Editor’s note: The following review contains major spoilers for "Lanterns" Episode 7, "The Jordan Boys," including plot resolutions and character developments. For a spoiler-free analysis, consult our comprehensive season review.
The seventh episode of HBO’s Lanterns, titled "The Jordan Boys," marks a thematic pivot for the series. Moving away from the procedural mechanics of a murder investigation, the episode instead pivots toward the psychological haunting of its central figures. Hal Jordan, portrayed with grit and stubborn vulnerability by Kyle Chandler, serves as the narrative anchor—even in death. Through the manifestation of a "Hal-o-gram," the series explores the intersection of inherited trauma, the burden of legacy, and the difficult reality of moving forward when one’s predecessor was a man who refused to be saved.
The Chronology of a Failed Escape
The episode opens on a note of defiant stubbornness. Hal Jordan, in his lifetime, was a man defined by an refusal to yield—whether against an alien armada or a stubborn Little League coach. However, "The Jordan Boys" shifts the lens to his internal battle: the "Jordan legacy." As revealed by the Hal-o-gram, Hal’s father, Martin (Jake B. Miller), viewed his depression as a hereditary curse, a narrative that Hal adopted as his own.
The narrative arc of the episode follows John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as he attempts to utilize the "fail-safe" box Hal left behind. After exhuming Hal’s grave to retrieve his ring, John activates the holographic remnant of his former partner. The contents of the box—a canteen, a poncho, two protein bars, a sidearm, and a "dark matter manhole" acting as a portal to an alien world—serve as a testament to Hal’s preparation for the unthinkable.
John and the Hal-o-gram traverse the portal to an abandoned, inverted city floating above an alien landscape. Here, the duo uncovers the remains of a civilization decimated by a Manhunter-deployed nerve agent, which induced mass hysteria and suicide. During this descent into madness, John experiences a harrowing psychic attack, hallucinating his own father and younger self. The Hal-o-gram, acting as both guide and anchor, saves John, leading them to the discovery of a trapped Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), who is desperate to flee the desolate planet.
Supporting Data: The Case for the Killer
While the investigation into Hal’s death remains the primary engine of the plot, Episode 7 offers more questions than answers. The suspicion directed at Sheriff Kerry (Kelly Macdonald) by the Hal-o-gram appears, at this stage, to be a narrative feint. Her lack of fear when confronted by the digital version of her former lover suggests a lack of guilt or, at the very least, a level of composure that belies the behavior of a murderer.
Current analysis of the suspects points toward Noah (Shea Pritchard). His focus on his "hat ceremony" serves as a strategic distraction, but it also underscores his emerging leadership qualities—traits that, in the context of the series, often hint at a darker, inherited influence from his Manhunter lineage.
Regarding Sinestro, the theory that he is the perpetrator remains shaky. Sinestro appears unaware of Hal’s death, and the logistics of the dark matter portal—which required Hal’s specific fail-safe access—make it unlikely that Sinestro was the one who orchestrated the murder. Instead, Sinestro appears to be a prisoner of the very system Hal was monitoring. The crucial question remaining for the season finale is whether Hal was protecting the universe from Sinestro, or if he was holding him as a secret, high-value asset.
The Psychological Implications of the Hal-o-gram
The most compelling aspect of "The Jordan Boys" is the distinction drawn between the real Hal Jordan and his holographic backup. The Hal-o-gram is not merely a data dump; it is a sentient, emotional construct that is learning the circumstances of its own death and the life it led.
Chandler’s performance highlights the tragic irony of the character: the Hal-o-gram is surprised to learn of his own imprisonment and his romantic life. His scene with Sheriff Kerry is particularly poignant, as he clearly delineates his identity: "I’m not him. I’m not your Hal. I mean, I would’ve been, but I’m, I guess, what he used to be."
This vulnerability forces a shift in John Stewart. The emotional distance that defined their relationship is bridged when the Sheriff reveals how deeply Hal admired John, comparing him to a favorite sports team—a source of both frustration and profound, unshakable loyalty. By the episode’s end, when John finally refers to the construct as "Hal," the series cements the transition of the Hal-o-gram from a mere tool into a surrogate father figure.
Official Perspectives and Character Growth
Beyond the mystery, the episode serves as a character study for John Stewart. Aaron Pierre’s performance is notable for its restraint, particularly in moments of vulnerability. The decision to portray John as an imperfect, tone-deaf singer during his quieter moments adds a layer of humanity that is often absent in high-stakes genre television.
Furthermore, the "reparations" plotline—where John pays a significant sum to a diner waiter to suppress information—suggests a character who is still grappling with his own culpability in the broader catastrophe. Whether this is an act of genuine remorse or a desperate bid to control the narrative of his own life remains to be seen.
The Final Countdown
As we approach the season finale, Lanterns has successfully transformed from a standard procedural into a complex meditation on legacy. The show poses a radical question: What happens when the hero is too broken to save himself, but leaves behind a blueprint for someone else to pick up the mantle?
The Hal-o-gram may not be the man who died, but as the episode suggests, he may be an improvement. He lacks the original’s self-destructive stubbornness, replacing it with an earnest desire to mend what was broken. For John Stewart, the arrival of this "better" Hal provides not just a mentor, but the emotional closure he didn’t realize he needed.
With one episode remaining, the stakes have never been higher. The mystery of the murder is secondary to the question of whether John can accept the mantle of the Jordan legacy without falling into the same trap of isolation that claimed his predecessor.
Grade: A-
Lanterns releases new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
Points of Clarity: "Good Luck or Oh Fuck"
- The Baseball Logic: While the scene at the airfield was thematically resonant, the sports logic remains the episode’s weakest link. Allowing a young pitcher to throw a nine-inning game in Little League is a professional malpractice that undermines the otherwise grounded tone of the show.
- The Soundtrack: The inclusion of "Shake Your Booty" by KC and the Sunshine Band as Hal’s "jam" was a rare moment of levity, providing a glimpse into the personality behind the legend.
- The Financials: The $315,000 bribe is a staggering figure. While it highlights John’s desperation, it invites questions about his financial stability after a decade in architecture—a detail that the show may address in the finale as his resources begin to dwindle.
