Just a little under two months ago, few could've suspected that Lanterns would raise the bar for superhero shows and potentially have huge ramifications for the DC Universe as a whole. Fast-forward to the present day, and audiences are just one episode away from watching how this larger-than-life mystery comes to an end.
Through seven episodes, we've watched Hal Jordan and John Stewart slowly piece together the dark secrets hidden in Rushville, Nebraska. But even after the Manhunter storyline seemingly came to an end, multiple questions remain unanswered.
The season finale has a lot of heavy lifting to do to close out the story in a satisfying manner while also setting up future DCU projects. Fortunately, the show has delivered so far, and all signs indicate the streak won't be broken any time soon. But if the last episode hopes to close things out with a bang, it needs to feature these five moments fans have been waiting for.
1. John Stewart should finally wear the Green Lantern suit
In between the many mysteries and storylines of Lanterns, there's one clear premise: Hal Jordan is tasked with mentoring John Stewart to become Earth's next Green Lantern. This plan hasn't been without complications: the two titular characters don't always like each other; John Stewart gave up on his mission to wear the ring; and Guy Gardner is now Earth's one and only Green Lantern. But despite all of these setbacks, it's clear Lanterns has been building towards John finally wearing the iconic Green Lantern suit, and such a moment should finally happen in the finale.
When the first trailer for Lanterns was released, fans weren't too pleased with Hal Jordan's suit and its infamous shoulder pads. However, the season finale could take us all by surprise by making John wear a more comic-book-accurate suit that looks good in action. Many are already speculating that the very last shot of season 1 will feature the former Marine Corps sniper in a new green uniform, finally earning what he has been working towards his whole life.
It's unlikely that the first time we ever see John as a suited-up Green Lantern will be during the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, where Aaron Pierre is confirmed to make an appearance. As such, all eyes are set on the finale to deliver on this key promise.
2. John Stewart could finally take flight
John has used the Green Lantern ring on a few occasions throughout the course of Lanterns. We saw him will his father's clock into existence and also build an excavator to infiltrate the Manhunter's ranch. While he has mostly aced all his assignments when wearing the ring, there was one time when he couldn't do what Hal asked of him: fly.
Instead of soaring through the air, John mistakenly willed a bird construct into existence that followed him throughout the whole episode. Since that moment, we haven't seen him try to follow in his mentor's footsteps and take flight. However, this has to change in the season finale.
Watching John fly also ties back to the theme of seeing him don the Green Lantern suit: It's all about seeing him become the hero the show has built him up to be. The official trailer for episode 8 features one sequence where Hal says, "Don't be afraid to be afraid," as John looks up at the sky. Fans are already theorizing that this moment will precede John's first flight, and hopefully the wait will prove to be worth it.
3. The real Hal Jordan needs to make a comeback
The opening episode of Lanterns culminated with a shocking revelation: Hal Jordan is dead. Since that moment, fans have gone into a frenzy, speculating about how the iconic DC hero could still be alive despite all evidence suggesting otherwise. Back then, the most prominent theory was that the body found on the football field wasn't actually Hal's, and it was just a Manhunter in disguise. Unfortunately, the show seemingly ruled out that possibility when the "last" Manhunter to exist, Zoe, was killed by John Stewart.
Granted, there's a chance that there are more Manhunters out there in disguise that we don't know about yet. However, the theories have now pivoted to Hal either being brought back to life thanks to the Manhunters' technology (just like John's body was restored with it) or him coming back from the dead as Parallax. Regardless of the case, fans are still holding onto hope, and hopefully the final episode will prove them right.
There is a scenario where Hal is truly dead, and he doesn't come back before the credits roll on the finale. However, if he were to grace our screens once more, it would surely be a big moment for DCU fans as a whole.
4. The truth about Noah Macon's character should be revealed
There is no concrete evidence that proves Noah Macon is definitely hiding something. However, it's impossible to deny that something feels off about his character. He is a seemingly perfect do-gooder who is adored by the town and wants to get into politics without any hidden agenda. This would all but confirm that there is, actually, a hidden agenda.
Before being shot in the head, Zoe told Noah to "see without being seen," which is one of the ways the Manhunters learn how to infiltrate societies. Furthermore, Sheriff Kane teased that the Manhunter gifted her with a "miracle" without elaborating on what it was. These two clues have been more than enough for fans to theorize that Noah is actually a Manhunter pretending to be human. Some have even gone as far as suggesting that Maggie, who is blackmailing John, is simply Noah in disguise.
If Noah is truly a Manhunter, then chances are that he is involved in Hal's murder. But regardless of whether there's any truth behind these theories, the finale should finally unveil what's truly going on with Noah and whether he's a regular human trying to do his best or if there's more to him than meets the eye.
5. A tease of what's to come for the DCU
When James Gunn announced the lineup of projects meant to act as the DCU's opening chapter, he shared a brief but interesting synopsis of Lanterns:
"This is the story of a couple of Green Lanterns, John Stewart and Hal Jordan (...) In it, they discover a terrifying mystery that ties into our larger story of the DCU."
It has been confirmed that John Stewart will appear in the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow—a film that will also mark Brainiac's theatrical debut. With that in mind, we need to ask ourselves: Could the story of Lanterns be somehow tied into the upcoming Brainiac invasion? And if not, how will the show set up the pieces for a bigger storyline to come?
It's clear that the show is meant to act as a stepping stone for the DCU's larger mythology, and with a bit of luck, the finale will give us even the smallest of hints of where the franchise will go next.
The final episode of Lanterns will be released on Sunday, Sep. 4, 2026, on HBO Max.
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