※This article contains spoilers for "Lanterns." Please read with caution.※
※This article contains spoilers for "Lanterns." Please read with caution.※
※This article contains spoilers for "Lanterns." Please read with caution.※
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The premiere episode of HBO's new DC series "Lanterns" has ignited immediate controversy among Green Lantern fans following its shocking ending.
The episode's conclusion fast-forwards approximately ten years, returning to the football field seen earlier, where it's revealed that Hal Jordan is now a corpse, his power ring missing, and John Stewart is not in possession of a ring either. While the series is expected to jump between 2016 and 2026 timelines in the future, the creative team has confirmed that Hal is indeed dead in the modern timeline.
This development has left many fans deeply dissatisfied. Some viewers criticized the new DCU for losing Hal Jordan just as it's beginning, calling it unacceptable. Others angrily denounced it as a "garbage universe that disrespects DC characters."
Another segment of the fanbase expressed disappointment with Hal's overall portrayal in the show, feeling he was depicted as older, cynical, and struggling with alcoholism, which they felt didn't truly honor the character's comic book charisma. Some online commentators pointed out that a buddy-cop space series requires both protagonists to be established, and if Hal exits in the first episode, it will be difficult to sustain the subsequent storyline. Some even speculated that this might explain why major actors like Josh Brolin and Matthew McConaughey previously passed on the role of Hal.
However, showrunner Chris Mundy told IGN in an interview that the team needed the murder mystery to carry as much emotional weight as possible to engage John, Hal, and the audience. He admitted that dealing with Hal's death was a significant and daunting choice, and thus the team aimed to present it with sufficient care.
Other viewers suggested that making the victim of the case a familiar character like Hal could indeed make the central mystery more compelling. Nevertheless, some fans online are speculating that Hal might not actually be dead, citing the appearance of shapeshifting aliens and a holographic version of Hal in the premiere, leaving more questions unanswered in this controversial ending.
via： IGN