Lanterns Ep 4 Breakdown: Manhunter Reveal & More — Full Breakdown & Transcript

[00:00] Lanterns Episode 4 gives us more insight into how P.A.S.T. finally unveils the Manhunter and introduces a classic Green Lantern character. Hey, welcome back to Screen Crush, I'm Ryan Airy, and this is all of the Easter Eggs, references, and little things you might have missed in the fourth episode of Lanterns.

[00:14] Now, last episode explored Jon Stewart's past and finally introduced us to the Guardian Lyanna, who plays a crucial role in the 2016 timeline. This episode picks up right after we left off at the end of Episode 2 with Hal flying to Oa.

[00:27] Again, Oa is the home base for the Guardians of the Universe, where the Green Lantern Corps is located. It's also where the science cells are, the intergalactic prisons from the comics where we see Sinestro locked up here. Their opening dialogue is the same as at the end of Episode 2.

[00:41] So why don't you tell me about your story? But we finally get Hal's reaction to that cliffhanger question. What do you mean? Now, Hal is obviously caught off guard by this, but that's why Sinestro brought it up in the first place.

[00:53] He wants Hal to doubt himself, to get into his fears about being replaced by John. In the comics, and maybe eventually in this universe, Sinestro is the founder of the Yellow Lantern Corps. They are in direct opposition to the Green Lanterns, and instead are made up of those who are capable of instilling fear in others.

[01:10] So, even though Sinestro has yet to form his corps, we already see just how capable he is, even while he's locked up. Sinestro tells Hal that he heard about John, you know, around. Now, we theorize that Sinestro may have found out about John during his attempted coup.

[01:25] Maybe he came upon some classified documents regarding the Guardians' chosen ones. Or, maybe the Guardians themselves even told Sinestro about John. After all, like he says, Although Sinestro is a murderous authoritarian, he was at one point the most respected Green Lantern.

[01:42] The Guardians could have come to him for his opinion on John, maybe to ask for his evaluation of John versus Hal. Hal calls John a contingency plan. Which is what he was in the comics at first, and what Hal believes he is here. So, in the comics

[01:55] from the second Green Lantern, Guy Gardner was put out of commission, John was picked up as Hal's backup. He'd only don a uniform if Hal got hurt. After his introduction comic, John doesn't actually consistently appear as Green Lantern until nearly a hundred issues later. Sure,

[02:09] he had an occasional cameo saving Hal, but John was exactly what Hal thinks, a contingency plan. Sinestro keeps pushing Hal about John, and Hal, despite being standoffish, almost immediately pulls to Sinestro's questioning.

[02:21] I don't care where they died here. Hal. We touched on this last episode, but the relationship between Sinestro and Hal is very complicated, even more so in this universe. When Liana was discussing them in the last episode, she described Sinestro as a father

[02:35] figure to Hal. Now, later in the episode, we hear how much Hal reveres his father. And the same thing is true in the comics. Hal's dad, Martin, died when he was young, right in front of his eyes. and that is something that has haunted him ever since.

[02:48] In the comics, he constantly looks forward to his memories of his father for guidance, modeling his entire life off of him. Memories here is the operative word. Before the 2005 Green Lantern run, Martin's relationship with Hal was abusive.

[03:01] Hal grew up trying to do everything to not be like his father. This backstory added another layer to his issues with authority and how Hal let those authority figures walk all over him, like the Guardians and Sinestro. Now, while this backstory slowly shifted towards a more positive one over time,

[03:17] it does explain a lot of Hal's actions in the comics, especially during the Emerald Twilight arc. So, with all that in mind, it adds a lot more gravity to this conversation. This isn't just a conversation about a case, it is personal.

[03:30] Hal says the Guardians found John in the Marines, which we know isn't true. We learned last episode that the Guardians have actually been watching him since their visit way back when John was a baby. And we also learned that the Guardians are a-okay with lying to Hal.

[03:43] He would be under the impression that you are simply his backup. But Hal always knows more than he lets on, and he's well aware that John is not just some recruit. Unfortunately, Sinestro knows this as well.

[03:55] I'm going to bring you back to your house. Now, as I said earlier, Sinestro is mainly doing this to get under Hal's skin. While he still sees Hal as a formidable ally, he knows that the easiest way to control anyone is through fear.

[04:07] He says as much later. Well, then we can be controlled. And while Hal may be afraid to admit that he's being replaced, he doesn't get into that fear. He takes a beat to answer, but he still answers. And that is what being the Green Lantern is all about.

[04:19] You can acknowledge the fear as long as you overcome it. I actually don't think Macon is overly paranoid. In a world where aliens can masquerade as humans, I would be worried too. Heck, I'm already worried because the internet is already filled with people who want half my data and steal my identity.

[04:33] And they can't even change shape to look like me. Like, have you guys ever gotten one of those robocalls where no one actually talks to you? It's likely that's actually an AI-powered scam that's recording your voice to steal your identity. For them, let's do the right thing and burn all of our phones.

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[06:06] When Sinestro tells Hal to kill John, he puts his foot down. But I don't think it's Sinestro he's trying to convince. I mean, no convincing needed, and his former mentor even agrees. Sinestro's coup attempt is still pretty recent, but it's in the last two years or so.

[06:21] And many of the Guardians are still suspicious of Hal. Despite his indomitable will, Hal doesn't have the best self-esteem. and the cold shoulder he's getting from the Guardians isn't helping how he views himself. Regardless of the bravado he puts on, his disdain for the uniform may come from self-hatred,

[06:36] a fear that he may be too evil to represent what the Lanterns stand for. And there's a comic precedent for this as well. After Hal's Parallax arc, when he was taken over by the living embodiment of fear and destroyed the Lantern Corps,

[06:48] he was extremely guilt-ridden. And after his death in Final Night, he was died? Dude, it's DC Comics. Everybody's died at least once at this point. Anyways, after his death, he became the host of the Spectre for a while. Now, during this time in the afterlife, Hal reconnected with Aventur, his predecessor.

[07:03] In that comic, Hal finally confronts his guilt for Coast City in the aftermath of his actions. He is terrified by his own abuse of power, a fear that may also be lingering in this iteration of Hal. Sinistro tries to egg Hal on again by saying his fears out loud.

[07:19] Again, even while in prison, Sinistro still holds power over Hal. He's trying to get Hal to admit that he's afraid of something. Whether it be John being old or being replaced, Sinestro just wants his mentee to stray a little further from Green Lantern's life.

[07:33] And, even though he takes his time to dog on John, Hal continues to stand his ground against Sinestro. I don't want to murder him. Doesn't mean I like him. And when Sinestro asks Hal if he respects John, though, Hal deflects.

[07:45] Hal has a huge issue with acknowledging anyone having a little power over him, even if it's just as small as mutual respect. Sinestro finally relents and tells Hal about the Manhunters. Manhunters are the reason you're here.

[07:57] Which is true both here and in the comics. In Secret Origin number 22, after the Manhunters revolt against the Guardians' oath, they are banished from Oa. The Guardians had stripped them of their weapons and dropped them back on the planets that they once tormented,

[08:09] reasoning that they would be dealt with. They had no idea that the remaining survivors banded together and spread across the galaxy. Here, however, it's not several escaped Manhunters, but just one. and we find out exactly who it is later in this episode.

[08:22] Sinestro tries to convince Hal to double-cross John. Deliver the Manhunter to the Guardians and disgrace Jordan the Crossman. Very similar to the way that Liana tries to do to John later on. The moment you put it on your finger, recite the oath and you become Green Lantern.

[08:37] Both of these people in power are trying to use their manipulated mentees to do their bidding. Sinestro wants Hal to follow his orders the same way the Guardians want John to follow theirs. And, from that perspective, Hal ultimately doesn't seem in the wrong when he ignores the bosses.

[08:52] Yeah, I'm not calling the Guardians. Hal's tired of being jerked around by both Sinestro and the Guardians, and it seems like John is starting to see his side. After Sinestro realizes he won't get Hal to join his side by giving in to his fear, he switches tactics.

[09:04] Make him believe that you're embracing his worth now, as you replace him. And now, I gotta give a big hand to the writing here. When Sinestro subtly changes to talking about him and Hal, I nearly got chills. The way he's taunting Hal for his past blind faith feels especially evil, given that we know Hal is still hurting.

[09:22] You can't say anything in your sleep, he asks. Is that how you feel? To which Sinestro responds, I was never anything but myself. And that is true, to an extent. In the comics, Sinestro's betrayal of Hal and the Corps wasn't as intimate as it was here.

[09:37] It happened over time. He first became a dictator of his own planet, Korrigar, and then, much later on, took revenge on the Guardians. At the same time he was acting as dictator, he was also training Hal, unbeknownst to both the trainee and their bosses.

[09:50] It wasn't until Sinestro invited Hal back to his home planet that Hal saw Sinestro's true colors. But Sinestro never really attempted to hide it from Hal. He brought Hal back to Korrigar because he trusted Jordan as a friend, someone who might agree with his vision.

[10:04] So, when Sinestro says, You think the church might be here? He not entirely wrong Back on Earth John at the motel studying drawings of Magen plot of land We can also see a couple of bird sketches on the side as well as this insanely detailed drawing of Zoe

[10:18] Not only is this a reminder of John's artistic skills, but also a reminder of why he is such a powerful Green Lantern. He's able to recall all of this detail from memory. He knows how to replicate birds, a person, a map, all from his mind. A skill that comes in handy later on in this episode.

[10:33] And when John's father calls him, he says, which I found very interesting first I love that the guardians operate in the same secretive way that a human would not using their own phones or anything to tie back to them

[10:46] even though they are galactic space gods they still choose to work in a similar way to humans maybe as a way to normalize their presence like Leona said to Bernadette here I found my natural form to be upsetting to humans

[10:59] and two the way John Sr. knows the guardians need to speak with John makes me wonder how often they communicate We know that Bernadette failed to make contact with the Guardians in the past, but it's been years since that flashback. I wonder if they have started to communicate with her on a regular basis.

[11:14] Now, the song playing when John goes to town is Walk Away by the James Gang. Now, while the lyrics of the song don't match the situation at hand, the title makes me a little suspicious. We've been theorizing this whole season that Hal would walk away from the Lantern Corps, either voluntarily or through death.

[11:28] But the fact that this is playing during John's introduction makes me wonder, is this foreshadowing? Will it actually be John who steps away from the Lantern Corps? Why did it do that? Well, it could be for a couple reasons. We saw last episode that this Green Lantern path wasn't really John's dream, but instead his parents'.

[11:45] Don't be the Green Lantern when you grow up, son. It's possible that throughout the rest of the series, John becomes just as disillusioned with the Guardians as Hal. After all, John is an honest man, and we see how he couldn't bring himself to outright steal the ring from Hal.

[11:58] So, I could see him feeling betrayed by the Guardians for taking away his life for something that wasn't his to begin with. And we saw in the 2026 timeline that John still doesn't have the ring. So, maybe whatever goes down in Rushville makes him question if the oath is actually worth it.

[12:12] However, he is slated to be in The Man of Tomorrow as the Green Lantern. So, we do know that by the end of the series, John will probably be taking over the mantle of Green Lantern. But, there's still a decade between then and the current timeline.

[12:25] In the comics, Hal only quit for a little while, ultimately returning like 20 issues later. So it's possible that John could end up doing the same. Now, when John goes to buy a scope, he's greeted by these two assholes. Package deal. Kind of like you and your boss.

[12:38] But, unlike his mentor, John doesn't fight fire with fire. Or rather, he was trained not to. These men are obviously being antagonistic to John for one reason or another. John, however, can't stoop down to their level to fight back.

[12:50] He has to take this head on. And this is another example of the social unfairness that Bernadette pointed out last episode. Even in space, y'all don't consider us? John not only has to deal with disrespect in his lantern's life from Hal,

[13:02] but also in his normal life as a black man who constantly faces a system that is built against him. John jokingly asks, If I want the tomato, I gotta get the empty. Referring to his veganism and tries to make light of such a needlessly tense situation.

[13:16] And I gotta say, I love these moments where we get to see John's personality start to shine, Despite being groomed to be the perfect Lantern, his humor and kindness always manage to shine through the more we get to know him. With the scope, John watches the Macon estate, a reminder of his military days.

[13:30] Remember, John's best work is from a distance, like he told the Guardian. Even as a child, John could see the moon up in the sky. Now, John's recon is interrupted by Hal, who says, I'm sitting right in space. And while it's true that Hal is quite the flirt, we know what he was really up to.

[13:44] This whole episode deals with the web of lies and half-truths that each Lantern has been spinning. I feel like everybody is lying to me. Hal is constantly lying to himself about John, and to John about his intentions, and vice versa.

[13:57] And later, we see how those lies eventually come to a head. John explains to Hal what he learned watching the estate. That building is a weenie. And John's explanation is absolutely right. Walt Disney did coin the term weenie to explain to his Disneyland designers how he wanted guests to move through the park.

[14:13] The term actually comes from a shortened version of weenie worse, the sausage he used to lure his dogs around his home with. So, when he wanted to describe a point to lead people to, like Sleeping Beauty's castle, he used we. Now, John jokes that he's never been to Disneyland, aka the happiest place on earth, because...

[14:29] They said I was killed a guy. And while he is obviously joking, I wonder if there is some truth behind this. We know that John felt excluded from his family. And in the last episode, he even called out his mom for her apathy toward his happiness.

[14:41] Since when did you care if I was happy? I really enjoyed Hal and John's back and forth here. Their chemistry is great, and they balance each other out so well. So when Hal barges in making jokes, John finds a certain point to reel his attention back in.

[14:54] No pilot would do that every day unless it was on purpose. Hal stays true to his promise to Carrie in episode 2. No more storming the compound. I swear on Tom, I'll watch more of his life. And bounce to rope her in.

[15:06] And when he offers to fly John over, he says, I can either carry you like a baby or you can hop on and pretend like I'm a horse. Which is just so funny. In the comics, Hal flies with multiple non-flight powered people all the time and always makes a construct for them instead.

[15:19] What they need is Carrie is in the same bar from episode one. She explains, My husband owns the bar. Which makes me even more suspicious of that night. That's also where John met Zoe, Billy's stepmother. Now, the Macons are truly integrated into every single aspect of this town.

[15:34] The security, the law, the entertainment. There is nothing free of their control. John fills Carrie in on the Manhunters, and her reaction is as human as it gets. Great. John then explains the Manhunters' powers, and it's pretty similar to their abilities in the comics.

[15:48] He says, Well, they can take any form. And we've seen that happen on the page before. In their comic origin, after being cast out by the Guardians, the Manhunters came to Earth and started blending in among humans. In fact, during the Millennium Crossover event,

[16:00] it was revealed that several characters close to the Justice League were all Manhunters. This included characters like Rudy West, Lana Lang, and Pete Ross. John also explains how the Manhunters aren't aliens, which is true.

[16:13] They are a type of synthetic android. Their computer programming was the reason why they failed in the first place, as they only saw justice in terms of black and white, an issue that the Guardians still seem to have. Humans aren't programmed. We're raised.

[16:26] I do not understand the distinction. Hal mentions Avanthor, saying... The Avanthor crashed here. We don't know why, but there was a Manhunter on board. Now, Hal has no idea about the history of the Manhunters. He's heard of them, sure, but he doesn't know anything close to what Anton told John.

[16:40] As I theorize in that breakdown, it seems that they're swapping Atrocitus with the Manhunters in this version of Avanthor's crash.

[16:52] In Geoff Johns' Green Lantern run, Avanthor is transporting Atrocitus to investigate a world's ending prophecy. During transport, Atrocitus breaks free of confinement and attacks Avanthor. This not only causes the crash, but also allows the Red Lantern to escape, similar to what happens here with the Manhunter.

[17:07] Now, when Carrie asks how they know she's clear, Hal explains it's because she's on the records and... I get why you dropped the bangs. Now, in the comics, the Manhunters tried to assimilate into Earth culture to stay hidden. So, if they didn't steal the identity of someone like Pete Ross, they crafted their own lives.

[17:22] Manhunters like Dan Richards, Paul Kirk, and Mark Shaw all lived separate lives while still being part of the Manhunter cult. So, it makes sense that with just one Manhunter needing to blend in, they would make up an identity for themselves.

[17:34] And as for the mention of Carrie's bangs, I mean, come on. I feel like they keep teasing us with Batwoman ever so slightly. Although Carrie doesn't have bright red hair, the two would share not only a similar haircut, but also a last name.

[17:46] Now, when they tell Carrie about the benefactor, she genuinely seems confused, and I'm inclined to believe her. She expressed to Hal earlier that she wasn't loyal to the Makins. I'm not on the Makin side, I'm on my side. I'm trying to hold this town together.

[17:59] And her main focus being on the town furthers that. Aliens are gonna blow up my town. Finding him will stop them, right? Back at the motel, John is confronted by the Guardian Liana, and I love the way they portray her entrance.

[18:11] The way the light flickers is a classic trope from horror films like Paranormal Activity, It Follows, and, more fittingly, Aliens. It's also a nice touch to remind the audience that, despite looking normal, Laura Linney is actually playing a space god.

[18:24] But not an all-knowing space god, so John can easily lie to her about why they're still in Nebraska. But why didn't he tell her about the bad guys? Well, simple. He respects Hal in the chain of command. Regardless of how John feels about Hal's personality,

[18:38] he trusts the man as a lantern enough to respect his call on the Guardians. Hal even questioned as much in prior episodes. You tell the Guardians in here, I report to you. This also confirms that the Guardians aren't aware of the Manhunters yet either,

[18:52] and Hal still has an opportunity to get in their good graces as Sinestro proposed earlier. Then, Rihanna tries to stir up tensions between the two lanterns. Jordan has filed multiple reports about your progress. And I think she's lying.

[19:04] We've seen the whole season now how much Hal hates to report to the Guardians. He flat out admits that he doesn't want to call them. So it makes no sense that he would report back to them, never mind multiple times. Now, of course, this could be an attempt to make John look bad to secure Hal his position.

[19:19] But I'm not so sure. The way Liana manipulates John throughout the scene leads me to believe that she's never had John's interest at heart. I did not realize that your father's weakness runs within you. She constantly goes back and forth between insulting him and promising him glory,

[19:33] so it makes sense that John feels the need to defend himself. This is the person who set him up for everything in life, and is threatening to now throw it all away because he won't fall in line. In the Guardian's quest to correct the wrongs of their ways with the Manhunters,

[19:46] they've overcorrected, now doubling down to make sure the Lanterns fall in line as soldiers, not peacekeepers. As she disappears, we see a slight glimmer of her Guardian form, The same bald blue alien with the red and white robe that appeared in front of Bernadette last episode.

[20:00] Now, when John confronts Hal about the plan, he says, I know you're probably planning on just flying in with your big green fist and smashing shit. Which we've seen Hal do many, many, many times. Kind of a classic move of his.

[20:12] But John suggests he go in from under, not above. He shows Hal a drawing that he made of a huge drill tank. It is extremely detailed. Again showing just how strong John future constructs will be This is also a pretty common construct for lanterns to build We have seen it done multiple times in the comics and in the animated film Green Lantern First Flight And then we get to the moment of truth Will John really betray Hal

[20:34] like that? Of course not. John is an honorable man. If he were to take the ring right out from underneath Hal, he wouldn't have earned the ring. That's stealing it. And notice how John's machine builds itself from the inside out, the same way the watch did during this test. And while this

[20:48] Plus, at the central battery, as we theorized, it is cool that the drill's power source is reminiscent of that battery. It also looks like the lantern symbol in the title card, glowing from yellow to green. As they walk toward the weenie, the two lanterns finally get to know one another.

[21:01] Those are all dead cancer. And that, sadly, is also how she dies in the comics. A little while after Hallen was in the Air Force, his mother ends up dying from cancer, and he was never able to say goodbye to her. John is surprised by this, so much so that his concentration is lost,

[21:16] causing these rocks to crumble in the background. And the sound design here is so cool. You can even hear the drill restart when John focuses on the construct. And when John expresses his condolences, Hal says, Makes it easier. I'm tired.

[21:29] But we know he doesn't really feel that way. Carrie was right to call Hal lonely back in episode one, but it's because he feels like he has to be lonely to do his job. This burden often plagues Hal in the comics as well. He was never really able to establish relationships with people he cared about.

[21:44] The second anything seemed serious, he would fly off on lantern business. Throughout his life, Hal has effectively alienated himself from everyone he loved by chasing the memory of his hero, his father. Now, there's a moment here where Hal describes his dad as...

[21:57] Fearless. That's what he wanted people to think. And I don't think he's just talking about his dad. This whole episode prods directly at Hal's fear of being replaced, but he's not going to let anyone know about that fear.

[22:09] It's the same thing with his dad. When John asks what he was afraid of, Hal hesitates to answer. He wants to remember his dad as the fearless hero that he believes he is. But the second he names the fear, it becomes real.

[22:21] So, when they get to the building, they're able to get in pretty easily. The door just opens. And, I'll be honest, this took me out of it a little. Did John make, like, a key construct? Did Carrie unlock it? I'm just not sure. It seemed like the big, scary bunker would have had a more secure door.

[22:35] Anyways, inside the bunker, they find a huge assortment of alien weaponry. Now, at this point in the timeline, agencies like Argus aren't yet a huge player. I mean, currently, Hal is the only superhero on the board.

[22:49] That being said, alien tech like this is very hard to come by unless you happen to be able to create it, like the Manhunters. Now, because the Manhunters themselves are synthetic, they're able to create their own alien technology, as we've seen in the comics.

[23:02] When Hal accidentally steps on a booby trap, John tells him not to set it off, to which he says... a good movie, great movie. And they're referring to the 1996 crime film Set It Off. This cult classic is about four friends in L.A. who plan a bank robbery.

[23:16] But at its core, it's about the economic struggles of black women in a system that was built without them in mind, which is thematically adjacent to Stewart's Green Lantern journey. John's solution is to make a kettlebell the same weight as Hal. I can see it.

[23:28] And notice how Hal looks surprised at the construct. Almost like he didn't even think that that was an option to make. Again, the only limitation to the ring is the wearer's creativity, so by nature, John is already far ahead of Hal's abilities.

[23:41] When the cavalry attacks Hal and John, they use these black mist guns and use night vision goggles to see. Hal later says, Those guns seem tailor-made for disabling Green Lanterns. Which I think is true. Now, while there isn't anything like this black mist in the comics, the color black is very powerful in Lantern lore.

[23:57] The prophecy I mentioned earlier is called Blackest Night, and refers to the Lord of the Unliving unleashing the zombie apocalypse. Now, do you see right now? Well, look, this is a very abridged version of the story, but the Lord of the Unliving, Necron, and his army are often pictured with this sort of black mist around them.

[24:12] They were given the name the Black Lantern Corps and are powered by death itself. Like the Yellow Lanterns, they're in direct opposition to the Green Lanterns and far more powerful. So, it makes sense that the ring doesn't work against this black mist.

[24:26] John and Hal are then brought into Maiden's office. And notice, on his desk, he has the same laser tech that we see later in the episode, all connecting back to his boss. Now, as a means of a, I admit, very weird intimidation tactic,

[24:38] they can ask John to draw him. John, having gone through art school, is unfazed by a nude model in such a casual setting. Hal's reaction is so funny. I've seen good shit, but this is weird, right? Hal also mentions a planet with sentient tentacles,

[24:52] and he's referring to Ugardus. Before Crisis on Infinite Earths, Ugardus was a green tentacle planet and an enemy of Adam Strange. After that event, it was rebooted as a regular planet. Regardless, I still love how they're taking aspects of lore from every single era of DC.

[25:06] And when Zoe brings John a sketchbook, she's asked to stay behind. And I have to say, this whole scene is so interestingly effed up in hindsight. By the end of the episode, it's all but confirmed that Zoe is a Manhunter, if not THE Manhunter.

[25:19] So, this whole charade they put on here is just fascinating. But, before she can feed to Stangy, notice how she sees the wand giving orders to the men in black. Just like she seemingly has been behind the scenes all along.

[25:31] When Makin and Hal discuss the weaponry, he says, Hey, I told you we're ready for any kind of invasion. Referring to the conversations they had back in episode one. Call of Gratian is ugly from any angle, but I tell you, it is particularly bleak if you're the one getting colonized.

[25:46] So now, knowing what we know about Zoe, her line about protection in episode two makes a lot more sense. She didn't need protection in the general way, but rather protection from the Guardians if they knew that she still existed.

[25:58] Makin then says, You didn't kill my cancer? explaining that Zoe was his nurse. Like, Harrison, I thought you just said she was a Manhunter. And I stand by that. He could either be lying to cover for her, or there could be multiple Manhunters that we don't know about yet.

[26:11] During the Millennium Run I mentioned earlier, there was revealed to be a Manhunter Highmaster, the mother of all new Manhunters. Zoe might be the first of many Manhunters who are now within the town. And, in the comics, most of the Manhunter's followers, the Agents,

[26:24] don't know their leader is a robot. So it could be that the town is unfortunately just an innocent hostage in this vengeance saga. Macon talks about his perfect town. No one gets sick. Which explains why there were no other

[26:36] signatures, more patients in the hospital. He also says, He takes care of us in exchange for our protection. Again, exactly how Zoe describes her and Macon's relationship to John. I like the security. Now, when Macon threatens Hal,

[26:48] Hal tells him to skip the bluff, which is ironic considering his very next line is a bluff. If I end up dead, there's going to be a hundred lanterns at your front door. Now, we know that the Guardians don't care about Hal. If anything, it would be easier for them if Macon killed Hal. And we later hear that Hal isn't close to any of the other Lanterns

[27:04] either. So, his confident claim of backup being sent is just a lie. Sheriff Kane comes to the rescue just in time and John gives Macon back his sketchbook. Now, the proud little smile that Aaron Pierre chooses to do here adds so much snark to John's character. I can't emphasize how great

[27:20] this casting is. Hey, person on your reds, it's time to go back to school shopping. Ah, sorry, Hey, buddy, I'm broke. No new school clothes this year. But I want to look fashionable for all my friends. All right, cheers. Unless you guys want to help us out by picking up this sweet new Lantern Corps shirt.

[27:35] GLC with Lantern Easter eggs. And this is one of my favorite shirts we've ever done, by the way. Gary in the Superman font. For me? So scary. I'm also so pumped to show you guys this brand new Infinity Tour Black Order shirt

[27:50] with Thanos and the band jamming out in the font of Black Sabbath and then all the locations from Infinity War on the back. Now, right now, we are running a huge back-to-school sale. 15% off everything on our site, and channel memberships that are $5 a year get an additional 15% off as well,

[28:05] for a total of 30% off. If you order over $100, get free shipping. And we have tons of other parody shirts that we designed just for you guys. We also have the Kara Zor-El as Barbie and Rosie the Riveter, saying, don't up with my dog,

[28:17] Where's the Dog, the Xavier School logo, and many, many more. Links are below, and thank you guys so much for your support. Jess, please help us. Carrie unloads on the two of them for screwing up the mission, shutting down Hal when he tries to joke.

[28:29] I'm in this shit with you now. And there's a moment afterwards where Hal looks genuinely apologetic. Hal doesn't really care about the consequences of his actions, or if they have their effects on him. However, he does care when those actions start affecting other people, like Carrie.

[28:44] And this servers him up for a moment. But of course, even a subdued Hal Jordan feels the need to flirt. Are you in a date first? Back in his motel room, John talks to his mother on the phone. events about the Guardians' visit, but as we've seen, she's very committed to the cause.

[28:57] Then they can take it from him. Then take it. Zoe then comes to visit, and they of course get it on again, despite John staying in episode two. I wouldn't have slept with you if I knew you were married. Afterwards, Zoe asks John to leave, just as everyone

[29:10] has been doing to Hal. Well, your choice is pretty much the same. And then we get the pseudo-manhunter reveal. Because of your husband? What do you owe him? The opening. I feel sorry for my mother when I drink and smile at things.

[29:25] Now, looking back on it, there are a lot of sketchy things about Zoe. The glaring one to me is the immediate interest in Jon Stewart. Now, of course, he's a handsome guy, and picking him up at a bar seems normal, but now, knowing who owns that bar, everything now seems extremely orchestrated,

[29:39] and that follows a similar path in the comics. Before the Lanterns ever found out about their predecessors, the Manhunters had already committed themselves to killing all Green Lanterns. They knew about the Lantern Corps for a long time, and Zoe could be following suit.

[29:52] When Zoe leaves the motel, her car is blown to bits by a satellite in the sky. It is the same laser system that we see used later at the slaughterhouse, as well as the box on Megan's desk. Now, when Hal charges out of his room, we see another difference between him and John's train.

[30:08] Fucking point. Even though Hal is in the airport, he's much more attuned to his gut senses than he is to exact directions, unlike John. Hal constructs another dome, this time over the motel to keep it safe from any more laser attacks,

[30:21] which we will eventually see more of in the trailers. On the bedside table, we see Zoe's bangle, presumably taken out of the truck by John. Now I imagine that when he officially realized that Zoe was the Manhunter when her body was nowhere to be seen When Hal and Cherries researched the website they find that Macon signed almost several companies one even 30 years ago Now that would be back in 1986

[30:42] exactly when Howe first got the ring in this timeline. So that means that right after the Manhunter escaped Abinsoar's ship, they immediately started working with Macon. And when researching Atlas Inc., we get another comic name drop.

[30:54] Owner of Atlas Inc. is Hector Hammond. Who's that? Well, in the comics, Hammond is a very, very early villain of the Green Lantern. appearing way back in Green Lantern issue 5. Now, while he was first introduced as a normal-looking city businessman,

[31:07] Hammond has slowly shifted over the years to a telepathic monster. After his first fight against the Green Lantern, Hammond was exposed to meteors in Gorilla City, which granted him immense telepathic and telekinetic power. But here, instead of a telepathic know-it-all,

[31:20] he's more grounded, working through surveillance instead. And I'll be honest, I don't mind this change. Hammond was always a little silly in the comics, and this adaptation brings him into a more real world while still keeping him devious. Now, before they can hunt down Hammond, though,

[31:33] John points out a huge flaw in the plan. I think it seems too easy. And Hal actually compliments him. He's a genius. Not bad. Nice work. Now, of course, Hal could be taking it easy on him since Zoe just died.

[31:46] But he may be latching on to Sinestro's words from earlier. Thanking the means of your embrace and his word of nature replacement. In the car, when Hal asks John how he's doing, he says, Now, though we know that John doesn't feel sad

[31:59] because Zoe is alive, this is a similar sentiment to something his dad says. So breathe in, button down, and bottle up. John has been told for his whole life to bottle things up, to just handle it, and he's doing just that,

[32:11] exactly like he was ordered. But Hal's advice isn't any better. What's your advice? Avoid real relationships from here on out. And it seems like he's talking from experience here. I wonder if Hal's thinking about Carol Ferris.

[32:23] In the comics, Carol was Hal's constant on-and-off girlfriend. Now, she has a much more involved role in the comics than just that, but it does sound like that here, Hal never got to explore a relationship with whoever he's talking about. John asks if he ever connects with the other Lanterns, to which Hal says,

[32:38] I'm the only human. They're aliens. Which is true in this current moment. In this timeline, Guy has yet to become a Lantern, so Hal is indeed the only human on the Corps. But that shouldn't stop him from communicating with his fellow Lanterns.

[32:50] After all, the ring can translate between alien languages. He continues, I wonder what the fuck is for on a movie like me. A reference to the most adorable member of the Corps, Chip. And not the, um, actually, but he's not a squirrel, he's a hildenite.

[33:02] And when they get to the slaughterhouse, there's a sign that reads, We can judge a man's heart by the treatment of his animals. And while this is morbidly hilarious to have at a slaughterhouse, it's also a great descriptor of John. Animals, birds specifically, are a huge part of his life, and he treats them with care, even if the bird is just a construct.

[33:19] And while they're walking through the warehouse, we can hear a message on repeat play in the background. Now, it's a little hard to hear, but we're pretty sure that it says, remember, security is the first step to a safer environment. Stay secure, stay vigilant.

[33:32] Now, if that's the case, this would tie in with Macon's whole MO. He is trying to keep his town secure from an alien invasion. Now, because Hammond can canonically mind-control people in the comics, I was inclined to think that these workers were under his control.

[33:46] However, given that Hammond is revealed to not even be Hammond, We are the guardians! We are the protectors of the games! I think these are more Manhunters or people under Manhunter control. During the Millennium Run that we mentioned earlier,

[33:58] characters like Lana and Pete weren't even aware that they were under the influence of mind control at first. So it's plausible that the same thing is happening in this town. Inside this high-tech slaughter room, we see more evidence of Manhunter interference,

[34:11] along with the same lasers from earlier. On the wall, we see a black rippling mask, identical to the security system that we saw in the science cells on Ola. The orb also shifts into the same portal tech that we saw the Guardians use last episode.

[34:24] Now, this confirms that the Manhunter, who was built with Cullen technology, has been spreading out their tools even further than the compound. Cal uses his trusted bubble again when the cow is eviscerated, and notice how exact the lasering can get.

[34:37] This cow is perfectly sectioned, so it makes total sense that these same lasers could shoot a shot precise enough to not completely damage Zoe. The two then meet Hammond, and I loved this scene. I loved how they played to Hammond possibly being a telepath,

[34:51] the way he squinted at John as if he's reading his mind. At a mess with John even more, Hammond reveals that he's been listening in and throws more fuel to the fire between these two lanterns. He even tries to play the same hand as Sinestro, preying on Hal's fears.

[35:09] But, like the alien from episode one, Hal can call his bluff. Hal calls Abin a very memorable shape, a callback to his shock upon seeing the Ungarn.

[35:23] Hal threatens Hammond with information he heard from Sinestro, who he still refers to as an old friend. And this Manhunter lore is entirely new to the mythos.

[35:38] In the comics, the Manhunters are just synthetic inside. So, once they're battered to death, it's pretty clear to see that they were never human. Hal wants Hammond to call his bluff, so he continues to threaten him despite the Seward's lies being on the line.

[35:50] He says, A hero's journey. Did you really only start after his parents are dead? The fuck are you doing? A reference to the storytelling structure used during an adventure film or book. Think The Odyssey, Star Wars, or Harry Potter. And as Hal said, oftentimes that story's jumping off point is the death of a parent or guardian.

[36:07] In a way, he's almost referring to his own hero's journey. Hal's parents died in his youth, and the minute they were gone, he was thrust into this huge space opera. So I wonder if there's even some resentment toward John for still having his parents,

[36:19] and why Hal is okay with making him sweat a little bit. Now Hammond throws another red herring out there. Who the fuck is the man on it? Isn't it obvious? Will Macon. Which we ultimately know is a cover.

[36:31] During her ride back, John opens up to Hal about one of the lies that he's been telling. And while John is being honest and forthcoming about what he was ordered to do, Hal is still lying. He's still following Sinestro's advice of embracing John's worthiness.

[36:44] And there is a very good chance that you might end up being better. Hal confesses that he did break a vow by visiting Sinestro, but to be fair, the vow itself is very loose. I mean, in Superman, we see Guy constantly abuse his oath.

[36:57] Every time there's something he doesn't want to do, he says it's part of some vow. Oh, where'd it go? Hal fills John in on the Manhunter, explaining the same assimilation tactics that they used in the comics. After they were cast out, they found planets with voids to fill, places of power that they could slide into and begin their own denominations of the Manhunter cult.

[37:13] Very similar to the type of power the town seems to give the Makins. Hal says, A long way to restate the Manhunter's sole directive.

[37:30] I also want to note that while Hal is talking about the Manhunter, it does sound awfully close to a description of the Guardians. We already saw how calm Liana was when manipulating John earlier. The Guardians are the parents of the Manhunters.

[37:43] The code that the Manhunters have came from the Guardians, so it's not far off to say that the Guardians hold some of the same single-minded beliefs that the Manhunters have. This entire show is just the sins of the father being dealt with. The Manhunters and the Guardians, Hal and Sinestro, and John and his parents.

[37:58] And Hal takes this moment to give John one final test. John can't admit that he was one of the weak spots that the Manhunter was able to manipulate, But I also wonder if Jon feels some kinship with the Manhunter who doesn't have another choice.

[38:14] Like the androids, Jon was programmed for one sole purpose, to serve the Guardians. So his hesitation could be both a refusal to admit weakness and empathy towards Zoe. After Jon calls Anton's men to meet him at the cafe from episode 2, Hal lets the other shoe drop.

[38:29] I really did not do it. I'll keep the honor. Hal may not be book smart, but the man sure can read people like one. We saw it with Waylon, with Hector, and now with Jon. And if there's one thing Hal is still sore about, it's being betrayed.

[38:42] So he doesn't take well to John's omission of the truth. John tries to defend himself, but Hal is a bulldozer when he has a one-track mind. He's immediately combative with John. Oh, it'll hurt your gut, Junior.

[38:54] Repeating the same phrase that he's been using throughout the whole series. It's a gut feeling. It was an exact betrayal. I just remember about this place, and my gut is never wrong. This anger Hal shows John, though, is rooted in fear.

[39:07] Sinestro's plan from earlier is ruminating in his head He's paranoid that John already told the Guardians Rendering him even more obsolete And then we end the episode with a callback to the pilot I'm sorry about the rent

[39:19] There's a taco stand up the road about three miles I'll meet you there Except this time, John doesn't have the rain to protect him And he crashes head on into the pole Should Dad care? No, no, remember we already saw him alive and well in the 2026 timeline

[39:32] But this does go against what his dad told him in the first episode He can't kill you he's just trying to put you all killed. Hal just proved that he can absolutely kill him. And while that's majorly against the oath, this crash proves that death is 100% a possibility.

[39:46] John doesn't even have the ring. There's no telling how damaged he might be from this accident. And the closing song for the episode is Midas by Wonder Horse. Now, the song is about the titular mythical figure, Midas, who famously could turn anything he touched into gold.

[39:59] And while Zoe isn't turning people into gold, she does have the ability to bless the town, as Megan said. In the myth, Midas' gift isn't all that it's cut out to be, and his gold touch ends up ruining the world around him. And this could be foreshadowing for Zoe, who currently is allowing Rushville to prosper,

[40:15] but as we see in the trailers, a tragedy is about to follow. But guys, that's all for the episode. Big shout out to Lee Manzier, the guy who secretly lives under our store, who wrote this video. You can find his socials down below. What did you think about this reveal? Do you think that Jon is okay? Let us know in the comments or at our free to join Discord server.

[40:29] And if it's your first time here, please subscribe. Smash that bell for alerts. For Screen Crush, I'm Ryan Harry. Thank you.