Updated

Updated · Rotten Tomatoes · Aug 14

Lanterns Wins Early Reviews Ahead of Aug. 16 HBO Debut as DC’s Grounded Mystery Divides Action Fans

Updated

Updated · Rotten Tomatoes · Aug 14

Lanterns Wins Early Reviews Ahead of Aug. 16 HBO Debut as DC’s Grounded Mystery Divides Action Fans

Q: Garret Dillahunt teased his rancher character is merely a front; which classic DC villain is secretly hiding in plain sight in rural Nebraska?

The character Garret Dillahunt is widely teasing is **Black Hand**, the classic Green Lantern villain also known as **William Hand**. That speculation comes directly from reporting around HBO’s “Lanterns.” Dillahunt said his rancher, **William Macon Sr.**, might be “a front for some other kind of character that’s very familiar,” and he did not dismiss the idea that “William Macon” could be a secret identity. Because his character’s first name is William and the role has no direct comic-book counterpart, fans and genre outlets have zeroed in on **William Hand/Black Hand** as the most likely reveal. The theory fits the setup. In DC lore, Black Hand is one of Green Lantern’s most notable enemies, strongly associated with death and dark energy. Coverage of the show has repeatedly noted that Dillahunt’s Nebraska rancher has extremist views, a hidden agenda and may be more than he appears. That aligns with the idea that the seemingly local power broker in rural Nebraska is actually a disguised or reworked version of Black Hand. So while HBO has not officially confirmed the identity onscreen, the villain Dillahunt is understood to be hinting at is **Black Hand**.

3 articles · Updated · Rotten Tomatoes · Aug 14

Critics’ first verdicts cast “Lanterns” as one of DC’s strongest TV entries, praising its mature mystery setup, character-driven writing and the central pairing of Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan with Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart.
That approval stems from the show’s grounded, self-contained approach: reviewers liken it to “True Detective,” “Watchmen” and even “Yellowstone,” saying it favors detective work and interpersonal tension over franchise-building spectacle.
Chandler and Pierre’s chemistry is repeatedly cited as the series’ engine, with several reviews calling Chandler ideal casting for Hal while giving Pierre standout notices for a restrained, forceful John Stewart.
The main caveat is scale: despite some elaborate ring-powered sequences, critics say the 7-episode season offers limited blockbuster action, with pacing, flashback structure and occasional tonal unevenness drawing the sharpest criticism.
Premiering on HBO Max on Aug. 16, the R-rated series is also being framed as a notable course correction for live-action Green Lantern after the poorly received 2011 film.