "Lanterns" Receives Mixed Audience Reception on Rotten Tomatoes
"Lanterns" earned critical praise but holds the lowest audience score among DCU projects on Rotten Tomatoes, prompting debate over its tone and portrayal of Hal Jordan.
HBO's limited series "Lanterns" has been praised by critics, yet its audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes stands at 69%, the lowest among DC Universe titles, according to the site. For comparison, "Peacemaker" season two holds a 79% audience score and "Supergirl" a 72% score.
Viewer comments highlighted two main criticisms: the series' limited cosmic spectacle and the depiction of the character Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler. One fan wrote, "It fails as a superhero series, fails as a Green Lantern series, and fails as a detective series," while another noted, "It started off well but lost its way by hiding the aliens and the powers."
Chandler's performance has been noted for its charisma, though some fans expressed disappointment that the portrayal diverged from the more optimistic Silver Age version of Hal Jordan. The series concludes its premiere episode with Jordan's death, setting a grounded, mystery-driven narrative that emphasizes character interaction over space-opera visuals.
The show’s setting in a Midwestern town and its focus on personal dynamics have drawn comparisons to HBO's "Watchmen" rather than the more expansive style of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy." Viewers seeking a more traditional cosmic adventure have been directed to alternative animated adaptations of the Green Lantern mythos.