Let's be honest, most superhero shows follow a pretty rigid script when it comes to their male characters: they're tough, they're stoic, and their most profound emotional connection is usually a grunt-off with their rival. But the new HBO series Lanterns is doing something a little different. It's a story about two space cops with power rings, yes, but according to its stars, it's also a love story.
The series centers on Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), a veteran Green Lantern who has become cynical over the years, and his new protégé, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), who he's tasked with training. The show jumps through time, showing us John's difficult childhood and the intense, often conflicting, relationship that develops between the two men as they face down cosmic threats.
But when actors Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler call it a "love story," they're not talking about romance. They're pointing to the deep, vulnerable, and platonic bond that forms the heart of the show. "The father/son aspect of this show... became apparent while we were shooting," Chandler explained, connecting it to his own experience of losing his father. "The love story is: he won my heart over in the end, and I was able to do what my father would have done for me."
This is a big deal in a genre that often feels allergic to showing men expressing genuine affection for one another. The first season builds to a finale where Hal and John share a heartfelt 'I love you'—a moment of pure vulnerability that feels earned after eight episodes of conflict and growth. It’s a powerful pushback against the heteronormative masculinity we're so used to seeing from our heroes.
For Aaron Pierre, the story's power also lies in its exploration of John Stewart's identity as a Black man becoming a superhero in America. The show directly confronts the racism he faces, which adds another layer to his journey. "[Lanterns] allows people who’ve experienced [racism] to feel seen, feel heard, and feel understood," Pierre said. "And to those whose experience it isn’t, it gives a number of beautiful access points to be able to empathize with it and understand it a little more."
Now, does the show have explicit queer representation? Not exactly. There's a hint that Hal Jordan might be pansexual, but no main characters are openly part of the LGBTQ+ community. This might feel like a missed opportunity, especially since the Green Lantern comics have a rich queer history, with the original Lantern, Alan Scott, being a gay man and fan-favorite Jo Mullein being a queer Black woman.
However, the show's core message of acceptance, vulnerability, and celebrating differences feels deeply queer. By focusing on a loving, non-toxic male relationship and tackling systemic discrimination, Lanterns tells a story that resonates with our community's experiences. It's a show that argues our differences should be a "point of education," not conflict.
So while we'll keep pushing for more explicit LGBTQ+ characters to join the Corps in season two, Lanterns has laid some impressive groundwork. It's a reminder that a love story doesn't always have to be romantic to be revolutionary.
