HBO's 'Lanterns' Final Episode Explained

(L to R) Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler in 'Lanterns'. Photo: John Johnson/HBO Max.

So that was Season 1 of HBO’s ‘Lanterns’. The DC Studios series, which saw Kyle Chandler playing arrogant, charismatic Lantern Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as the more stoic, but badass John Stewart, has now wrapped its first run. And what a run!

Lanterns

"Only one can wear the ring."

TV-MADrama Mystery Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Audience

Release Aug 16, 2026

WHERE TO WATCH

The series very much leaned into a crime and family story a la ‘True Detective’ but had enough superhero actions to keep fans happy. It wrapped up its mysteries and left small threads dangling for the future –– but not giant questions, just in case a second season never happens.

What was Sinestro up to?

Ulrich Thomsen stars in 'Lanterns'. Photo: John Johnson/HBO Max.

In the finale, it is revealed that Noah (Shea Pritchard) –– more on him in a moment –– broke the villainous former Lantern (and Hal’s former mentor) out of his imprisonment, and puts him on a distant planet, the very one that main manhunter Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan) destroyed.

So what does Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) get out of this? His freedom, and a chance to take revenge on the Guardians that he hates after they threw him in the slammer for killing one of their number. Noah figured he could craft a Lantern to give him the power to kill Guardians, but Sinestro in turn hoped Hal would use the power to kill Noah instead. When John shows up on the dead planet with the hologram version of the late Hal Jordan, Sinestro switches his plan to have John use the power.

Sadly for him, John and the "Halogram" leave him stranded on the dead planet. But he’s not dead, so there’s still a chance we’ll see him again.

Who is the Remaining Manhunter?

Shea Pritchard stars in 'Lanterns'. Photo: John Johnson/HBO Max.

As it turns out, it’s Noah! Yes, the subject of much fan speculation, Noah turns out to be the other Manhunter in town, created when Zoe used her regeneration machine on Kerry’s (Kelly Macdonald) severed finger years ago.

Yet far from becoming a bringer of death, Noah is conflicted thanks to his human upbringing, and wants John to kill him using Hal’s ring (to be recharged via the lantern Sinestro created).

John, however, decides to spare him, but takes the ring and lantern so he’s prepared in case Noah’s Manhunter programming takes over in future.

Who Killed Hal and is He Really Dead?

(L to R) Aaron Pierre and Kelly Macdonald in 'Lanterns'. Photo: John Johnson/HBO Max.

Yes, Hal Jordan is dead. And despite Noah confessing to killing the Lantern, he’s actually lying because of his love for the person who is truly responsible –– his mother Kerry. Turns out, she’s overwhelmed with emotion when Hal (who she’s been in a relationship with) reveals he knows Noah’s secret, and shoots him in the head, leaving him to freeze on the high school stadium's bleachers.

John Stewart Takes the Ring

Aaron Pierre stars in 'Lanterns'. Photo: John Johnson/HBO Max.

After letting Kerry knows that he knows about Noah –– and assuring her he won’t kill the lad for now –– Stewart takes Hal’s ring and the Sinestro-built Lantern and summons smug current Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and lets him know he’s on to the Guardians machinations, and that Guy really is no threat to John.

In return, John plans to be the Green Lantern of Earth (Guy gets to keep the rest of the sector), which in turn sets up Aaron Pierre appearing in ‘Superman’ follow-up ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ due in theaters on July 9th, 2027.

Editorial Note: Moviefone Editor-in-Chief Jami Philbrick contributed to this article.