Elizabeth Minkel

We're very lucky to have @hellotailor back to recap another show already: HBO's Lanterns! In her episode 1 breakdown, she assesses our character introductions, gives us some Green Lantern backstory, and suggests we temper any True Detective expectations:

As for the True Detective connection, the similarities are obvious—including the time jump I’m about to discuss in this episode’s final scene. But I’m not sure it was a smart idea to encourage direct comparisons to one of HBO’s most popular titles. Lanterns and True Detective share a lot of DNA as crime dramas about rural Americana, masculinity, and the fallibility of law enforcement. Both revolve around difficult partnerships between two (kind of) cops on a (kind of) murder investigation, and HBO even attempted to cast Matthew McConaughey as Hal Jordan.  But Lanterns features far less sophisticated characterization and direction than the iconic debut season of True Detective, centering on relatively straightforward reimaginings of John Stewart and Hal Jordan. That doesn’t mean Lanterns is a bad show, but it definitely plays into the inside-baseball media commentary about HBO embracing mainstream franchise material.

Tram , Streetcar Foggy Day - Jacques Soulas , 2024.

French , b.  1957 -

Peter Hujar. Bucking Horse, 1985.

Chestnut Leaf - Lars Crona , 1977

Swedish , 1930-1991

Pink Wildflowers Field - Isca Greenfield-Sanders, 2025.

American , b. 1978 -

Louise Bourgeois, 2006

Beach at Solsidan - Oskar Bergman , 1952.

Swedish , 1879-1963