Lanterns from DC a series I was eskeptical at first mostly because there has never been a good representation on movies or life action tv but this one is getting better as it goes. The series unfolds the life of Hal Jordan and his replacement who he is not all for it, the only way he is getting the ring is over his dead body, this trainee is John Stewart, after such phrase makes me think is no different from a cops show but this one is based on intergalactic cop. This episode take place in a small Nebraska town with Hal and John working a case that at first is very messy and if you are like me who dont know much about the lore is going to be very insteresting, reminds me a lot of my expirience watching Peacemaker. For me the most impresive moment is that the scene of John dad shooting to an apple that is on John's head but before the shut John only says I'm not afraid, that attitude of zero fucks let us know what is John attitude and how it will be important for his training although as an adult he still kinda hidding it, its almost like that kind of child who is so small yet that have never learn what fear is but this time its on purpose so he can be choose by the Guardians. Unfortunately Hal is careless about John, he just arrived late when they supposed to met, never treat him with respect, let John knows that he is the actual Green Lantern and that will continue in that way until his dead. I really saw a person that is a hero but at the same a normal human that has episodes where he really take a most serious attitude as his job demands and at the same time is a total ass with John because feels that his days as heroes soon being over. Truth is that they both very different one from each other, the way they were picked by the Guardians and you can fell there is something there, the case of John is different at Hal, the ring didn't chose John, he was selected, the Green Lantern community just decided that John is the perfect person. During the episode Hal will put John in situations to intimidate him probably for stop training but John is not there to be Hal's cheerleader, he is a real person that will go until end to accomplish his goals and is something that the episode is obviously shows, specially the very moment were Hal give the ring to John, Hal was driving, passed the ring to John and let him fall from a cliff to save himself, in that moment John has never wore the ring and doesn't know how to use but even though he manage to make it work and save his life, after that traumatic moment John called his dad to told him everything he is passing through but his dad only says, you were choose, you wanted this, just fight for it, I really love that scene of this episode because let me know that the backup Green Lantern is a human that care about his dad making John, in my opinion a way bigger Green Lantern than the average although having a family at the same time have such power is always a weakness too because you care, for a future hero.
This first episode shows the relationship between Hal and John. Hal is older, tired and not excited about training the guy who is supposed to replace him, just imagine that you are on your duty for so long, your destiny is to be the hero in your planet, you are doing a great job but you also know that you are getting older and with John is a constant reminder that your days as the super hero will end, but he is not that old, mostly I think he is just getting lost and the Guardians are noticing this even though they dont interfer that much. Hal is not a bad person but is not making the things easy for John, a dream job for John since he was a kid, not only for him but for his entire family, that also means accepting that bad attitude and that pushed himself to the limit of patience to stay focus on his future duty. There's many scenes that you going to pick up were Hal is just a total asshole with John but in general is not doing what he supposed, guide John to be the future Green Lantern just because he doesn't accept that things are changing. Even though that it seems that they hate each other but over time when John starts to proove Hal they both start to grow respect for each other, John can't deny that Hal is a great hero, he trusts in his experience and Hal probably also respect John's tenacity. Aaron Pierre plays John and Kyle Chandler is Hal, each create the characters on his own good, Aaron as John plays that restraint well without making him feel empty and Kyle Chandler makes Hal annoying without making me want him off screen, they are really a great cast.
The episode shows now why Nebraska is important specially for that small town enviroment that is very tight where not everyone is willing to speak and tell what they have seen or heard, its when a case appear, in the most common place of the town at the football field, there's dead bodies that not seem to have anyone looking for them, with his experience Hal notice that it is odd, why everyone is leaving the field but not a single family member of the dead person is coming in, since that moment Hal knew that this wasn't a normal case, there's something not human involve and he is a guy that takes justice and action by his hands, the moment the police doesnt pay much attention to him is like "ok at least I told you", then he proceed as he see fit. Hal wanted to manage this by his own but John like to follow the rules and the law so he decided to look for the sheriff and tell her what is happening but in that moment the guy who turns as the main suspect noticed that and started to run. My thoughts when I saw that was that in fact John almost screw everything and the suspect could scape but it happens because Hal hasn't taught nothing valuable to John, yeah John have all those no fear quality but zero expirience at the space cop job, he has training and discipline as he was a marien but not Hal experience yet. I think the script make it too easy for them and thats when they capture the suspect and at the beginning of the interrogation didn't say a word, here I feel that was a good idea that the suspect never revealed everything, he just leave he door open to let us imagine how much of a big menace is coming and as expected the suspect know who Hal is, knows that he running out of powers and know for who he works, knows him very well, so just give him a hint for be prepared for what is coming.
I need to mention that the things in town after that dead started to get a little bit twisted, specially when sheriff asked Hal and John to please stay away from her case and it was a fair request because the dead man appeared in a football camp in her little town. Something strange was the appearance of William Macon, it is a subordinate of a very important man and Hal and John received an invitation to visited him, apparently this person knows about the aliens, that information let's people know that this character is more connected with things that happen on Earth and outside of it, is going to be really interesting see the face of that person and confirm if it is an allied or a threat for Hal. An very very unexpected event that again remind me of Peacemaker, this time S02E01 with the orgy scene, its is this solo moment of John, he met a woman named Zoe in a bar and they ended having sex in his car, probably for many people in real life that is so natural but in this case Im not so sure if it was necessary, doesnt go at all with his character to be hones, its like the show has created a very controlled John, with all his senses connected and in alert and for that reason at first I though well this is unnecessary but then I understand that the show is constantly remembering that no matter who is Green Lantern is, still being human and the fact that John decided to be with that woman placed in a more real situation, I like that.
The ending of this episode was really a shocker because I dont know if Hal is that stubborn that even after his death he wont let John take the ring, or it got stolen, second one I doubt. Many years has passed in the little town of Rushville, a more mature John has returned and was received by the sheriff who apparently has a long relationship with him, because decided that he should be the first one in seen the crime scene and that scene was shocking, we see a Hal sitting at the same field with a wound in his head and no ring. For me this is the point, the episode doesn't give any clue of who could be the responsible of killing Hal, also never mention if John is ready to take his place as the new Green Lantern, in addition the ring is lost but it is lost because some took it or because Hal hide it, there's so many question and that is great, because it tells that the show is going to take its time to give the audience the answer, not in a rush and can also make us work and create our own answer. I really want to continue watching this tv show, I need to know what really happen with Hal, why if he was presented a someone so difficult, capable, funny and sometimes weird, why he ended like that, I also need to know if John will be capable to find and wild the ring and become the new Green Lantern, how long is going to take John find all he answers, if this is going to be the entire season 1 as a trainee and towards the end we get to this very same point or will this be a season 2 scene, awesome show so far, I gave this episode 7/10.
Rating: 70/100
