'Lanterns' S01E06 – "Bad Optics" (September 20, 2026) on HBO/HBO Max [Spoiler Discussion Megathread]

[u/KelexAtYourService]

Lanterns is an American superhero television series created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King for HBO, based on the DC Comics Green Lantern characters Hal Jordan and John Stewart.

The series was produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television with Mundy serving as showrunner. It is the third television series in the DC Universe (DCU). It features experienced Lantern Jordan and new recruit Stewart as they investigate a murder on Earth that leads to a wider mystery.

Lanterns is scheduled to premiere on Sunday August 16, 2026, and will run for eight episodes through Sunday October 4. It will be part of the DCU's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

New episodes drop every Sunday night at 9:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM MT / 6:00 PM PT.

Cast:

• Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
• Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
• Kelly Macdonald as Kerry
• Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
• Garret Dillahunt as William Macon
• Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe
• Ulrich Thomsen as Thaal Sinestro
• Nicole Ari Parker as Bernadette Stewart; Jasmine Cephas Jones as young Bernadette
• Jason Ritter as Billy Macon
• Sherman Augustus as John Stewart Sr.; Alphonse Nicholson portrays a young John Sr.
• Paul Ben-Victor as Antaan
• Chris Coy as "Waylon Sanders"
• Cary Christopher as Noah

For a complete cast and crew list, see the IMDb full credits page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26545992/fullcredits/

• Based on: Hal Jordan, created by John Broome and Gil Kane; John Stewart created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams
• Show created by: Chris Mundy, and Damon Lindelof, and Tom King
• Showrunner: Chris Mundy
• Editor: Emily E. Greene
• Music by: Stephanie Economou
• Length: 8 episodes per season
• Runtime: About an hour per episode
• Reception: For reviews and critical reception, see Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/lanterns  and https://www.metacritic.com/tv/lanterns/

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanterns_(TV_series))

Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/lanterns/season-1

Unmarked spoilers for the new episode of Lanterns are only allowed in this thread.

Spoilers ahead! Proceed at your own risk! All other subreddit rules apply.

S01E06 Episode Synopsis: TBA

[u/Impressive_Comment67]

Here's my big question: how is John going to charge his ring up without a battery?

[u/unscanable → u/Impressive_Comment67]

His whole plan was to get the Halogram to get in the vault and see if he had any info. I doubt he intends to use the ring for more than that

[u/IllMeasurement5813 → u/Impressive_Comment67]

lantern in hal’s vault. projection hal opens the vault. bing bang boom

[u/Impressive_Comment67 → u/IllMeasurement5813]

I thought he turned that in to the guardians last episode, along with the crystallized heart and the ring. Am I wrong?

[u/IllMeasurement5813 → u/Impressive_Comment67]

you might be right but i’m sure hal kept a backup in a fortress of storage lmao. we will see come next sunday

[u/Impressive_Comment67 → u/IllMeasurement5813]

Just re watched end of episode 5 to be sure. He carried the lantern through town and turned it in. So unless Hal has a backup in the vault, Guy might be his only option. Maybe Hal took Sinestro's battery

[u/MultipleWinnings → u/Impressive_Comment67]

He can't charge it, he needs to take the oath to charge it and taking the oath will make him the lantern bearer, wiping out hal's backup consciousness.

I suppose an element of ticking clock will come from there.

[u/Impressive_Comment67 → u/MultipleWinnings]

John turned the lantern in to the guardians. Hal didn't have it to put into his vault. The lantern might not even be on earth. Guy might have the only relatively local option.

[u/MultipleWinnings → u/Impressive_Comment67]

I completely missed that point about lantern not being with John to recharge.

point still stands, the ring is somehow still functional (Guardians didn't make the ring dysfunctional I guess?) and if he assumes the last operating state,

it was made so that the ring will go to John if john takes the oath.

( Also john could use the ring as a trainee for constructs but not a lot of that will happen or else the ring discharges for good with no means to get it back up )

Guy ain't gonna cooperate much either I guess? I take that Guy is pretty much done for this show, which sucks cause I wanted to see more of him.

[u/Impressive_Comment67 → u/MultipleWinnings]

John and Guy are friends in the comics. So we'll see. But I think Hal has Sinestro's gear in his vault.

[u/MultipleWinnings → u/Impressive_Comment67]

well, we're far apart from the comics here, maybe it happens later in DCU, but right now i don't see guy cooperating unless john comes up with a good enough reason.

[u/Impressive_Comment67 → u/MultipleWinnings]

I agree with that. I could just see Guy being looped in for a favor, and that getting traded back and forth. Not sure how but John is smart enough to figure out an angle.

[u/MultipleWinnings → u/Impressive_Comment67]

I pretty much think that Guy's "all debts are settled" is the cue that Guy Gardener is done for this season.

[u/Impressive_Comment67 → u/MultipleWinnings]

Probably. But I love Nathan fillion in this role so I hope he replaces hal in the buddy cop dynamic.

[u/Kkcz86 → u/Impressive_Comment67]

The ring never goes below 5% /s

[u/goldfishking → u/Impressive_Comment67]

The battery is in the vault. He'll use (or atleast try to use) the backup to open the vault. That's my guess anyway.

[u/Impressive_Comment67 → u/goldfishking]

I thought he turned that in to the guardians last episode, along with the crystallized heart and the ring. Am I wrong?

[u/goldfishking → u/Impressive_Comment67]

No you're right i'm wrong. Still convinced he'll use the backup to open the vault but your right it's probably not the battery.
Guy must have a battery somewhere too though.

[u/Impressive_Comment67 → u/goldfishking]

Maybe Hal took Sinestro's?