DC introduced Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and the Green Lantern mythology to a whole new generation of fans with HBO's Lanterns. That said, it wasn't just iconic characters from the comics who commanded the spotlight, and the series waited until the very last minute to reveal the fate of one of its most unexpectedly beloved characters.
Earlier in the final episode of Lanterns, a flashback reveals Jordan attempting to save the delightful space plant Earl from his burning house. While we find out what happens to Jordan soon after, we don't get an immediate update on what happened to Earl. It's not until a blink-and-miss-it appearance in the show's closing stretch that we finally learn Earl's alive and living in the Stewart home, meaning that John took him in after Hal's death in Rushville.
I was too busy crying my eyes out this scene to notice that Earl is safely now living in the Stewert's home, thank God 🥹 #Lanterns pic.twitter.com/bQpcEcIJL9
— Faelith (@bloomdawnmoon) October 5, 2026
The scene was so quick that many missed it before it started circulating online. While fans were obviously concerned for Hal after the fire started taking over the house, the situation took on an even greater level of intensity when he tried to save Earl. Most had already come to terms with the fact that Hal was dead, but no one expected Earl to possibly follow suit, and it was going to wreck viewers if they had to say goodbye to another character.
When Lanterns co-creator Damon Lindelof was asked about Earl's ability to survive the fire, he praised the plant's ability to bounce back. "I think Earl is pretty resilient," Lindelof told Deadline. “The botanical creatures of the galaxy can grow their own skin, I would imagine.”
It didn't take long for Earl to become a fan favorite after making his debut in episode 2, and his popularity only grew with each passing appearance. His rise to fame is even more impressive given that he's an original creation for the show. While there are several plant lifeforms amongst the Green Lantern Corps roster, there aren't any plant sidekicks named Earl, but that could very well change moving forward.
With his newfound popularity, one would expect Earl to make a return in a potential Lanterns season 2, which seems incredibly likely due to the ratings and response to the series. Don't be surprised to also see Earl make appearances in future merchandise and possibly even the comics. Green Lantern is already full of delightfully zany characters, but it could always use an adorable and fiercely loyal alien plant.
Lanterns is now streaming on HBO Max.
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