‘Lanterns’ Writer Discusses Why She Believes the Green Lantern Ring is Sexist

Episode-specific interviews rarely spark as much discussion as the third chapter of HBO’s latest DC series. What started as a deep exploration of John Stewart’s family history has evolved into a broader conversation about the show’s writers’ perspectives on one of its most contentious characters.

‘Lanterns’ has been building a grounded mystery around veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan and his new recruit, John Stewart, while gradually expanding its mythology to include figures like Sinestro and the shapeshifting Manhunters. Episode 3, titled ‘OutKast,’ specifically focused on John’s origin story, revealing that Abin Sur’s ring initially approached his father, John Stewart Sr., before ultimately selecting Hal Jordan instead.

This revelation set the stage for a significant confrontation involving John’s mother, Bernadette, portrayed by Jasmine Cephas Jones, who challenges a Guardian about the fairness of that original selection process. In an interview with Collider, writer and co-executive producer Vanessa Baden Kelly provided a compelling explanation for how the writers’ room approached Bernadette’s perspective throughout the show’s development.

“The thing that I would always say in the room is that if the ring wasn’t sexist, Bernadette would have been chosen, because she really is just the most fearless of everybody,” Kelly told Collider, reflecting on the show’s portrayal of Bernadette and her belief that the selection process denied her the ring unfairly.

Kelly’s remarks hold particular significance given how the episode frames Bernadette’s confrontation with the Guardian who tested John Sr. During that pivotal kitchen scene between Cephas Jones’ Bernadette and Laura Linney’s Guardian character Lianna, Bernadette directly questions the fairness of asking a Black man in America whether he’s afraid, arguing that fear carries entirely different implications based on one’s lived experience and circumstances.

According to Kelly, the idea that willpower and overcoming fear look different depending on one’s position was central to how the writers’ room approached the character throughout the season. She explained that a person’s daily circumstances can shape their relationship with fear in ways the traditional understanding of the Green Lantern selection process does not fully consider.

This framing has led some viewers and critics to reevaluate how Bernadette’s character should be interpreted. Rather than viewing her solely as a delusional or obsessive figure whose grievances should be dismissed, Kelly’s comments suggest the show intends for her critique of the selection system to be taken seriously as a legitimate perspective within the narrative.

Bernadette’s role in ‘OutKast’ extends beyond that single confrontation, serving as a foundational figure in shaping the man John eventually becomes. The episode presents her disappointment over her husband’s rejection by the ring, combined with her fierce resolve, as a direct influence on John’s development long before he ever received a ring of his own.

This dynamic has made Bernadette one of the more debated characters introduced this season, with some viewers questioning how sympathetically the show ultimately wants audiences to view her. Kelly’s comments to Collider indicate that the writers intended for her perspective to carry genuine narrative weight rather than merely serving as a source of tension or conflict within John’s backstory.

As ‘Lanterns’ continues its weekly rollout on HBO and HBO Max, Episode 3’s exploration of John Stewart’s origins adds another layer to a season already juggling multiple major storylines, including the ongoing Manhunter mystery and Sinestro’s live-action return. Kelly’s insights about Bernadette offer one of the clearest glimpses yet into how the show’s writers are navigating the more personal, character-driven threads woven throughout the season’s larger cosmic plot.

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