Lanterns episode 1 makes an incredibly bold storytelling choice that I didn't see coming and now I've got a wild theory about one of the new HBO Max
show's dual timelines

Date:
Mon, 17 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Description:
Lanterns' debut episode makes a fearless storytelling decision that'll shock viewers and spark a fierce debate among DC comic book fans.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Lanterns has finally premiered on HBO Max and, in a move reminiscent of Invincible 's first-ever episode on Prime Video, the new DC Universe (DCU) TV show wastes no time in delivering
an almighty shock in its first chapter.

Indeed, the sci-fi show's premiere, titled 'Pilot', ends with a moment
that'll completely stun viewers and likely upset DC comic book fanatics. I'm about to dig into the biggest talking point from Lanterns ' debut episode, so consider this your one and only warning: full spoilers immediately follow after the poll below. Turn back now if you haven't seen 'Pilot' yet, or else. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Is Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan really dead in Lanterns? Green Lantern fans and DC purists are going
to have a lot to say about this... (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO Max) It certainly seems that way. Of course, this could be a massive fake out after all, there are all manner of shapeshifting alien species that can impersonate humans in DC Comics, so it's possible that this is the case here.
Nonetheless, I believe that Chandler's Jordan has taken his last breath in
the DCU.

Okay, but how did we get here? For starters, this season's premiere wasn't
shy about teasing Jordan's demise. Indeed, minutes before his death, which takes place during the show's 2026 storyline, is shown, Jordan, Aaron
Pierre's John Stewart, and Kelly Macdonald's Sheriff Kerry Kane survive an attack from a suicidal bomber at Rushville's police station. You may like Lanterns episode 1 release date and launch time on HBO Max Lanterns review: a beacon of hope for the DCU after Supergirl's disastrous box office run Lanterns: release date, trailer, cast, plot, and what else we know about the DC Universe's Green Lantern TV show

This incident, which happens as part of Lanterns' 2016 storyline, is caused
by an alien masquerading as a human truck driver called Waylon Sanders. As
the unidentified extraterrestrial reveals, their skeleton is retrofitted with a biometric neutron device that they can activate with a single thought. Hal Jordan interrogates Waylon Sanders, who the former correctly identifies as an alien (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO Max) Prior to detonating the explosive gadget, Sanders goads Jordan over the latter's fearless nature, which Sanders interprets as Jordan wanting someone or something to kill him. In that respect, then, the DCU Chapter One series telegraphs his death before it happens. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Rather than bump off Jordan in 2016, though, Lanterns withholds his passing until a decade later. Indeed, Jordan uses his power ring to form a protective bubble around Sanders just before the assailant detonates his skeletal
device, thereby restricting the blast radius and saving the lives of everyone nearby.

But, that's not the end of the story. Five minutes before 'Pilot' ends, we skip ahead to 2026, which reteams us with Stewart as he heads to the same college football field that he and Jordan first met Sheriff Kane, and where their 2016 investigation into the deaths of four football fans began.

There, Stewart reunites with Kane and, after a bit of small talk about Kane's now-teenage son Noah, they head to a section of the bleacher seating where Jordan's snow-covered corpse is eventually revealed to be sitting. What to read next 7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO
Max, and more this weekend (August 14) What happens to [spoiler] in House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1? Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 1 OG death isn't actually shocking at all Who killed Hal Jordan in Lanterns
episode 1? Assessing the most likely candidates Anybody else react like this when they saw Hal Jordan's dead body? (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO Max) Alright, so who murdered Earth's first-ever Green Lantern ? We don't know,
but we can speculate on who pulled the trigger.

The first two and arguably most likely candidates are Sheriff Kane and the stadium's groundskeeper. Kane tells Stewart that the latter is the only other individual who currently knows that Jordan is dead. However, it's incredibly unlikely that the groundskeeper will be a prominent character moving forward, so we can rule them out.

We can do likewise with Kane. Sure, she's got a firearm to hand at all times, but I just don't see her wanting to draw heat over Jordan's death, and the potential ire of Stewart, the Green Lantern Corps, and/or the Guardians of
the Universe. Did Jordan's murderer steal his ring, too? (Image credit: HBO Max) So, who else could it be? Of the other characters we've met, I wouldn't be shocked if Garret Dillahunt's Will Macon is behind it, regardless of whether he actually committed the deed or not. Right now, though, he's formed something of an uneasy alliance with Jordan and Stewart, so a massive, relationship-breaking event would need to happen for Macon to be involved in Jordan's demise.

There are bound to be other would-be murderers who could've taken Jordan's life who we've yet to encounter, so we might be adding more names to our shortlist in the weeks ahead.

That said and hear me out on this before you pass judgement what if Jordan killed himself? He's a former special forces pilot, so he knows how to handle a gun. For all we know, Waylon was telling the truth about Jordan wanting is life to be over, too especially if, as an alien, the former has some form of perceptive superpower that allows his species to read someone else.

Who do you think killed Hal Jordan? Let me know in the comment section below. And, for more on the HBO Max show, read my Lanterns review . Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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