Lanterns Finale: Hal Jordan's Killer and John Stewart's Future Revealed

The Truth About Hal

If you’ve been lowkey stressed about the mystery of who took out Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), the season finale of Lanterns finally spilled the tea. After tons of internet theories, the culprit is officially revealed: it was Sheriff Kerry (Kelly Macdonald).

In a wild flashback, we learn that after Zoe Macon (Poorna Jagannathan) saved Kerry’s life using Manhunter tech years ago, Kerry became pregnant with Noah (Shea Pritchard). Turns out, Noah is a secret Manhunter, and Hal figured it out. When Hal tried to convince Kerry to run away with him, she shot and killed him in a moment of sheer panic. As he died, Hal’s final words were, “Goddamnit, I love you.”

The Manhunter Reveal

Speaking of Noah, he was hiding in plain sight as the second Manhunter. After Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) escaped prison with Noah’s help, the villain created a yellow ring for the kid using fear-inducing gas from a decimated planet. While Noah tried to embrace his humanity, he admitted to killing Hal to protect his secret. John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) eventually lets him off the hook to live a normal life, including playing football for the University of Nebraska. Talk about a complex situation—the vibes are definitely off.

A New Hero Rises

By the end of the episode, John Stewart is officially leaning into his main character energy. He’s claimed the title of Earth’s Green Lantern, operating as an “independent contractor” while Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) watches the stars. John even created his own version of the iconic oath, emphasizing his acceptance of fear. With his ring powered up and a heartfelt reunion with his mom, Bernadette (Jasmine Cephas Jones), John is ready for his next mission.

Why it matters

While HBO hasn't renewed Lanterns for a second season yet, the finale perfectly sets the stage for the DC Universe. We already know Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart is headed to the big screen in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow on July 9, 2027. We’re ready to see how this “independent” Lantern handles teaming up with Superman and the rest of the gang.