The Unmasking of the Manhunter
The mystery surrounding the town of Rushville has reached a breaking point in the fifth episode of Lanterns, currently streaming on HBO Max. For weeks, the show has teased a conspiracy involving a shapeshifting Manhunter, a relic of the Guardians of the Universe’s past, embedded in the local population. The latest episode confirms that Zoe, played by Poorna Jagannathan, is indeed the entity the characters have been tracking.
In an interview with Variety, Jagannathan revealed that she was unaware of her character’s true nature until receiving the script for the fourth episode. The narrative reveals that Zoe was the sole survivor of the Manhunters—an early peacekeeping force deemed too dangerous by their creators—and has spent years hiding among alien and human societies. Her presence in Rushville was tied to her efforts to avoid detection after killing Abin Sur, whose ring eventually sought out John Stewart.
A Violent Conclusion in Rushville
The episode transforms Rushville into a battlefield as the conflict between Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) intensifies. Hal, attempting to maintain his status and control the situation, works to isolate John from the conflict. However, the plan unravels when Zoe targets both men with a satellite laser. John, having secured a sniper rifle, eventually kills Zoe, confirming her identity when her heart crystallizes upon death.
The episode also marks the end for other key figures. William Macon and the alien Antaan are both killed as a result of Hal’s tactical manipulation. By pitting the two against each other, Hal indirectly causes their deaths, a move that further strains his relationship with John and underscores the moral compromise required to retain the Green Lantern power.
The Rejection of Power
The most significant development occurs after the dust settles. John Stewart, now in possession of the ring, the lantern, and the physical evidence of Zoe’s nature, encounters the Guardian. Rather than embracing his role, John delivers a scathing indictment of the cycle of violence he has been forced into. He declares the pursuit of the ring hollow, noting that the cost—betraying his own code—has broken Hal and left him feeling empty.
By placing the ring on the bar and walking away, John rejects the destiny that has been imposed upon him since childhood. This moment serves as a definitive conclusion to the 2016 narrative arc, leaving the audience with unresolved questions regarding the future of the ring and the status of the characters in the 2026 timeline where Hal is revealed to be dead.