Lanterns Ep. 4: Who Do You Trust in Rushville?

0:00 >> Sarah : Is that how you fooled me? >> Will: I m was never anything but myself. My ambition was always a threat. You simply chose not to see it. Do not make the same mistake with Jon Stewart. >> Sarah : Greetings, nerds. This is Scenic Nerd. I'm your host, Sarah Belmont, and with me, as always, is our Mr. Producer, will Will Polk How are you Doing tonight. Will. >> Will: Doing very well tonight, Sarah. How are you doing this evening? Happy Labor Day. >> Sarah : Has the year gone by fast for you or slow?

0:43 >> Will: I, I had this question presented to me the other day, and I think it all depends on a matter of perspective. And overall it, it seems like the year has, it, A lot has happened and that's how I just answer it. >> Sarah : Yeah. Yeah. >> Will: I don't know if it's fast or slow. things have happened and. Yeah, so, that's my answer to that question. >> Sarah : Yeah. It's interesting because not as many things have happened for me as you in comparison, but yet I still feel as though I think it's been moderately paced, hasn't been fast, it hasn't necessarily drove on. I mean, some of the days have, but not really. I just, I feel like it's just in its natural cycle. So I, I, I agree that it's 2026 is this weird year where it's, it's not anything as previous years where just like, why, why are we not done yet? Like, come on. And then.

1:42 But, or other years where you're just like, okay, so can we hold up? Because it's already Labor Day and I just finished taking down my tree. >> Will: Exactly one thing. M. Yeah. Even though a lot has happened, I will say, the content this year has been great. And I know, I know we're going to talk lanterns tonight, so. Yeah, so that has, that has been good. And I will say with the content wise that does, it has seemed to, like, fly by with things that I've really enjoyed a little more. >> Sarah : Well, I mean, everybody is abuzz about the box office numbers right now. So, yeah, like, it's, it's in insane. And I mean it just, if you make good movies, the people will come, you know, like, I don't know why that's such a foreign concept.

2:30 You can grow as much money as you want at, shit movies. And yeah, people will bring up some shit movies that have made a bunch of money. Like, like you don't get the buzz that you're getting right now. That talk is more about why even what's considered a bad movie can sometimes still gross exceptionally based on budget and everything. And I mean, we did have sort of a sad week with some cancellations of things. That is what it is. And you know. Yeah, I don't want to get into that whole thing, but it's like, well, at least we got one season. You know, we got the one season, so all we needed and we'll never know what would happen if it got extended. granted these days everything's getting remade like 20 years later, so.

3:21 >> Will: Exactly. >> Sarah : Like 20 years later. >> Will: Exactly. But yeah, Spider noir. You know, we got the one season and it was, it was, was a really enjoyable season and got some Emmy love last night with creative arts Emmys. And we were just talking box office or Spider Man. I think it's been what, like eight weeks, six or eight weeks or some crazy. Like every week it's been like number one to your point. You make a good movie, people, people will come out. >> Sarah : Yeah, a good, good IP movie. >> Will: Yeah, for sure. >> Sarah : And then Wonder man also, same thing. God the ax. Which, which when we. It was announced that it was renewed, I remember being like, I don't think that that's going to stick.

4:01 >> Will: Yeah, yeah. And again, it was. And he also got some creative arts and he's loved too, if I recall, so. And also, yay, I got a nomination for best actor. Yeah. So I mean, it's been a great year for content and we have overall, as far, especially on the TV side, I mean, I know there's been the movies with Supergirl a little disappointment, Mandalorian a little disappointed, but. But as far as TVs, at least the things that we've watched so far, we have overall really enjoy things. >> Sarah : So that brings us to Lantern season one, episode four. We're at the halfway part. This episode is called of course, the weenie. With the 48 hour deadline about to expire, John develops a new theory about the whereabouts of a cosmic hunter.

4:46 Leads him and Hal to present the their next plan to Sheriff Kane. Meanwhile, Hal's visit to Sinestro has consequences. Okay, IMDb m people. Okay, what is with this cosmic hunter? It's only mentioned in the show 40 times. It's called the Manhunter. What, what, what are we doing here, guys? Watching the content? Are we got a copyright issue? >> Will: I don't get it, but it's like the trust issues that were going full throttle in this episode. I feel that way sometimes with I am IMDb. Is it like, is it like Sinestro trying to, you know, get into Hal's head with these IMDb ratings? I don't know. But anyway.

5:28 >> Sarah : Well, I mean, since you brought it up looks and it kicks off the episode. What did you think about the, the now witnessing the Sinestro and Hal conversation? >> Will: Yeah. So the Sinestro and Hal conversation really, like I said, it really gets into some of the trust issues that we, we really get into their, their relationship because again we know that Hal and Sinestro and, and, and, and even before that Mansur was who, who, who, who was all at Earth when he was killed and Hal got that ring. There's that lineage there. But whenever we got to tease the Sinestro a few episodes back, Sinestro was, was Hal's mentor. He was like the most the most dangerous thing is Jon Stewart. And we get a little bit more into that as far as Hal's relationship with John. And also Hal on the other hand was also like how did you know about, about the trainee? And how did you get this information?

6:30 And, and you know, so they were both playing this cat just this game here. And one of the things that Sinestro really was, was wanting to what is this guy's purpose is to be your replacement? One, but two, you know, not to be. Don't. Yeah, he's a danger but maybe the way to deal with him is like kind of how you dealt with me which is not kill me but disgrace him and to show the Guardians that he is. That he is. He's not worthy of carrying the mantle. And it also another thing about John is he does to follow orders and so also use that against him as well.

7:13 >> Sarah : Yeah, I thought that was a very interesting point. Is that ah, the same reason why the Guardians selected John is the very reason why how Sinestro views it as a point of manipulation. It's like to the Guardians that's a great strength and, but it's a great strength whoever's giving the orders with someone like that. So. But, but unknowingly by placing him under the mentorship of how he's gonna learn how not to just follow orders. He's also gonna learn how to listen to his gut which goes into a whole other thing. The other fascinating line that, that just ends this conversation is my admission was always a threat. You simply did not. And so do not make the same mistake with Jon Stewart. So was. Was Sinestro involved with the birds? That's all I wanted because was Sinestro involved with the birds? Remember the conversation birds and the Guardians. Okay. Because it is quite based on last week's episode. The Guardians have all have known about Jon Stewart longer than 2020 16. So this isn't some guy who comes. So Sinestro could have been, definitely does have intel. But it also seems like he knows that not only does John take orders and was programmed that way with his parents, but also John is very ambitious because

8:44 his parents from the time he turned five was like, you're one day going to become arguably one of the most powerful beings on the planet. You're going to be a superhero. That is your destiny. And so their ambition for their son has crept into his own ambition. And I thought. I thought it was a really good, way to start this episode already talking about someone who we just learned all of this information about. So a lot of what they were talking about and their observations about who John is. I think that's why it stood out so well. And then to then later parallel it with John's version of this because then you have Laura Linney, who I'm gonna live and die. That's this character's name. Okay. We're gonna call her Laura Linney.

9:33 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : So. So, so, she comes back and to get intel as to what the heck is John and Hal still doing in Rushville. What is really going on. And also there's. It's just this. This great scene of. It's funny because Laura Linney is not necessarily John's mentor. She has. I would argue she has a closer relationship with John's mom. And that's why when. When she feels as though she starts to see the fractures in the trust between him and the Guardians or between him actually starting to understand and empathize for. For Hal, she's like, oh, no, no, no. Let me play all of these cards about how you possess the same weakness as your father. And this is just gonna. Your mom was wrong. Like, dagger, dagger, twist. And it's funny because in that moment, he does go from. I mean, John just does a great job moving between those emotions of. You do see him as. He. He does have some. He has gained some understanding of Hal and.

10:53 And doesn't. This whole situation is starting not to feel right with him and him and the Guardians. But then the manipulation occurs. But then he. He's still. He's no dummy. So he recognizes the manipulation too. So. >> Will: Yeah. Yeah, I thought that was a very interesting, like, moment there with. With her and the manipulation as far as like, you know, call it. Because, I mean, in a lot of ways too, with what John and the whole issue of like, people saying that he follows orders. He. And the converse, you know, the conversation that they were having there about how. How things. John lacks Creativity and you know, to push all the buttons and, and you know, but. And then of course, John's response is, but, you know, I will do this.

11:36 >> Sarah : And you know, I will take it, >> Will: because I will take it. >> Sarah : Yeah, he's not worthy of it. >> Will: He's not worthy of it. So it gets back to this, that underlying, you know, there's a through line that they have really had throughout this series of this, the John questioning how's worthiness and, and also the, the privilege of it all, which especially when you look at backstory, even the colors, not even, of course obviously from the. There's always obviously the racial dynamics of it, also just the character issues as well. So. Yeah, so. So I love the way they're structuring the series because it really, each, each episode really does like, build on itself. And, and so even though last week's episode was phenomenal, the reason why it goes up, even more in my estimation is because of what they followed up with, with this episode and this conversation and that Laura Linney's character was not just a one off, that this guardian is going to be here. It's going to be present for, for a much longer period of time. And it also, and it also opens the door now, especially given what we've, what we have seen in this episode. When Hal handed the ring over to John, we're going to explore the weenie and he didn't take the oath. Now I'm like, okay, now I see how Gal Gardner is going to fit into this thing.

12:50 >> Sarah : But before we get to that part, I want to go back to what you were just talking about in terms of this conversation and Jon and his parents relationship because. Or his relationship with Hal, because in both conversations, whether it's Hal and Sinestra, Sinestro or John and Laura Linney, they, they both say what we've heard them comment about each other for the past three episodes. And, and they just reaffirm like, this has not changed. But what was interesting to me, especially given that John says again, like, he did nothing to earn this. Not worthy of it. Like, emphasis on earn is when they're walking in the underground tunnel that John creates. He. And then, how's your mama doing? And he's like, my mom's dead. She died of cancer. What took me back was how John had no idea, which, Which I thought was very fascinating because I would think some. I would think that John's parents had done. Had basically been stalking Hal and also just there was an obsession there with Hal. But, but that proves that that wasn't the case. That they basically view him for one action and one action only. And just any interview like there was the opening interview of this entire series that little boy John did witness, but that was just

14:20 about the father for me. I don't know what happened, but my interpretation of that interview. I actually thought he was talking about both his parents thought he was already an orphan. But so. But I don't think that's the case now. I think that did happen at a separate time. But there was just also to backtrack a little bit because you did bring up the fact that even in this episode when John could have. He doesn't. And I'm not saying it's simply because he found out that like Hal is an orphan, but it's. It's also that the more that they truly are the only people who will ever understand each other. You know what I'm saying? So. So. And. And you know, even though he says it at the end to kind of finish the conversation with Laura Linney, you know that the doubt has already been planted of like something is off about this because suddenly I don't. This is an interesting point. I wonder if he's reluctant now because by taking it. I wonder if it. He feels like it diminishes the whole point.

15:30 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : Of earning it. >> Will: Yes. >> Sarah : I >> Will: Was when I was watching an episode last night and whenever they had that that, that I thought that same thing. And Especially again using the context of what we saw last week as far as not handed. Having it handed to one. As far as like with. With. With Hal and John. The whole earned of it all. But I, I had a thought to you like with. With John like season it taking it. It almost part of me was like I think he wants to. To your point. I think the longer they spend time with one another and the more to become more the partnership is really evolving in here. I think even Hal is starting to like we see in this episode moments where it seems like Hal really is starting to see John as a partner and, and maybe not as a full replacement, but he, but he is in Hal's own way growing fond of him. So and, but so on the one hand when he handed him the ring, it was like is.

16:31 Is he handing him the R test Sinestro's theory as far. Or is he doing it because he truly is seeing John as, as. As a partner and as a mentor to see how you know, what this kid had. What this kid. What did this kid have as far as you Know, possibly being a replacement for me because, you know, I can't do this forever. >> Sarah : It also. So the other, angle to look at this is, is the fact that John is on this very important mission right now and he's. He's a soldier. So, like, the mission comes first. So despite ring or no ring, he's the one who they. They showed the genocide that occurred and he. So he has that also weighing on because he was not open to Laura Linney about, like, this is why we're still in Rushville. This is what's going on. Like, again, that has nothing, arguably nothing to do with that. Kind of like, no, I don't trust you because I know what this Manhunter did. And I also don't want to complicate it because I kind of slept with Manhunter, but we will get there.

17:43 >> Will: I don't think he knew at that point. >> Sarah : I, you know, I, I want to be surprised if he did. I. So, So I think that there's also like, at the end of the day, he's kind of setting the ring aside and just like, I just want to make sure Rushville survives and I want to make sure, like, the actual culprit gets there, gets punished here because of what happened. Like, he. He's walking a very fine line. But you also raise the other part of this because the beauty of this episode is again, we have two leads. Susan. A Jon Stewart show. This isn't a Hal Jordan show. This is the them together. It's Lantern. Okay, so guy will come. But like, it is about both of them. And so that's what really stuck out to me in this episode is the seesaw between them too. They. They both have very.

18:40 They're both playing this game of chess or chicken, and they. For different reasons and they have different things. And you can read into how's actions who are both testing the waters to figure out what is the right course of action, while simultaneously both on the same objective of getting into the weenie and finding the Manhunter or the Benefactor and figuring all that. I really liked the. Well, the, The. The slaughterhouse sequence. It was just so. And I just like the. The look between that se and just John going into the market to get a scope, not a gun. But like, like this town and the weirdness of this town is wearing down these two characters. I mean, you have John making jokes and you have Hal just like getting the punchline beat into. By. By John Sodi.

19:48 Like they're losing their personalities in this weird ass town. But, it was also just A good game of chicken there with this. Who turned out to be a decoy because how. How suspects something's wrong. Now, granted, it wasn't. His parents are already dead, so it wasn't his parents at risk there. but he. He wagered. And, It just continues to go back. This thing. Gut is never wrong. >> Will: Yeah. Yeah. Whenever. Yeah, I mean, it was, you know, deep call with Hector Hammond, who was a big adv in the Green Lantern comic books and even folks who probably remember who, if you did have the misfortune of watching the Ryan Reynolds film, he was also in there, played by Peter Skarsgard.

20:33 But. Yeah, but Hector, you know, with that whole scene with. With, you know, going with his gut and realizing something was off there at that. At that slaughterhouse and, and. And using two things that really amazed me with that scene, using John's parents as. As bait, basically, to see like, you know, what was this. Truly the Manhunter. And I loved how you, like, talked about, like, let's, you know, I can just rip your heart out and see if it turns, you know, crystallizes, you know, and again reminded us these. That. That these Manhunters are machines. You know, it's saying that, But also just seeing John's reaction and had John losing control. I mean, that was real fear that John had about losing his parents. And then, you know, and then, of course, you know, in the perfect bookend to it all was the conversation in the car where Hal talks about the lonely. You know, this is a lonely job. And you know, that theme of loneliness. Loneliness comes up again and, and how. But also, you know, how he deduces that. And I know we're jumping ahead, but.

21:30 >> Sarah : No, no, we're there. >> Will: Yeah. You know, that the whole. With azoia of it all, you know, and he. He was, you know, he saw the reaction or lack thereof with. With what happened there. And you put two and two together as far as John not being forthcoming that, you know, that she told him that, you know, she's the Manhunter. >> Sarah : Yeah, well, I don't think she explicitly said it. >> Will: She didn't say it outright. She intimated it, yeah, very strongly. Whenever she was just like, you know, get out of. >> Sarah : Confirmed. >> Will: She confirmed. Yeah. >> Sarah : Especially it's funny because in that whole scene when he's like, you showed no emotion when she died. And I was thinking to myself, I was like, oh, shit. I didn't even show any emotion when she.

22:14 I was like. I was just like, John, like, oh, that's weird. It's a bit awkward. Like Everything about Zoe has been awkward anytime she shows up. And which just leads me to the question, the obvious question. What are your thoughts about the reveal that she is the Manhunter? >> Will: Yeah, you know, we. We. I know way back at episode one, we were questioned about whether or not she was a benefactor or not. But, I mean, it doesn't. It didn't surprise me as far as >> Sarah : her possibly it was telegraphed. >> Will: Oh, I think. I don't know if it was even telegraphed. It was just more like, okay, we have a. We have a finite set of people who. Who this Manhunter could be, you know, and there was. I don't know if it was so much telegraphed. I think it was more. For me, it was just more the. The whenever. Like when. Whenever we were. When we had the power move by Macon there and he talked and he shared with. He shared his weenie. I couldn't.

23:11 Yeah. Just. Just to digress for a moment, I. I thought it reminded me of another power move moment from another show that we watched earlier this year with Ormond. The. Whenever he stood up in the, tub there with the, two people, the two aristocrats. But he said she. That she cared for him and everything about it. So seeds were laid there. But whenever she was. Whenever she slept with John the second time and whenever she was, like, took care of him, that's when I was like, okay, I think she. This is. That was when I was like, she might be the man in her. >> Sarah : So, listeners, I just want everybody to go and re. Listen to our episode one discussion. I figure out Zoe's name, but I was like, too obvious. It's not gonna be Joey. It's too obvious. And so I stand by that. I just think from the get go how she. She just so happens to be in the same bar within hearing distance, knows has all this information.

24:04 The way she sleeps with John and Macon is okay about it. Like, there. There was a lot of. Basically, she is different. Something that's off about her, but you're also clouded by. Is that just the. The. I'm. I'm blanking on the word for it. But so. So to me, it was a bit telegraphed. But. And. And like I said before, I wasn't surprised when she died in a weird way. And I wasn't necessarily. I wasn't surprised by any of this. I. I'm not mad at it. It's not, It's not a bad thing at all if a part of me is still like, because we're halfway.

24:45 There's a lot of stuff that happens in this episode to escalate. Ah. I mean, we're getting where the whole thing about this episode is the 48 hour timeline is running out, and so they got to deliver or else even worse events will occur for Rushville. >> Will: So I guess. Yeah. And I, And I guess the thing to. I guess the counterpoint for me is like, as far as why it didn't seem telegraphed to me was because the conversation she and John had about how's your white man? So, So I knew something was going on there. But, but it was just. >> Sarah : That seems to support me that it was telegraph. Because that whole conversation, like. >> Will: Well, again, we were really pushing off of who was the Benefactor, not who was the Manhunter.

25:28 >> Sarah : I, I've always thought they were the same person, actually. >> Will: I thought they were, I've always taken that they were different. >> Sarah : Oh. I, I, I always thought we were on the same page. That those are going to be the same person. Same person. >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : Yeah. Well, I mean, I will give props to John and Joey that at least the sex scene in this episode wasn't nearly as awkward. Which I don't know if that means he knew the second time around, because I, I think he knew because of how long he held his gun at her. He held his gun at her for a awkward, long time and then made the decision, no, we're gonna have sex because in about an hour or two later, you're gonna blow up and die. >> Will: I didn't tell you how the gun later. Cause it was just all after. After what they had just gone through with Macon, that he just was just, again, trust about the underlying issue. And this whole episode is all about trust. And he just didn't.

26:19 Just didn't trust her. >> Sarah : Yeah. >> Will: Not because he suspected she was a Manhunter. It's just that he just was like, are you here at all kill me. Because, I mean, Macon basically said during that meeting, he was like, I don't want to bring all the whole core down on me for like killing the lantern. But, But John, you're not a lantern. >> Sarah : He's not. He's not a lantern yet. Or at all a feral. So, you know. Okay, here. Here's the one thing about this whole Manhunter review. I will say I don't know why they cast Jason Ritter and the part they did. And we have seen him all of one or two times. So. Because I will, I will tell you, part of me at the beginning of this episode, I forget the line that was said. I was like, oh, when they were like yeah, it's Willie or it's William Macomb. I'm just like Junior because he goes by Billy. I just. For some reason. And I also bring that up because there is a continued emphasis about this strained marriage between Carrie and Billy. Oh. And then I even go back further to 2026 where. Where the first thing that John says to Carrie is, how is your son? Like, is he still playing football like I do? I don't think it's. I would not be surprised if. Because it, because this reveal is happening in the fourth episode, that they also have something else because. Yeah, there was some alien

27:52 and human interaction and now we have Billy. >> Will: And whenever they were looking for Atlas and looking at the decoy, as far as with. With Hector Hammond and stuff, I mean, there's still the 3ndas that are out there. yeah. With the companies. And Carrie does mention that how the. And you know, and even making Senior, you know, with all the technology and all the other things, I mean with the hospital and the 917am flights, I mean, there's still a lot of things circulating out there that I think to your point, that there's definitely some other foot that's got to drop. >> Sarah : There's. There's other things happening and there's other relationships. Because now that I think about it, I don't know what's a more strained relationship or weird dynamic that's kind of off the. The car. Zoe and William marriage or the Billy and Carrie marriage? Because Hal has not slept with Carrie yet. No emphasis on yet. Okay.

28:55 Yeah, okay. Emphasis. Yeah. But if he was given the, the opening the way John has been with Zoe, he would be in that end zone. I'm, I'm just saying. I also, you know, and just the, the whole we're. We're four episodes in and yet they're already doing callbacks. The whole sorry about the rental. I'm like, damn it, Hal. And he doesn't give him the ring this time to protect himself. But it was. It's just like so, so, just so you know, if you ever piss off Hal Jordan, never be in a driving moving vehicle with him because we will get out. Never let him drive. I don't know why John hasn't figured that exactly.

29:39 >> Will: Especially whenever you haven't been completely honest with Al. >> Sarah : Cuz I'm pretty sure that rental was in John's name. So he was just going to destroy the car. So you got. You got to learn. >> Will: Yeah. How's already. Yeah, he's just like. He's one piece about Another, he's like taking, he took the front grill off and then this time he just wrecked the whole freaking thing. >> Sarah : Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, I, I, I enjoy this episode. I'm gonna be fine. I'm gonna be very honest. I got bored in the middle. I, and, and there were just some slow sequences, in my opinion, getting into the weenie. But the, this episode was filled with a lot of really good dialogue and conversations that were happening and choices that were made.

30:23 And I agree with you. I didn't think anybody should have a problem with them doing a flashback episode last week when we were talking about the Flash. And I stand by it this week, like we, I'm just going to re, emphasize this. There is a part of this audience, myself included, who has no background or understanding of who. Maybe I have a little bit more understanding of who Hal Jordan is, but I know nothing about the Guardians. I have loose understanding about Sinestro and Hal's relationship, but, I mean, it's not enough to build a TV show around, so, or making me think like, oh, you can do some shortcuts here, because everybody knows that. I mean, we're not talking about Spider man. We're not talking about Superman or Batman. Those characters. You can take all the shortcuts you need because there's been so many iterations. But with this, they can't take the shortcuts. And I really appreciate that they're not. And I also just, just want to emphasize, I love this show is called Lantern. They're really making sure it's clear that it's about multiple characters.

31:38 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : And that's a hard thing to do because we have seen ensemble shows and that has been a criticism. >> Will: Yeah, that has been a problem. But I think, this show is done. We've seen both situations where Hal and John are apart, and now we've seen them together. I love the chemistry between Aaron Pierre and Cal Chandler is just like, like, it's just, it's just fun to see them on the screen together. And, and, and so it was given how this episode ended, where, how that, that trust that, that was blossoming has, has now been strained again. What I'm looking forward to, like, what's going to go, what's, what's going to come going forward? And then it's, and we do have, like you mentioned earlier, we do have Anton out there.

32:24 John did call him to. And then there's the Guardians of it all and what their role of it is, because clearly they, they have a strained relationship with, with Hal. Hal doesn't is also has a very strained relationship with the Guardians, and so that's why Sinestro's chat with John with Hal earlier in the episode resonates. Because was Hal doing this to protect himself when he jumped out of the car, or was he, you know, protect John? What was the motivations there? So there's just so many things that are, you know, that are happening here and that they are really doing it is pulling all the various pieces of the ensemble, even the other supporting characters. Everybody has an arc that ties to the larger story that they're using these characters well together.

33:09 >> Sarah : Definitely. Definitely. Okay. Well, Will, why don't you tell our listeners where they can find you? >> Will: Yes, you can find me on all the socials at, Will and Polk. W I L L M M P >> Sarah : O L K And you can find me there too, at Sjvomont. S J B E L M O N T Please follow our crew on X, formerly known as Twitter at Scene and Nerd, on Blue Sky. Friend us on Facebook, falls on Instagram and threads at Scene. Underscore N, underscore Nerd and Visit our website, www.scenanerdpodcast.com. but most importantly, rate, follow and comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever your podcast. Good night, Geek out. You're welcome.