‘Lanterns’ Penultimate Episode Trailer Reveals Unsolved Murder of Hal Jordan
HBO’s ‘Lanterns‘ has captivated audiences with its intricate murder mystery involving two ringless heroes and the tragic fate of a Green Lantern. As the season approaches its climax, the newly released trailer for the penultimate episode serves as a reminder of the many unanswered questions that linger. Here’s what the latest footage hints at and what we know about the storyline moving forward.
A writer from Reactor noted that last week’s episode felt like a season finale, yet only one of the major mysteries had been resolved. While we now know the identity of the Manhunter from the 2016 timeline, the mystery of who shot Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) remains unsolved. This unanswered question is now the driving force behind John Stewart (Aaron Pierre).
The episode titled “Bad Optics” concluded with John retrieving Hal’s ring and summoning Hal’s holographic backup, affectionately known as the Halogram, to access a voice-locked vault. The Halogram’s initial response was an annoyed groan, setting the stage for an unusual partnership between John and the version of Hal he struggles to forgive.
DC Film News shared the new trailer on X on September 21, which quickly garnered over 561,000 views. The tweet confirms that the next episode will premiere on September 27 on HBO Max. However, no official synopsis has been released, leaving many details unconfirmed until the episode airs.
Both SuperHeroHype and ComingSoon describe the new promo as a continuation of a midseason preview HBO released on September 17. This earlier teaser confirmed that the Halogram will return for the final episodes, urging John to delve deeper into the apparent murder that took place in Rushville, Nebraska. In that footage, John dismisses Hal’s suspicions by stating that the entire town disliked him, to which the Halogram retorts that being murdered can lead to a bit of paranoia.
The midseason footage also features Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner visiting John while he’s incarcerated. Guy expresses that he cannot assist in solving the murder due to “bad optics,” while John insists that Guy owes him a favor. Fillion first portrayed the character in ‘Superman’, marking a significant expansion of his role.
Additionally, Ulrich Thomsen’s Sinestro delivers a cryptic line suggesting that Hal didn’t have to die in vain, implying he knows a way to resolve the situation. TechRadar notes that Sinestro is not in the space jail seen earlier in the season, hinting that someone may have orchestrated his escape. Fans are left to speculate on who that might be.
The trailer for ‘LANTERNS’ Episode 7 has arrived!
Premieres September 27 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/29VKRBR8Gd
— DC Film News (@DCFilmNews) September 21, 2026
The midseason trailer also hints that John and the Halogram will explore alien worlds, with Hal’s backstory expected to emerge. Bleeding Cool points to potential connections to Abin Sur’s murder, Kerry Kane’s Gotham history, and even a twist involving Hector Hammond. Fiction Horizon adds that Sinestro, Guy, and the mystery surrounding Noah Macon are becoming increasingly prominent.
Some fans have taken their theories further. Soap Central reports a popular speculation that Lianna may be an ally of Sinestro, or even a Manhunter herself, potentially being the one who informed him about John. While these ideas remain speculative, the penultimate episode typically begins to focus the narrative.
As episodes near the finale, they often shift from broadening the story to positioning the pieces for resolution. With the vault still unopened and Hal’s backup consciousness on edge, the upcoming chapter could provide significant revelations about who wanted him dead.
This scenario also raises the stakes for John. His act of violating a grave to obtain the ring, coupled with Guy Gardner’s warning about optics, suggests that the consequences will follow him into the finale.
The new episode is set to air on Sunday, September 27 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. Until then, fans are left with a Halogram exhibiting a paranoid streak, a potential Sinestro plot, and a killer still at large.
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