Why Even Superhero Haters Love ‘Lanterns’

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The TV casting news that made me scream with delight.

All thirst traps should be this funny.

Justice for Stockard Channing.

Who’d Have Thought I’d Love This Show? Turns out that all it takes to make superhero haters care about a new superhero show is to cast Kyle Chandler in the lead.

Clear eyes.

Full hearts.

Kill aliens? The truth is, I’m having a bit of an existential crisis.

First with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and now with HBO’s DC Comics series Lanterns , I’ve been loving superhero movies and TV shows this summer.

My whole stubborn identity was built around rolling my eyes and scoffing at this kind of pop culture, like a holier-than-thou cinephile elitist.

Who am I anymore? While I wait for my therapist to return my call, allow me to explain to you why Lanterns is so good that even people who’d never imagine they’d like a show like this are already addicted.

I’ve seen a lot of people describe Lanterns as a cross between True Detective and Watchmen , which, beyond a pretty lofty pedigree to live up to, is an insane-sounding mashup.

But that really is an accurate way of labeling Lanterns ’ secret sauce.

It is rife with comic-book lore and mythology that gets oh-so-close to crossing the line to insufferable and too silly to take seriously—and this show is so self-serious about it.