Lanterns Season 1 Episode 4 Irons Out the Kinks in John Stewart — Review

My biggest criticism of John Stewart so far is that he hasn’t felt like a real person.

Based on his character-centric hour in Lanterns Season 1 Episode 3, “OutKast,” we were expected to accept that his upbringing made him a robot.

But I haven’t bought this because, unless he was brought up in isolation, he must have picked up some human behavior at some point.

One thing I was afraid the show would do is just hide behind his upbringing to absolve him of the consequences of his actions or prop him up as a big baby.

But Lanterns Season 1 Episode 4, “The Weenie,” confidently rounds him out by adding another fun dimension while teasing that there must be a functioning adult human underneath.

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This is just a fun hour through and through.

Aaron Pierre gets the opportunity to showcase his comedy skills, something his past roles haven’t fully offered him.

We caught glimpses of his humor in past episodes, like the dry delivery of “sir,” but it didn’t emerge as clearly as it does here.

“Let me guess, if I want the tomato I’ve got to get the ham too?” Freaking hilarious. And the sarcasm dripping from that interaction? Top-tier.

The episode walks this line of humor throughout, and even Hal notices that John is lighter than usual.

It’s probably why he’s able to discern the dutiful sidekick from afar.

But above all, really, this hour is about their relationship. They have been playing friends for however long they’ve been together, despite John harboring some pretty nefarious intentions.

The characters achieve some semblance of parity in a lot of things as Hal’s trips to space give rise to warranted paranoia.

Sinestro — whose role I still don’t understand because I’m not a comic book nerd — walks him through everything, and all Hal has to do is pay attention to confirm his suspicions.

Even in this fragile state, as each seeks to catch the other by surprise, Hal and John do some great work tracking down the manhunter.

I love how the show doesn’t let their problems interfere with the common goal because if the threat materializes, nothing else will matter.

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There might be a lie here and there, but they still remain partners. If what I suspect is happening comes to pass, they will need the partnership.

We also get some more lore into the manhunter. It can pass pretty well, but the lack of history and a crystallized heart are the ultimate tells.

It’s not much to go on, but at least it is something. Researching every suspect would be hard, and a crystallized heart is even harder.

Finally, Zoe’s place in the narrative becomes clear.

She has been lurking in the background since the Lanterns series premiere, even when she did not fit into the story. She somehow seems to appear at inopportune times.

While the show has tried to tie her to a love triangle between herself, Macon, and John, I had a creeping suspicion that there is more than meets the eye with her.

So she’s the manhunter? Everything seems to suggest that, but it can’t be so easy.

Somehow I keep thinking there is something everyone is missing. Even if she is the manhunter (womanhunter?), there must be a rational explanation.

That may be why John doesn’t reveal what he discovered to Hal: he thinks there is more than everyone — the guardians especially — are letting on.

It can’t be because he caught feelings for her after a few hookups.

That quiet demeanor hides smarts that must have realized by now that a lot of things don’t make sense.

It is also probably why he doesn’t try to take the ring from Hal when the opportunity presents itself.

The way he was groomed since he was a child and the pressure the Guardians are piling on him hint that they are trying to hide something.

But he needs to survive that car crash first.

Gut Check

“The Weenie” doesn’t break new ground as far as the general mystery is concerned, but it’s a fun time nonetheless.

Hal Jordan has been carrying the fun part of it for the past three episodes, but John rises to the occasion and feels like a balanced character in the process.

But now, we need to get into what the hell is actually going on.

Intrusive Thoughts

• “Dad, please put your dick away,” is a statement a daughter should say if and only if their dad is senile.

• “Well, I can either carry you like a baby or you can hop on; pretend I’m a horse,” is another hilarious line perfectly delivered.

• Hal, this is not the time to be shy about your weight. You look great!

• Sentient tentacles, you say? I don’t even want to imagine it.

• Somehow I don’t blame Hal for what he does to John because I would do it too.

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Over to you, Lanterns fanatics. What did you think of the story this hour? Is John working on something secret, or is he just being taken along for the ride?

Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.

Say something in the comments, share if you like, and keep reading. Independent voices need readers like you.

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