FOXSYLVANIA

I’m a fan of The Green Lantern, and have been since childhood; he’s my second favorite DC character, ranking just after Superman. As a fan, I’m glad to see the Green Lantern as a series coming to HBO and HBO Max, but am somewhat apprehensive about the way that they’re treating the character and mythology. The Green Lantern needs to be treated as a sci-fi property, not as a detective and mystery concept…

Witness the new incarnation of Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) there on the right; he’s older, a bit worn and weary, and nearing retirement, engaged in the training of his 30-some years younger replacement, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). Not exactly cosmic looking, are they, and in their street clothes you don’t even see much green on them…

When you finally see the uniform, it looks kind of muddied, the greens looking kinda brownish-green. Muddied might be a good description of the show’s premise, which seeks to blend sci-fi, mystery, and superhero action. The Green Lanterns are kind of treated as an intergalactic police force working in precinct Earth…

Oh look!- -There’s the iconic Lantern! The eight-episode series to air in August supposedly has recognizable Green Lantern lore, and pays more attention to characterization than spectacle, which is one of the reasons that the Green Lantern movie of 2012 was a commercial failure despite having its moments…

So I’ll give this Green Lantern series a fair try. It’s not the sci fi Green Lantern that I wanted, but maybe it’s the Green Lantern that I deserved…and if Hal Jordan looks like he’s seen better days, haven’t many of us? Listen for the last line in this trailer clip, it’s a keeper…

(I always wanted to be a Green Lantern, but more of an intergalactic one…)