Lanterns Now Has the Worst Audience Score in the DC Universe on Rotten Tomatoes

“Lanterns” is over, the galactic green curtain has fallen, and fans have some pretty strong opinions about HBO’s latest superhero build. Overall, the series has received critical acclaim across the board. However, with a 69% rating, it currently has the lowest audience score on Rotten Tomatoes among all other DCU projects. For perspective, Season 2 of “Peacemaker” sits at 79% and Supergirl sits at 72%.

“It fails as a superhero series, fails as a Green Lantern series, and fails as a detective series,” one fan wrote. Another viewer commented: “It started well but lost its way by hiding the aliens and powers (including a photo of the Guardian with their backs turned). It only worked when I pretended it wasn’t a Green Lantern series.”

Looking through some of the more negative fan reviews, it takes about three seconds to see that there are two recurring points of contention with the series: its lack of cosmic spectacle and its treatment of Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan. So, let’s take a look at these reviews: put on your Power Rings, make sure they’re charged, and think about flying!

It’s almost universally agreed, even among the show’s detractors, that Kyle Chandler knocked it out of the Mogo-sized park with his performance as Hal Jordan – sorry Josh Brolin! However, Chandler’s incredible charisma and stellar vision as the iconic DC character is something of a double-edged sword for “Lanterns.”

Avid comic book readers know that Hal Jordan, who debuted in 1959, is a vital part of countless DC stories. Unfortunately, fans haven’t seen a live-action iteration of the character since Ryan Reynolds starred in the much-maligned 2011 film “Green Lantern.” After that, the Power Ring was mostly gathering dust until Nathan Fillion took over in James Gunn’s “Superman”…as Guy Gardner. So, it’s only natural that fans were delighted to see THE Green Lantern finally makes a triumphant return.

Hal Jordan’s viewers in “Lanterns” are a grizzled veteran who is clearly fed up with the politics involved in being a member of the Green Lantern Corps. He’s obviously and completely above this whole superhero thing. While many (including this writer) absolutely adored Jordan being portrayed as a reluctant and cynical mentor type, it’s understandable that some of the fandom would be disappointed. Chandler’s version of the character does not reflect Hal Jordan’s more jubilant, benevolent, and daring portrayal of the Silver Age; this iteration is only somewhat similar through the Halogram (arguably the best “character” in the entire series). On top of all that, the “Lanterns” premiere ends with Jordan’s literal murder, making the series a deep-rooted mystery, with the character’s disappearance casting a large emerald shadow over the story.

At its core, “Lanterns” is a rural Midwestern mystery. The series trades a flashy space opera spectacle for an earthy, grounded, character-driven arc that feels like something out of a Neal Adams panel. And honestly? That works. Some of the biggest scenes in the series are literally Hal and John being themselves, driving each other crazy in a bar or a car. The setting of the series allows for a very intimate view of the psyche of each character.

For any viewer expecting a “Star Wars”-style space adventure through the cosmos, it’s understandable that the HBO series might not be for them. Honestly, “Lanterns” is more like something like HBO’s “Watchmen” than, say, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Hell, as someone who loved the show, even I have to admit that it’s hilarious that “Peacemaker” features more real aliens than “Lanterns”!

Not a fan of the more down-to-earth approach taken by “Lanterns”? Have no fear! For a more colorful and cosmic depiction of Hal Jordan’s early adventures, be sure to check out the incredibly underrated and downright cult-favorite “Green Lantern: The Animated Series.”