Lanterns

Landing on a Familiar Beat, But With a Cosmic Edge

When you open the first episode, you see a unique combination of the known and the unknown. It’s like a buddy cop movie, except instead of photoscoping urban crime scenes, we’re dealing with space police checking out a local earth crime in the country. It makes you wonder how space protectors end up at a local crime scene. The first few minutes of the show invest in the contrast of Hal (Kyle Chandler) and John’s (Aaron Pierre) partnership. The show uses it to their advantage. Kyle has a lot of experience in the showbiz game and is powerful, grounded, and tired. Aaron is more fresh, and is bright eyed. Their partnership quickly creates something the critics call, a “prickly chemistry.” The show overall isn’t committed to the CGI and explosions of the typical big budget superhero movie. It has more of a quiet mystery genre feel with sci-fi elements. For this style, it could either be a huge hit or a huge miss. The first few episodes of the show are compelling to the regular viewer, because the plot has a well done murder mystery, complete with a cool unexpected twist. Each episode has a good amount of world lore, but the show doesn’t try to cram too much world building on the viewer.

If you're looking for a show that is engaging from the get-go, then look no further than the first ten minutes of "Lanterns." With a great character pairing and an engaging central mystery, you won't even touch that remote.

If you're looking for a strong reason to not reach for the remote the first time you watch "Lanterns," then look no further than the first ten minutes. A great central mystery and character pairing will have you hooked and waiting to see what happens next.

Holding the Signal: Character, Pacing, and Visuals

"Lanterns" will keep viewers locked in for longer episodes. Jordan and Stewart’s dynamic and central performances are what will keep viewers engaged the most. It is the “entertainingly easy friend-foe chemistry” of Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre that will pull audiences in. Though writing is grounded, it allows for an in-depth character study, especially on John Stewart’s experiences as a Black superhero. The racial discrimination represented in this genre is a nice addition. From a visual standpoint, Pikashow’s HD streaming demonstrates a series with a fantastic use of intimate and grounded settings. The subtle use of power over the mundane American backdrop is well executed. Excellent sound design complements the show's mystery and action. Though, many episodes are way too slow. Critics are not wrong to point out that there are some episodes that are “duller and less thematically developed” or that have “too much talking, scene repetition and narrative padding.” Viewers have to understand that this show isn't going to have the same superhero action as other shows. However, a slower pace along with more character development may be appreciated by some viewers, but may end up being a drag to others.

The lead performances and the sophisticated mystery make it worth checking out for those seeking more creative sequences in their storytelling. It also will hold your interest because there is no binge pull for everyone, which is a good thing because no one likes being controlled when it comes to when they should engage in entertainment.

It captures the value of theater and character writing, which makes it a great choice when you want a break from mindless entertainment that dominates social media. Many people curated content online to bring people high action, low thought film entertainment. Yet, there is great value in what makes theater enjoyable, which is a compelling story that draws the audience into the experience through creative character writing.

Keep or Flip: Does it Beat Live TV?

Does "Lanterns" hold up against live TV and live cricket? For many, yes. Though it may not have the quick hits of sports or the lightness of reality tv, it has a unique blend of drama and genre that offers a lot. "Lanterns" is often praised for its commitment to plot, characters, and a mystery that is grounded. Compared to most tv offerings, it is a strong choice for those that prefer more substance. As it is rated as TV-MA for mature themes, it deals with topics of more substance, like racism, and the challenges of its protagonists. Though ratings are about average at 6.8, it draws in a lot of people. The deliberate pacing of the show, along with the mature themes and limited superhero elements, means it isn't for everyone. If you need an action, action, action show, you'll definitely want to watch something else. However, if you like a show that has a lot of plot and complex themes, "Lanterns" is for you. The show is very plot and character driven and offers a rewarding watch. So if, like many, you are tired of watching the same broadcasts and cricket matches, you'll enjoy watching this show. It is a unique show that has a lot of offer in both plots and characters. You'll stick with it for sure.