Lanterns - A Superhero Show That Hates Superheroes

Overview

The video is a critique of “Lanterns,” arguing that it’s a cynical, slow, and poorly executed attempt to blend political commentary and a deconstructionist style within a superhero setting.

Main Points / Arguments

• Derivative “same-ness” of the DCU: The presenter compares James Gunn’s DC slate to different flavors of the same product—suggesting that regardless of the title, the tone and approach feel repetitive and cynical.

• Political messaging replaces creativity: The show is described as heavily influenced by Damon Lindelof (likened to True Detective), but the presenter claims it substitutes intelligence and creativity for “race bait” and political fixation.

• Misuse of the superhero premise: Rather than treating the world like intergalactic “space cops” fighting alien threats, the show is characterized as mostly a police procedural with only shallow superhero elements—implying the writers don’t understand either superhero storytelling or police procedure.

• Pacing and exposition problems: After watching the pilot, the presenter says the series is an “absolute chore,” citing:

  • A plot that moves too slowly
  • Dialogue that “spells out” what’s happening instead of using subtlety
  • Characters and scenes that stall while the plot catches up

• Allegory-heavy immigration/race narrative: The reviewer claims the show repeatedly and bluntly telegraphs political allegories—especially around modern immigration and race—without subtlety (described as removing “all the subtlety,” likened to a “thermobaric weapon”).

• Specific plot complaints (episode structure):

  • 1996 framing: A young John Stewart is trained/connected to Hal Jordan, including an early scene involving Hal’s past and John’s reaction to threats.
  • Mass shooting setup in Nebraska: The team investigates a shooting at a football game, then faces “girl boss” delays that the reviewer says stretch real plot into filler.
  • Alien-in-disguise thread: The shooter is revealed as an alien, but the reviewer complains Hal isn’t allowed to interrogate effectively and the pacing is contrived to fit an hour.
  • Repeated timeline jumps: Later, the show jumps forward again to where Hal’s body is found—framed as a “middle-aged white man character arc” ending via death to make room for more diversity (as the reviewer interprets it).

• Unlikable characters and weak subtext: The presenter states that nearly all characters (except Hal) are unlikable. They also criticize forced/explicit lines—especially a claim that writers ignore subtext, leading to awkward or clashing dialogue (e.g., “I definitely slept with his wife”).

• Acting assessment:

  • Kyle Chandler is praised as doing his best despite “shocking material.”
  • Aaron Pierre is criticized as wooden and lacking charisma, with the reviewer claiming it makes it hard for him to carry the series.

Overall Conclusion

The show is summarized as combining the “worst of every world,” failing to balance superhero fun with heavy-handed political cynicism. The reviewer says they won’t continue watching.

Presenters / Contributors

• Unspecified single presenter/reviewer (the narrator of the video).