'Lanterns' stars unpack John Stewart's brutal, fear-free upbringing
Per Variety, the third episode of HBO's "Lanterns" reveals the extreme lengths John Stewart's parents went to in preparing him to become Green Lantern. Flashbacks show his father, John Stewart Sr. (J. Alphonse Nicholson), failing a Guardian test due to fear, leading his parents to dedicate themselves to eradicating any trace of it from their son.
His mother, Bernadette (Jasmine Cephas Jones), told Variety she aimed to show a "militant side" driven by a belief in her son's destiny. The training was severe: his parents shot an apple off his head, left him stranded in dangerous areas, and lied that the Guardians were always watching him through birds.
Star Aaron Pierre explained to TVLine that John carries "an immense amount of trauma that is unresolved and internalized." He described the character's exterior as calm and refined, but internally, "volatile emotions" are constantly flying around. Pierre likened it to a perfectly tidy house with one hidden room that's "hell."
The episode intercuts these childhood scenes with John's intense interview before a Guardian (Laura Linney), where he must prove his worthiness to replace Hal Jordan. Jones highlighted a key line her character delivers to a young John: "Sometimes, a Black man has to raise his own hand." She connected this to the show's themes, telling Variety, "fear is instilled in our ancestry."
Both actors emphasized the depth this backstory provided. Pierre called it "a gift" to explore the character so fully, while Jones focused on portraying Bernadette's hidden vulnerability behind her stern decisions.
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