Lanterns: Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan Finally Feels Human

The internet loves a superhero take that subverts expectations. "Lanterns" does that, and TheWrap's appreciation (spoilers within) makes the case that Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan is the best version yet — not because he's more powerful, but because he's more human.

TheWrap's critic admits Hal Jordan was never their favorite Green Lantern. The comics version felt like an emblem of willpower, charming but distant. Chandler changes that. From the premiere's bar scene — where Hal's scheme with a jukebox ends with a grin as cops press him — to his clever interrogation of an alien scout, Chandler embodies the cockiness without the cartoon. TheWrap calls that moment a hook for comic fans.

What makes this Hal different isn't just the performance. The writers (Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, Tom King) made bold choices: Hal rushes through the Green Lantern oath like poison; he can't bear to recharge his ring. The first episode ends with him dead on bleachers, and he stays dead through the finale. No resurrection this season.

TheWrap's critic admits they thought the internet would hate these changes. Instead, audiences met the show on its terms. The take: "I will 10 times out of 10 prefer to see writers animated to carve their own path over an uninspired recreation." The big swings — Hal's new origin in episode seven, his Gollum-like desperation for the ring — land because they serve character, not lore.

TheWrap's critic concludes: after reading hundreds of Green Lantern comics, the show doesn't recreate the best stories, but it understands what makes them special. Hal's final battle is a willpower of a different kind — the will to live, to seek amends, to say "I love you" as dying words.

Our read: "Lanterns" earns its eight hours by treating Hal Jordan as a man, not a myth. That's a risk most DC projects won't take. TheWrap's appreciation is right: this is the best Hal Jordan has ever been, precisely because he's finally allowed to be broken.

• DCU
• Green Lantern
• Hal Jordan
• Kyle Chandler
• Lanterns
• TheWrap