Lanterns episode 4 ending explained: who is the Manhunter in the new HBO Max sci-fi crime drama series?

Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns , up to and including episode 4.

Lanterns episode 4 has premiered on HBO Max — and we finally know who among Rushville's population is the Manhunter.

After weeks of speculation, the DC Universe ( DCU ) TV show has lifted the lid on one of its two biggest secrets to date.

Of course, the other is who killed Hal Jordan in Lanterns episode 1 , but that's a conversation for another day.

So, who has the Manhunter been disguised as? Why has Rushville's townsfolk being keeping them safe from prying eyes? And what will Jordan and his Green Lantern protégé John Stewart do next? Activate your power ring, and let's dive in together… Lanterns episode 4 confirms Zoe is the Manhunter Well, that puts the proverbial cat among the pigeons... (Image credit: HBO Max) That's right, Zoe Macon, the wife and enigmatic benefactor of Rushville ranch owner William Macon, and John Stewart's love interest, is revealed to be the Manhunter.

Zoe was one of three characters I predicted to be the extraterrestrial android in my Manhunters in Lanterns explained article, so I'm absolutely counting that a correct guess on my part.

Wait, hang on: wasn't Zoe killed when her pick-up truck was obliterated by a giant red lazer after she slept with Stewart again? It certainly appeared that way, but there was always something off about Stewart's incredibly muted reaction to her death.

That's something Jordan picks up on before the end of the HBO Max show's latest entry, too, so Zoe clearly walked away from that attack unscathed.

Some viewers thought William Macon was the Manhunter (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO Max) There are other telling signs in episode 4, titled 'The Weenie', that indicated that Zoe was the Manhunter.

For one, after Stewart and Jordan are captured following their botched infiltration of Macon Ranch, William tells them that Zoe not only nursed him back to health after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but also cured him of said disease.

Sure, the high-tech, alien equipment that Stewart and Jordan find in one of the ranch's compounds will have helped to treat Macon.

Nonetheless, someone would need to operate said equipment — and, frankly, Macon wouldn't be able to use it if he was as sick as he implies.

Alongside her clear medical expertise that far outweighs the scientific knowledge that humanity possesses, Zoe would be the only one capable of using this technology to save Macon's life, and subsequently earn his trust and unwavering devotion to keep her secret safe.

Stewart and Jordan's investigation leads them to a high-tech slaughterhouse (Image credit: DC Studios/HBO Max) That's not to say that Lanterns doesn't try and distract us about Zoe being the Manhunter.