Before he became a Green Lantern, John Stewart had to learn how to live without fear.
Lanterns takes a major detour in “OutKast,” stepping away from the Rushville murder investigation to give John Stewart the spotlight. It turns out to be an excellent decision. Rather than simply explaining how John became a Green Lantern, the episode explores the people, trauma, failures, and sacrifices that shaped him into the man capable of carrying the ring. The result is an emotional and surprisingly intimate chapter that gives Aaron Pierre some of his strongest material yet.
Told through a nonlinear interview between John and a Guardian of Oa, the episode reveals that John's journey toward becoming a Green Lantern was anything but accidental. His parents, John Stewart Sr. and Bernadette, raised him with an almost obsessive belief that fear had to be conquered. When a green light originally passed over their home and his father wasn't chosen, it sent his father into a downward spiral. His obsession with the Green Lanterns became a painful part of John's childhood, while his parents pushed their son to become someone who would never hesitate when confronted with danger.
That upbringing eventually leads John to the Marines, where he becomes an exceptionally talented sniper. After spending nine months tracking a Russian warlord known as the Grey Wolf, John is finally ready to complete the mission—only for Hal Jordan to swoop in and capture the target himself. Hal's reckless decision creates an international mess, while John is left taking the blame and receiving a dishonorable discharge. It's another fascinating piece of their history because it shows that Hal's influence on John began long before either of them became partners.
After returning home, John's mother encourages him to reconnect with his passion for art and architecture. His extraordinary ability to visualize and reproduce complex structures from memory eventually catches the attention of the Guardians. When John is asked to prove that he can overcome his fear by jumping through a mysterious opening in the floor, he doesn't hesitate. That moment becomes the final test that leads him toward the Green Lantern Corps.
The episode also does an excellent job setting up the complicated mentor-mentee relationship between John and Hal. John finally earns his place as a Green Lantern trainee, only to return home and find Hal waiting for him. Hal makes it very clear that he has no intention of giving up his ring, joking that the only way John gets it is "over my dead body." Considering the show's premiere already revealed that an older Hal eventually turns up dead, that line suddenly feels much darker.
Aaron Pierre is terrific throughout the episode, but the supporting performances deserve plenty of credit as well. The story gives John's parents enough complexity to make their influence on him feel both loving and deeply damaging. More importantly, “OutKast” transforms John from the rookie we've been watching into someone with a much richer history and a very specific reason for becoming the person he is.
“OutKast” may temporarily put the central mystery on the back burner, but it makes the larger story significantly more interesting. It's a beautifully constructed character episode that gives John Stewart the origin story he deserves while adding another layer of tension to his relationship with Hal. And after that final exchange, I'm even more curious about where this partnership—and their potentially dangerous future—will go next. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.
What did you think of this week's episode of Lanterns? Leave a comment.
You can catch Lanterns on HBO on Sundays.
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