Lanterns Episode 7: 5 Best Easter Eggs, Ranked

Lanterns Episode 7 finally takes John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) off Earth, although the destination is hardly somewhere anyone would choose for a holiday. Accompanied by the Halogram (a consciousness of Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan that resides in the power ring), he visits a dead civilization. Eventually, the two find Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), whom we learnt in Episode 6 had broken out of the prison. Back home, a glimpse of Hal Jordan’s childhood explains why the famously fearless hero has always been so difficult to understand in Lanterns.

There are plenty of Easter eggs from the comic book mythology in The Jordan Boys’ Legacy, some of which repeat old stories, while others hint at future stories. Along with these is a visual clue that might reveal what drives John to investigate this particular path (to look into Hal Jordan’s death). Below you will find five Easter eggs worth looking into, ranked.

5 The Bird Emblem Suggests Hal Left a Trail for John

One of the things I like about this show is that so much of it is internal. It demands your attention in a way those so-called prevalent second-screen shows rarely do. Miss the small details, and a later reveal might leave you wondering how you got there. The bird emblem on the key that unlocks Hal’s Fortress of Storage is significant. We know birds already have a particular significance for John.

Episode 3 established that the Guardians watched John through birds while he was growing up. He later created a green bird with Hal’s ring and kept it alive after removing the ring, demonstrating an ability that surprised his mentor. A bird is therefore a fitting symbol to associate with John. So, this means Hal most likely wanted John to find his secret vault and figure out how to open it. And that in turn means Hal trusted John more than he let on.

4 Martin Jordan’s Death Reworks Hal’s Classic Origin

We finally see the boy Hal was before he became this fearless man. As Halogram notes, “I am not fearless because I am brave. I am fearless because I am broken.” In the comics, Martin Jordan is a test pilot whose aircraft malfunctions and crashes while Hal watches. His father’s death shapes Hal’s relationship with both flying and fear (via DC Comics). 

Episode 7 changes what Hal knows about it. Martin gave him a key to a safe, presenting the gesture as a family tradition. Later, Hal explains that his father died by suicide and left behind a note describing his suffering. His grandfather had also died by suicide. And that is the legacy in the episode’s title.

3. John’s Ringless Powers Echo Green Lantern: War Journal

John removes the ring. But the Halogram does not disappear. Even Halogram is surprised and compliments him. For readers of Green Lantern: War Journal, however, a John Stewart who can use his powers without wearing a ring is familiar territory (via DC Comics). We sort of knew that already when John kept the bird construct alive as he went to Coast City to fetch the Lantern for Hal.

In the opening issue of the 2023 series, John has stepped away from the Corps but retains powers within himself. When another Lantern comes looking for his ring, John demonstrates that taking away an accessory is not enough to make him powerless.

2 Antaan’s Homeworld Echoes the Sector 666 Massacre

The bones scattered across Antaan’s homeworld turn his account of genocide into something John must physically walk through. The suspended city is from the memories forced into him: the victims who appeared to be falling were jumping from above.

This has a substantial precedent in the lore. The Guardians’ Manhunters slaughter nearly all life in Sector 666. Atrocitus (which many of us thought Antaan was before he died in Episode 5) survives the massacre and eventually becomes the founder of the Red Lantern Corps. 

1 Sinestro’s Hideout Hints at His Yellow Lantern Future

Finding Sinestro on a world poisoned by fear is an especially suggestive choice for anyone familiar with his comic-book history. After his fall from the Green Lantern Corps, Sinestro becomes associated with yellow power rings fueled by fear. He ultimately establishes his own Corps, turning the emotion Green Lanterns must overcome into a weapon. 

In Episode 7, fear already has the power to destroy a civilization. Residual gas makes John relive his childhood trauma and nearly kills him before he reaches the structure where Sinestro is hiding. 

Which reference caught your attention? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Lanterns Episode 7 is now streaming on HBO Max.