{"id":49089,"date":"2026-08-16T19:30:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T14:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=49089"},"modified":"2026-08-16T19:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T14:30:57","slug":"lanterns-first-reactions-hbo-show-debuts-to-rave-reviews-from-critics-just-jared-celebrity-news-and-gossip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=49089","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Lanterns&#8217; First Reactions: HBO Show Debuts to Rave Reviews from Critics | Just Jared &#8211; Celebrity News and Gossip"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-2265928\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t<!-- Franchise logo or primary category --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<!-- post title --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/post title --><\/p>\n<p><!-- subheader --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<!-- post thumbnail --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"tpd-post-thumbnail-container caption_belowImage credit_onImage\"><img width=\"788\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lanterns-hbo-trailer-788x444.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium tpd-force-16x9-aspect-ratio wp-post-image\" alt=\"Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler in &quot;Lanterns&quot;\" decoding=\"sync\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lanterns-hbo-trailer-428x241.jpg 428w, https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lanterns-hbo-trailer-788x444.jpg 788w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100px, 788px\" loading=\"eager\" data-cf-ratio=\"788x444\"\/><figcaption><span class=\"credit-text\">Credit: HBO \/ Warner Bros.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- \/post thumbnail --><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/lanterns\/\" class=\"celebrity-tag-link\"><strong class=\"celebrity-tag-strong\"><em>Lanterns<\/em><\/strong><\/a> is already a hit among critics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HBO Max<\/strong>\u2018s <strong>DC Studios<\/strong> drama series stars <strong>Kyle Chandler<\/strong>, <strong>Aaron Pierre<\/strong>, <strong>Garret Dillahunt<\/strong>,<strong> Poorna Jagannathan<\/strong>, and was co-created by <strong>Chris Mundy<\/strong>, <strong>Damon Lindelof<\/strong>, and <strong>Tom King<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The eight-episode season debuts tonight (Sunday, August 16) at 9:00 p.m. ET\/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The series follows new recruit John Stewart (<strong>Pierre<\/strong>) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (<strong>Chandler<\/strong>), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery with cosmic ties as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Kelly Macdonald<\/strong>, <strong>Laura Linney<\/strong>, <strong>Jason Ritter<\/strong>, <strong>Ulrich Thomsen<\/strong>, <strong>Nathan Fillion<\/strong>,<strong> J. Alphonse Nicholson<\/strong>, and <strong>Jasmine Cephas Jones<\/strong> all star as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Critics are now weighing in about the show, and the reviews are very positive so far.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lanterns | Official Trailer | HBO Max\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7UIBOsuUwc4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"h-lanterns-has-a-90-fresh-rating-on-rotten-tomatoes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Lanterns<\/em> has a 90% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>AV Club <\/em>gave it a B, writing: \u201cIt\u2019s the simmering conflict between Hal and John that truly powers <em>Lanterns<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>TIME<\/em> says: \u201c<em>Lanterns<\/em> does finally get to a more sophisticated place midway through the season, casting new shades of meaning on its John-Hal dichotomy through secondary characters, their varied relationships with fear, and the passage of time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em> writes: \u201cThe series is fresh enough in its details and execution, and strong enough in its writing, and so well performed, that it feels quite original.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Empire <\/em>gave it 4 out of 5, writing: \u201cThe grounded and gritty approach pays dividends for <em>Lanterns<\/em>, which gives the DCU a much-needed win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Vulture <\/em>says: \u201c<strong>Kyle Chandler<\/strong>\u2019s having a rip-roaring time as sardonic Hal Jordan, and until <strong>John Stewart <\/strong>is allowed to loosen up a bit, he carries the series on his shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>TheWrap <\/em>says: \u201cAs solid a screen presence as anyone today, <strong>Pierre <\/strong>radiates reliability even as John flirts with betrayal or copes with failure. He also manages to mesh multiple iterations that inform his character persuasively \u2014 an astronomical acting accomplishment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Rolling Stone<\/em> writes: \u201cYes, things still do get blowed up real good, and real green! They just tend to do so on terra firma, with far more human stakes than usual.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>THR <\/em>adds: \u201cEven in its uneven moments, the stars shine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Variety <\/em>says: \u201c<strong>Chandler<\/strong> and <strong>Pierre <\/strong>may be squarely in their comfort zones, but that also puts them in a position to succeed. It\u2019s especially gratifying to see <strong>Pierre <\/strong>fulfill the promise of the rising action star announced by Rebel Ridge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>IndieWire <\/em>gave it an A-, writing: \u201cIt is keenly invested in the fears we carry, what they mean to the world, and how they define our humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>RogerEbert.com<\/em> says: \u201c[It] is a success, incredibly watchable even through its flaws, and nearly heroic in its hits.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/2026\/08\/14\/kyle-chandler-and-aaron-pierre-premiere-dcs-lanterns-series-in-los-angeles\/\">Check out all the photos from the premiere!<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"categories single-categories\">Posted To:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/aaron-pierre\/\" rel=\"tag\">Aaron Pierre<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/dc\/\" rel=\"tag\">DC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/dc-universe\/\" rel=\"tag\">DC Universe<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/garret-dillahunt\/\" rel=\"tag\">Garret Dillahunt<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/hbo\/\" rel=\"tag\">HBO<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/hbo-max\/\" rel=\"tag\">HBO Max<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/kyle-chandler\/\" rel=\"tag\">Kyle Chandler<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/lanterns\/\" rel=\"tag\">Lanterns<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/poorna-jagannathan\/\" rel=\"tag\">Poorna Jagannathan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/reviews\/\" rel=\"tag\">Reviews<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/tags\/television\/\" rel=\"tag\">Television<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: HBO \/ Warner Bros. Lanterns is already a hit among critics. HBO Max\u2018s DC Studios drama series stars Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, and was co-created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. The eight-episode season debuts tonight (Sunday, August 16) at 9:00 p.m. ET\/PT on HBO and will be&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.justjared.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lanterns-hbo-trailer.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=49089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/49090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}