DC veteran Grant Morrison reviewed Lanterns, and they had more than a few criticisms of its “morally and legally incoherent” finale.
The comic book writer – who worked on projects like The Green Lantern, Doom Patrol, and many more – made their feelings about the new DCU TV show clear in a new post for their Xanaduum Substack. Overall, they said, Lanterns “worked,” but their thoughts on the package as a whole are a bit complicated.
Morrison admitted they “fell asleep” while watching Lanterns episodes 6 and 7. That’s “not because they were boring,” though; it’s just that watching TV “feels like a much-appreciated moment of relaxation and drift.” For them, the Green Lantern HBO series actually managed to mostly pull off its True Detective-inspired story, and that’s thanks to two things: Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart and Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan.
“Lanterns worked as a show and it’s mostly down to the two leads, particularly Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan,” Morrison explained. “They have a great supporting cast which helps, but it’s the two principals and their chemistry and charisma that sells the whole thing – so maybe those True Detective comparisons had some basis after all!”
Warning! Spoilers for the Lanterns Season 1 finale follow.
It’s a mostly glowing start to their review that quickly took a turn for the worse. The DC legend then said they “didn’t really like the ending,” even if it was all “neatly put together.” Their primary issue lies with Kelly Macdonald’s Sheriff Kerry, who split the fanbase when she was revealed to be Hal Jordan’s killer in the show’s final moments.
The actual moment itself is quite tense, showing the character firing a single shot at the Green Lantern hero after he discovered her son, Noah, was a Manhunter in disguise. He’s only able to give out half of a game plan and a quick “I love you” before his time in the DCU was cut short, and it’s led many to raise complaints about how it all played out. For Morrison, it was hard to accept that “everyone seemed fine with that psychotic break.”
“There should probably have been some response to that, because otherwise it makes it really hard for the audience to work out what makes the Green Lantern Corps an intergalactic law enforcement agency at all,” they said. “The Guardians are now fine with their operatives being murdered while other officers simply ignore the fact and let the perps walk free?”
The Green Lantern writer then acknowledged and explanation from Lanterns writer and fellow comic book author Tom King. King said Kerry’s having to live with her actions was punishment enough, but that’s not a satisfying enough answer for Morrison.
“I watched the show; Kerry lost her shit in a way that made her seem unhinged and she shot a superhero in the head out of pique,” they added. “John Stewart also let the Manhunter go free, knowing that he could one day destroy the world. For a show that’s not about masked vigilantes with their own personal code but deals with weird space policemen working for an interplanetary judiciary, it was a morally and legally incoherent conclusion that backed out of its own implications and the basic premise of the franchise.”
Although there are rumors of a Lanterns Season 2 being in early development at HBO, Morrison isn’t holding their breath for things to pan out. Although there have been some teases – particularly from bad guy Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) – about bringing back Chandler as Parallax, losing Hal Jordan could mean losing half of what made the show so great for many. Pierre is great, but without that dynamic, there’s no telling how a second season could land the plane like the first. As Morrison said, “We’ll see.”
Meanwhile, Morrison is continuing their work in the comic book world with a new project outside of the DC wheelhouse. As announced at New York Comic Con 2026, the author is now set to work with IDW Publishing on a new run based on James Bond. Details about how it fits into the 007 universe have yet to be revealed.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
