In last night's episode of Lanterns—you can read our spoiler breakdown here—Hal Jordan sets out to bring Rushville's Manhunter to justice by any means necessary. He's a hero, but is primarily motivated by earning the approval of the Guardians of the Universe and thereby keeping his ring.
When all is said and done, John Stewart makes the fateful decision to put a bullet in Zoe's head, killing the Manhunter. That seemingly ends the threat she poses, but did he do the right thing?
After assimililiating with those in Nebraska, Zoe has ensured that nobody gets sick. She cured William Macon's cancer and, if the hints in "Lights Out" are anything to go by, gave Sheriff Kerry her son. That means the people in Rushville owe her, and the Manhunter doesn't hesitate to murder them while attempting to deplete Hal's Green Lantern ring.
In an interview with Radio Times, Kyle Chandler stood by Hal's decision to take Zoe out. "I saw the description as not a symbiotic relationship with her in that town. I think of it more parasitically," he explained. "The only reason she's doing what she's doing is so she can keep her safety. She's still a threat and she's still a danger."
"It's like a really bad guy settling in, saying, 'Hey, I'm gonna hang out here. Don't tell anyone, and until I leave, I'll let you have free dinners,'" Chandler continued. "Once she's gone, she's not gonna care about whether [Rushville's citizens] starve or not. So I say the hell with her, and I'm glad she's gone! As a person, I love Poorna – she's great. But as a character, nah, I could care less [for Zoe]. I did my job."
Kelly Macdonald had a slightly different take, explaining that Kerry's mother-in-law, like many people, isn't necessarily "ever truly one thing or another." She added, "Zoe has really made my character a life. I think she's found a safe haven. But there was something a bit Stepford Wives about it. This little town has a bubble around it and protection. It all comes at a cost."
John Stewart actor Aaron Pierre didn't have a take on the Manhunter's fate but praised Lanterns for leaving her ending open to interpretation.
"At no point do you ever feel as though you're being lectured," he shared. "You feel like you're being invited to have a conversation as an audience member, and I think that's where the best moments exist."
The latest episode of Lanterns established that the Manhunter is programmed to force her way into a society and find ways to bring them under her control. That's exactly what happened in Rushville, and Zoe only seduced John to win him over (remember, she happily allowed him to burn so he'd agree to serve her in exchange for being healed).
So, with that in mind, Hal's motivations aside, it seems fair to say that he was right to want to take her out. John obviously realised that, too, even if he and Hal had a different way of going about it.
Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
Alongside Kyle Chander and Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jasmine Cephas Jones round out the cast.
Four episodes of Lanterns are now streaming on HBO Max.