The storm subsides and the men continue. After a pause, the Halogram abruptly tells John that his father committed suicide, even though everyone thought it was an accident that occurred during his work as a test pilot. He tells the story of the day we saw at the top of the episode. When young Hal opened the safe, it was filled with cash, coins, and photographs – “and a bill. Old man, he was convinced we’d be better off without him. He said he’d had this pain all his life. He said it was getting worse. He couldn’t hide it. He couldn’t bear to let us see it. He couldn’t bear to let us see it.”
Hal’s grandfather had done the same, transmitted via a note that was in his own safe. “The same pain, passed down from generation to generation, from father to son,” the Halogram said sadly. “Man, I’m not fearless because I’m brave. I’m not afraid because I’m broken.”
John wonders if the Halogram thinks Hal killed himself. The construction considers the possibility that the sheriff found it and hid it to protect his inheritance. “Like you protected your father,” John says, and there’s real empathy in his voice when he says he’s sorry. “This is the first time you’ve called me Hal,” the Halogram notes.
They arrive on an island; John notes that he lost the gun. And there’s not much charge left on the ring. They head towards a building that gives off a menacing light. After only a few moments inside, a hooded figure grabs the halogram from behind and threatens to kill him if they don’t give him their ship and portal to the world. “Intern, they’re playing our song,” says the Halogram, code for which John should make the hologram disappear. He does so and punches the mystery man in the face.
His hood falls and it’s Sinestro. “You must be John Stewart,” said the former Lantern. “Nice arm, kid,” the Halogram said to John, echoing what his father had told him after throwing the ball at the top of the hour.
The final shot of the episode is of young Hal, still in his funeral costume, retrieving the ball his father told him to throw away.
Now it’s your turn. What is your current theory about Hal’s death? Tell us everything in the comments!
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat with 988lifeline.org. Text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor from Crisis Text Line.
Gn entert
