LANTERNS: Episode 1.1: “Pilot”
A veteran superhero and his trainee take on an alien invading earth.
Should You Watch It?
Adults who are DC fans should know what universe they're stepping into. The series puts the spotlight on Green Lantern, a hero who hasn't graced screens in years, and it does so in a provocative way. Adults should know the heavy language runs heavy throughout, with frequent f-words.
One scene finds a main character in a truck with a stranger from the bar, and things get physical pretty quickly. That stranger's identity ties back to another character in a way viewers won't see coming.
On the flip side, plenty of moments here will make you laugh. Green Lantern's confidence gets the better of him more than once, and he and John Stewart, the next Green Lantern, trade plenty of good-natured banter.
The episode also holds several wholesome moments. A flashback shows John as a boy, and his father beams with pride. John leans heavily on that bond for strength and encouragement whenever he gets frustrated with Hal.
Consider this fair warning: this Lantern's light comes wrapped in some serious shadows, so adults can watch, but they should brace themselves first.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESThe first episode follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan and rookie John Stewart as they investigate a mysterious death in a small Nebraska town. What starts as a murder case soon takes an unexpected turn when they uncover evidence of an extraterrestrial threat. As Hal and John follow the clues, they discover a mystery that reaches far beyond the small town. Years later, John returns to the same place and finds Hal dead, forcing him to uncover what happened to his mentor.
Is It Any Good?
Despite the negative content, this episode still earns three stars for its craft. The CGI alone signals a top-notch budget, and several high-intensity scenes ratchet up the suspense. In one, Hal leaps from a car in motion to teach John a lesson, and John must find a way to save himself before the car goes over the edge of a cliff.
The moral core here proves harder to pin down, but it centers on Hal Jordan. He plays the part of a selfish tough guy, yet the story still trusts him with the weight of Green Lantern, and by the end he cares about the fate of the whole planet more than himself.
Quieter scenes between the crashes and chases keep that arc grounded and give the episode its rhythm. Still, the sex scene and the crude language work against the story rather than for it, especially since plenty of other superhero shows manage the same stakes without either.
The Worldview
The series leans on a Pagan worldview, one that trusts a magic ring to save people rather than any higher power. The episode roots that power in the self and hands the Green Lantern title to whomever the ring chooses.
That idea runs directly against what the Bible teaches: that our strength and power come from God, not from within. The story also brings in aliens and other planets across the galaxy.
A Humanist worldview surfaces too. One man refuses to train his replacement as Green Lantern and clings to his position out of pride, though he still steps up to protect the planet when it counts.
A positive moral worldview also shows up in a small-town Nebraska sheriff who takes his duty to protect and serve seriously and follows the rules. Hal, by contrast, thinks his status as Green Lantern puts him above those same rules. Proverbs 16:18 warns that pride goes before a fall, and Hal’s confidence that his ring puts him above the law drives that warning home.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
A strong pagan worldview where power comes from the one the ring chooses that allows the owner to manifest anything they want. A mild pro-family element where a father and son share a proud moment, a son who leans on his father for encouragement, and another moment where a character teaches a young boy to throw a football. Strong humanist worldview where the main character is too prideful to teach someone else how to become the Green Lantern
Foul Language
Heavy foul language with 50 profanities including 18 "Sh" words, 36 "F" words. The Lord’s name is taken in vain several times
Violence
Action violence includes a bar fight scene, a car flying off a cliff and crashing, a fighter jet crashing, and an alien blowing himself up
Sex
A man and a women who are strangers have depicted sex in a truck outside of the bar, there is no nudity shown
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
Two characters drink alcohol at a bar, a character mentions being hungover
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drug abuse;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Lying, adultery, and bad role models.
Talk About It
Four questions for the couch, the commute, or the couple bingeing it together.
John leans on his father's voice for strength when he's frustrated with Hal. What source actually builds you up when you're overwhelmed or in over your head? Philippians 4:13
Hal Jordan acts like a self-interested loner but ultimately risks everything for people he doesn't even know. Can someone's actions reveal a character that their words or reputation don't? Matthew 7:16
The episode opens with John and his brothers scrambling to hide what they were watching before their father gets home. What does hiding things from those we love cost us? Proverbs 28:13
John's father tells him not to be afraid, and that moment shapes who John becomes. Who has spoken courage into your life, and how did it change you? Joshua 1:9
The Final Word
Overall, this episode fits adults who love superheroes and can handle heavy profanity, plenty of violence, and one sex scene. The action brings excitement, while the humor and banter between the main characters provide some genuine laughs. This episode gives grown-up DC Comics fans plenty to enjoy, but even the brightest Green Lantern ring can't hide the darkness that comes with it.
