re: The DC Studios series Lanterns premieres today, August 16, 2026, at 9:00 p.e. ET.

The show is full of that. We just blow past logic, reason, basic function of society so we can get to the tropes and messaging. It’s been the entire show from ep1

Gunn not liking a genuine hero? Shocking!

Same James Gunn i said shouldn’t have control over any Superman project. He doesn’t get it. Never will. Gunn’s schtick is off beat, edgy college level humor. That & subverting expectations.

Tried to say I told y’all so.

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My wife and I are really confused as to why Hal Jordan would go to Federal Prison.

For what?

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It's a good question which hasn't been answered. I'm hoping there's an answer coming this week and this isn't just a "hand wave" from the writers (when writers leave some rule, plot point, etc. unexplained because it's more convenient for the plot for them to just "wave their hand" past it, hoping the audience will not question the lack of logic).

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Even for the townspeople. What do y’all not get about a bunch of aliens we’re going to blow up your town? Yeah, it was wrecked, but it could not be here at all.

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I think that's a bit more hand-waving in that you can make some decent assumptions by paying close attention, but you really shouldn't have to for something like this.

There were mentions of the manhunter "healing" people. We've heard characters talk about psychological/emotional healing, but one of the earlier episodes made a point of showing the hospital and talking about how little people there need to use it.

The ranch seemed to be an economic engine for the area. Its falling could be a big part of why the town fell apart (in the last episode, I think the part of the police station is visible and the wall is still being held up by bracers from when alien self-detonated in the first episode).

The entire town mobilized to protect the manhunter when the alien suiciders came to take it/her down. They likely blame the GLs for not taking them out and they likely know John (or at least figure it was either he or Hal) actually took out the manhunter.

This is all about killing the goose which was laying their golden eggs. There are points there but while they were present to see, those plot points were lost behind the focus on the struggle between John and Hal.