Lanterns review: Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre shine bright in DCs sci-fi mystery

TV is no stranger to odd-couple investigators.

Scully and Mulder from The X Files .

Cohle and Hart from True Detective .

Any iteration of Holmes and Watson.

Now, HBO's Lanterns adds its own twist to this tried-and-true formula, asking, "what if these investigators... were space cops?" SEE ALSO: 'Lanterns' trailer: Hal Jordan and John Stewart team up for a Manhunter murder mystery The space cops in question are Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his trainee John Stewart ( Aaron Pierre ).

Like the rest of the intergalactic Green Lantern Corps, they're able to manifest glowing green constructs with the help of a Power Ring.

However, Lanterns takes a more minimalist approach to these abilities, molding the sci-fi elements of Green Lantern into an earthbound mystery with an irresistible duo at its heart.

Lanterns is a thoughtful mystery by way of DC.

Aaron Pierre in "Lanterns." Credit: HBO Max Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, Lanterns charts the growing pains in the mentor-mentee relationship between Hal and John.

Smart-mouthed Hal constantly belittles John, calling him "junior" and often failing to loop him in on key Lantern information.

A former Marine, John does his best to stay stoic and not snap at Hal, but by the time the show picks up, the cracks in his resolve are starting to show.

Yet as his father (J.

Alphonse Nicholson) reminds him over the phone in Lanterns ' premiere, as a Black man, John doesn't get the luxury of acting out.

He's going to have to work twice as hard to be Green Lantern, and once he has the position, he's going to be held to a different, tougher standard than his white predecessor.