Lanterns episode 4, "The Weenie," answers a lot of big questions and raises a few new ones as the DC Studios series reaches its halfway point on HBO.
Hal Jordan's meeting with Sinestro doesn't last much longer than what we've seen in trailers, but the hero acknowledges that he knows John Stewart is there to replace him and learns more about Manhunters from his old mentor. It turns out that their hearts crystallise when they die, a piece of intel that should help John figure out whether that's really Hal in the 2026 timeline.
Sinestro believes that Hal can save his ring by disgracing John, a plan that the Green Lantern certainly doesn't dismiss. After another yellow-tinged title card, we're back on Earth for a meeting between John and the Guardian, Lianna. After criticising him, she tells the former Marine that the next time he wears the ring, he must recite the Green Lantern oath and it will become his.
Something feels fishy, and even John seems unsure, as he decides not to steal it that way when he and Hal dig their way into Will Macon's compound (for those keeping track, the construct count this episode is mining equipment, a weight, and a shield).
Hal and John are captured by an advanced weapon that cloaks them in darkness, and brought before Macon, who makes the latter sketch him as he poses nude. Sheriff Kerry arrives in time to get them back to the motel, where Zoe visits John before they sleep together.
However, as Macon's wife leaves, a satellite shoots down a beam of energy, destroying her car and killing her. With Kerry's help, they track the satellite to a company named Atlas Inc., owned by one Hector Hammond. One of Hal's greatest foes in the comics, he operates from a slaughterhouse, using advanced alien technology—with the same teleportation tech as the Guardians—to kill cattle.
While Hammond introduces himself as the Manhunter, he's lying about that and his name: he's just Hector Gutierrez, a former engineering student, gifted this technology by the alien who he claims is secretly Will Macon. This is a waste of a major comic book villain, though the misdirect does make it seem as if Hammond is the show's big bad, albeit for only a few minutes.
Gutierrez revealed to Hal that John has been in contact with the Guardians about replacing him, and a surprisingly cordial conversation between him and John follows. John calls the alien hit squad to meet him, but it's then revealed that he and Hal have both figured out Zoe is still alive and is really the Manhunter (John didn't show any grief upon her death, but becomes distressed when his parents are threatened).
With that, Hal jumps from the car and leaves John to crash, this time without a ring to protect him.
So, Zoe is the mysterious Benefactor, the hospital is empty because her Manhunter technology is keeping the townspeople healthy, and Hal has seemingly taken Sinestro's advice by attempting to kill his trainee. With four episodes of Lanterns left, the twists may keep coming, and something tells us Lianna isn't all she seems.
Could she also be a Manhunter, looking to take Hal off the board so John can be easily manipulated? There's something oddly villainous about her, that's for sure. As for the yellow title card, it may reflect Hal's fear of being replaced or a hint that he'll fully break bad in the weeks ahead and become Parallax. We'll have to wait and see.
Four episodes of Lanterns are now streaming on HBO Max.