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Lanterns Ep 3 (Patreon)

Published:
2026-09-09 21:05:30
Imported:
2026-10
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  • 742058246.mp4

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Content

the interview

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Comments

Dubb

Yuhhhh

Dubb

Peak is back

Rei

IM READY

TheNinth

3 straight🔥🔥🔥🔥

Mr. Sir

she abin my sur

R-Jay

he may not come when you want him

rudy

this episode was reviewed bombed by yk what kind of people.

Raider

Need the Pitt ep 9 drop

Krype

This is where accountability goes to die

Sandsplitter

Yup, this is the best episode so far and of course a bunch racist bombed it because black people on screen

Jason Marbach

Janus cosmetics sign spotted in the mall 👀

Dubble Tt

Ah. So THIS is the one that made people mad 😂 yea.. that is indeed unfortunate.

J

I think the “guardian” the woman helping John be a green lantern is actually the manhunter

BigAL96_

16:24 That is not what she apologised for.

Sandsplitter

A lot of character depth here. WE know that John's mum's assessment of Hal is incorrect because his father burned to death in a fire so we understand his fear, but its understandable how her anger surrounding all of their circumstances would lead her to this conclusion.

bleach

Something I saw someone say online is the guardians showed up after John went to art school and started doing the thing he wanted to do

D Nice

I remembered when I watched this episode I just thought the race card was forced and then you had a rap soundtrack in the back of the episode....meh. This episode was cringy for me ngl.

Konasuba

Eps 3-4 are my favorites so far. Funny how this ep was review bombed by racists and it still made it a 7.6/10 lol

Krype

Don’t give valid criticism people will just call you a “racist” to deflect any and all flaws.

Ghost

Fyi ep debuted with a 9.2 or a 9.5 and got review bombed by the cauliflower crusaders now its like a 7.5 or something.

Devin B

The only line I wasn't a fan of was when John's mom said even in space they don't consider them, they're not worried about race and don't know the history of Earth so obviously they're going to do the same test for everyone regardless of appearance amd background.

Princess Sakura

if your complaint revolves around ''rap soundtrack'' and that they talked about race then I think your criticism is not so valid. The subject matter must have made you uncomfortable because you're obviously not poc and u didn't like the ep because of it but don't go around and use yall victim card, this show was made by two white men. Grow up

blvckriot

u sounds racist asf

Ghost

Deflect any and all flaws which is what? A rap song in the background which ties into the OUTCAST feeling he has while growing up? How was race forced when they are simply a black family in the 80s😂😂dealing with racism is NORMAL for us but we can tell neither of yall fall on this side. Now that doesnt mean the MOTHER wasnt just being manipulative but the fact u cant see that cuz ur seething at the mention of color shows why ur loser. Take ur dumbass “criticisim” and just shut up lmaooo. We know why it got review bombed

Mack

Best episode of the series so far. Just absolute cinema.

LeFlaneur

10:00 Hello, Megan!

Mack

Still at a 7.6 despite that. They were so mad. I just hope history remembers how great that episode is.

Wsgyan

@krype we found the white man lmfao and yes your criticism isn’t constructive you’re just racist

Wsgyan

#thosepeople watched this episode in pure rage and hatred btw

Jonathan Rodriguez

It really is good to have Lupa back. He wasnt gone that long but this channel just isnt the same without all three of yall

ShaquanVirse

The artsy one who gives his way to his constructs in the comics is Kyle. For John he's an architect so his are detailed. Hal is more concentration & Guy is more overflowing optimism? Whats the way to describe him? Overachieving? His powers basically leak out but idk how to explain that shit lol. Anyway all of them are different in how they create constructs

LeFlaneur

Playing a song from one of the most popular band of that time period, and folks will say it’s random and forced is hilarious.

SlipS_Tiger

Curious if they’re going to pair John and Hawkgirl. Due to his attachment to birds.

D Nice

Nigga I see this this same shit time and time again in other shows and movies. Sometimes the black struggle is portrayed right and its impactful and then there are times it falls short and that's fine. Go elsewhere with that bs iight. That's why I don't fuck with y'all keyboard warrior. Jesus.

NightX

Anyone notice how the title card is slowly becoming more Yellow? I saw a comment somewhere talking about how the show is Called “Lanterns” not “Green Lanterns.” (Also First time commenting on the Patreon)

CJ Dennis

Honestly the only thing that bugs me about this episode is some of the on the nose racial commentary from John's mother. It could be more subtle or just kind of go without saying. As you run the risk of making your character feel like a mouthpiece for whatever social ill you want to discuss as opposed to them just being a character. I have a similar problem mcu shows that did this like Falcon and the Winter Soldier, she-hulk, and secret invasion 🤔. I know some people might be ready to comment and object. I'm open to cordial discourse. The key word being cordial lol.

ADHarris12

Their mindset for the 80’s makes sense. They likely grew up around the civil rights movement

Mack

The funny thing about folks reaction to Bernadette Stewart is, yeah she for sure went off the deep end but John Stewart loves her for it. He tells the Guardian that he owes everything to his parents. Then the first shot at art school is him drawing her. Which makes me wonder, is it still bad parenting if your kids loved and appreciated how you raised them? Not saying it cant be but Im just asking the question.

ky

dude hears a rap song and automatically thinks of forced race card

Sare

I don't know why people got offended by this, it's clear the mom brings up the race card as an excuse and is portrayed in the wrong this entire episode. I swear people don't even know what to be mad at anymore.

ky

@D Nice stfu nigga you just like the rest, can’t comprehend media for shit

ky

??

Krype

The parents seem to blame everyone but themselves for their problems. Do you really think the Guardians care about skin color when the Green Lantern Corps is made up of animals, aliens, and a bunch of other different species? They didn’t even understand what she was getting at when she brought it up, lmaooo. I’m sure they experienced some form of discrimination because it was the 80s, but what exactly does that have to do with becoming a GL? The ring clearly doesn’t discriminate based on race it literally went to Johns father first. So blaming all of his fear on the color of his skin while simultaneously downplaying Hal’s fears simply because he’s white is in of itself racist but you aren’t ready to talk about that yet. And assuming that anyone who disagrees with you is automatically racist or hasn’t experienced racism isn’t a legitimate argument. It just shuts down any possibility of nuance. You’re the real loser here because, with you, there never seems to be any middle ground it’s always my way or you’re racist.

LeFlaneur

Still bad parenting imo.

Sandsplitter

'Now that you're an adult we can just laugh about the trauma I gave you as a child haha' I felt that so deeply 😭

D Nice

@ KY Nigga, eat a dick. Save the comparison to yourself. I wasn't expecting no John Singleton type writing but it should've felt somewhat authentic.

Sam

bernadette is ready for the sinestro corps

Konasuba

You do realize the mom’s in the wrong for bringing up the race card and you’re supposed to understand her but not agree? She’s obviously a crazy person for what she’s putting her son through and this is the only perspective she has. She basically says Hal got the ring because he was white without knowing ANY of the turmoil he’s gone through. Not everything a character says is some message from the writers telling you what’s right and what’s wrong.

BCoop

23:35 Lupa lol...so happy you're back

Devin B

Yeah in this case it was bad parenting. Just because John appreciates how he was raised after the fact doesn't make it any less messed up on the parents part.

R-Jay

I think that she acts like that cause thats how some black people act when they have a shitty upbringing/trauma and use internalized anti-blackness to cope. Most likely instead of understanding the cause of her trauma on an specific human level, she associated it with blackness itself, and vilified her community and culture. That's why she hates rap music, thats why she's so focused on rising above it.

Jacob Livingston

This was the best episode so far! It was incredible! I thought people would be upset bc it was a flashback episode and would think it’s boring, It’s incredibly hilarious that idiots upset about this episode don’t realize that these themes were first explored in the original John Stewart run! People saying james gunn ruined the comics when in reality he’s following the comics. The “anti white sentiment” and “white privilege” was a thing and played a huge part in John’s upbringing. It doesn’t mean Hal didn’t also go through difficult things, the man watched his dad burn alive in a plane.

Jacob Livingston

Fucking ridiculous! This was the best episode it was awesome

Marlia

You think race wouldn't impact a black family in the 80s, especially one with parents who grew up in the 60s during the Civil Rights movement? Nothing about it is forced. Race has always had an impact on society and psychology. The show didn't shy away from that to appease white audience, that's why you lot a upset.

Violet833

Yea it's messed up because John was raised to not want anything else other than being a green lantern. Constantly been told that it was his destiny so he "appreciates" that they raised him that way in order to become one.

Rico Perez

Considering its just as bad if your doing something remotely similar in the real world yeah like you want your kid to be a boxer so your having them punch brick walls till their hands don’t break im still gonna call you a bad mother and person even if that kid becomes a god at boxing, because it doesn’t matter the results at all certain point John could have died multiple times by accident in their training the gun could misfire when they’re shooting the apple or he could get shanked by some crackhead when he’s forced to walk home at night when he like 8 or however old he is when they do that

Marlia

That is her point. It is a character perspective. She doesn't know about their system. From her pov, earth has created systems to disadvantage them as black folks, and now she hears that the "Guardians of the Universe" also doesn't consider black folks.

Mack

This is a great point, John was never really given the choice. But lets say, John came to them at like 8 years old and said, I want to be a Lantern like Hal Jordan… would you view it the same. Cuz essentially what they did was all the necessary things for him to be a Green Lantern.

Marlia

John Sr and his wife grew up in the 60s during the civil rights movement. How are people shocked that a family who grew up seeing black leaders getting assassinated in their homes, will be upset about a system that mimics the same tactic as a test of courage and bravery? From John Seniors pov, he might have felt that an assassination was about to happen when he got snatched up. From their pov, it is an inconsiderate and unfair system that the guardians used. Hal never grew up with that same experience. Pointing it out should not get people mad.

Gib

"Five is old enough to know about your destiny" is a crazy sentence lmao

InspectorDec

I am so happy y'all are enjoying this series!

Fizzy 🐉

yes i been waiting for this ep

Violet833

I loved this episode. It made sense why the parents especially the mom had that mindset during that time but like y'all said she took it to the absolute extreme. I also find it interesting that John has no ill will towards hal ( so he says) or doesn't seem to hate hal based on how his parents seem to feel about him, how he was dishonorably discharged and how hal has been acting ever since they met. John has shown that he has respect for him and has chosen to trust him with the information about the manhunter. I'm curious to how their relationship will develop these next episodes.

Marlia

But from their point of view, it is not merely an "excuse". They don't know anything about the guardians or Hal. John Sr and his wife grew up in the 60s during the Civil Rights movement. All they KNOW is that Hals experience growing up is not the same as theirs growing up, despite him loosing his dad. The 60s were 100% different for black and white folks in America. That grievance lingers.

LeFlaneur

The show frames her as buggin, and even lying at one point, but the fact that the writers even included her (flawed) perspective made some people very mad.

Marlia

True. It also raises a question of if ultimate greatness can be achieved without adversity. Will Michael Jackson have become King of Pop if Joe Jackson didn't do what he did? Same for Beyonce and her Father, Britney Spears and her parents, The Venus Sisters and their dad. Their greatness required doing what no one else had done, doing the abnormal.

Kingisaiah224

I didn’t hate this episode or anything, but it just felt a little slow compared to the previous two. I wanted to hear more about the Manhunters and what’s going on now, but the backstory was cool too.

Krype

He would still be a kid at 8 years old you don’t indulge your kids every whim. Hal didn’t have the same childhood yet he still became one or any of the other green lanterns didn’t need to go through that.

Ross

I dont Understand how people don't like this episode, easily the most well-done. Clearly shows how both sides are flawed. Crazy world

DarkSonicExE0216

OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE IT YOU UNDERSTOOD THE POINT OF THE EPISODE WOW!!! It's almost like thats exactly how the parents was written with FLAWS! Great job Sherlock Holmes!

CJ Dennis

The 4th episode I like a lot more than this ep honestly 🤔.

CJ Dennis

It would be interesting to see the show call her out on this, especially given how in the next episode John learns more about Jordan and it changes some perceptions he may have had about him initially 🤔.

Mack

I think it can cuz there’s plenty of people who became great without that level of trauma but pushing your kids to their limit I think has to occur. I think I’ve heard players like Jalen Brunson and Steph Curry say their fathers pushed them to a ridiculous degree to become NBA worthy players. But being a Lantern is such a specific thing. Eliminating fear means you have to be placed in situations to become used to fear and the biggest fear comes from traumatic experiences.

Mack

I mean Hal is a bad example only cuz Hal lost both of his parents young and (according to the show) has no one close to him. He has nothing to lose cuz he already lost it all, thats where his fearlessness comes from. Obviously John’s parents wouldn’t be able to duplicate that. And forget I said 8 cuz you’re right thats still a child… lets say I said 18… cuz from what we can tell, there’s no age requirement to be a Lantern… how do you get someone to be fearless without subjecting them to traumatic fearful situations?

Mack

Most people loved it. Its the white people who complain about “wokeness” that hate it

Bryann Kam

Huh, I guess Guy wasn't BSing in Superman after all.

Ross

Ikr you can probably tell what I look like from my name, but I can't understand getting mad to the point of review bombing. Especially weird considering the entire point of consuming media is to experience a story from a different perspective.

LeFlaneur

What was delivered better contextualized Bernadette and John Sr.’s warped and violent love for John and their relationship with the Green Lantern corps; it benefited theirs characters and worked well to ground their family history and dynamics in this short amount of time.

John sekiro

No it’s because they think that the show is saying Hal only got the ring because he hasn’t experienced racism (which is what John’s mom basically said) but later episodes will prove that Hal actually earned the ring… if they were racist they wouldn’t watch a show with a black lead🗿

Samuela Shannon

32:52 The line of bullet holes on the wall showing them doing it as he grew up was wild

ShaquanVirse

I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES FROM THIS EPISODE!!!! RED LANTERNS ARE COMING AREN"T THEY?

E T

This one's a racist too lmao. Fucking disgusting

HiiiPOWERseries

This episode had the Roshi script 😂😂

rider

damn so angry lmaooo. if the show keeps claiming hals not worthy or only became a lantern because hes white and isnt just johns delusional mother and father then yes it valid criticism but we cant say that yet with 4 episodes . hal is the green lantern who goes through the most shit in comics and more deserving of that ring than anyone not because hes white but because hes earned it and is fearless. like bro overcame and took control of the entity of fear a cosmic god.

Asl43n

I like Hals and Jordan's dynamic, it's hilarious.

HiiiPOWERseries

John got that joe Jackson parenting they saw potential and road that all the way, no matter the trauma for him, but hey he's getting the Job

Isaac Cobbinah

I liked this episode but the race play in this modern time is played out. All that "im black" shit, when it was becuz he was just afraid.

divineat

my god bro how many fucking cheeseburgers they gon give him 😭

WackySwacky

The problem with your take is the writers themselves disagree with it.

WackySwacky

LeFlaneur the writers were praising her perspective.

WackySwacky

The writer said she was most deserving of getting a green lantern ring, but the ring is sexist so she didn’t get it.

WackySwacky

That or some other type of alien that Sinestro is working with.

Kai-lo

Exactly what I said it has nothing to do with people being racist as everything to do with how this episode was portrayed. People doing the same thing John's mom is doing and making assumptions of certain types of people because they're mad. As a black person I also felt the way Roshi did and thought they could have done better with how they portrayed Bernadette and her perspective.

ProKnockz

feels so good to have Lupa back man

Rcola25 Jr

Roshi called it last episode I believe, that John’s bird had some significance or deeper meaning.

rudy

bro SHE thinks that. thats the whole point SHE dosent know what hes been thru thats the whole point the show isnt telling you he got the right cause hes white?😭 thats just the way SHE thinks

Rcola25 Jr

Also, anybody think “The Day of the Jackal” would be a good tv show for them to react to?

sol jam

I really loved this episode so much because in the end although his parents were so open with their hate to Hal John never did because if hating him would mean hating his parents too for putting through all that which is a very deep characterisation

Sam

Side note on some Guardian lore related to the Sandman comics is that Morpheus wasn't a bitter a hole before Killala of the Glow, an ancestor of the guardians, broke his heart and ran off with a personification of our sun. Humans look like smaller, not blue versions of the guardians because when Sol, our sun met Killala, he decided that if or when one of the planets in his solar system bore life, he'd like the dominant species to be modeled after her. Also, the rule Nada broke only exists because of how Morpheus reacted to Killala breaking his heart, for then the Endless were forbidden from getting into relationships with mortals.

WackySwacky

My biggest complaint about this episode is not in the episode itself, but the way the writers talked about John’s parents in a positive light in various interviews. The parents are child abusers. Full stop. You are supposed to feel bad for John. Not think he was receiving strict parenting like a sports parent is strict with their kids. They shot at John. With a real gun. They never gave him agency his entire life. They told him what his whole life was going to be when he was five. Does JOHN want to be a Green Lantern in this continuity? Or was that what he was abused into doing? Regardless if John becomes the best Lantern as a result, it doesn’t excuse what was done. He got the Joe Jackson special. So, if any of ya’ll consider how John’s parents treated him for his entire life as anything other than rather severe child abuse, do some self-reflection please.

Danielle

No critical thinking of any kind

Danielle

Do you expect characters to be all knowing

CJ Dennis

Completely fair, I do hope the show does bring up if John's desire to be a lantern is more him than his parents. The seeds are their in the fourth episode where John is told by both the guardians and his mother that he needs to take the ring from Jordan, but he hesitates and doesn't go through with it especially after getting to now Hal more, and presumably that is one of the first times John has defied orders 🤔.

WackySwacky

Yeah it's been made a point that John's strick adherence to following orders is probably more a weakness than a strength, and he's going to need to follow what he personally feels is right by the end.

NumiGhost

I really like this episode, and I feel like CPS would have a field day with his household.

LeFlaneur

Man said “race play” 💀

CJ Dennis

@Danielle Perhaps a more thoughtful way of putting it is that: if you have a black character the majority or their story is centered around their race and going through race issues, than you run the risk of having that character be less of an interesting character and more of a vehicle to drive home a message about some social ills. The same can happen with female characters, gay characters etc. To illustrate, John himself is interesting not because he's given any lines about how he needs to prove himself as a black man against a white man, but because he shows how stern, efficient, patient , and dedicated he is, with his background informing that. On the other hand, John's mother is a little less interesting because half of her lines is her speaking on black issues in kind of a heavy-handed way. Had they maybe be more subtle with her lines or the commentary then maybe it would be different. Heck in the previous episode John's love interest is given more subtle lines about race for the most part lol. Anyway, not trying to argue just adding in some insight about the race angle may have not worked for some, as approaching race this way had been a thing in a lot of modern media recently. See also Falcon and the Winter Soldier, She-Hulk, and Secret Invasion 🤔.

CJ Dennis

To be fair, just because John's parents may have grown up in that time does not mean that their story needs to be only about how they faced racism and needed to break stereotypes. John's father being traumatize by the ring and it driving a wedge in the family that John's mother is trying to fix is interesting enough. Then perhaps we could have some subtle hints that race issues play a part in all of this but instead we give the mother some on the nose lines 🤔.

CJ Dennis

Did she mention hating rap music lol?

R-Jay

Scene in the car, hes not allowed to listen to rap, his mom forces him to listen to piano

Isaac Cobbinah

yeah especially since we also dont see the parents go through any prejudice, and so it felt out of place, this doesnt need much "critical thought" to understand.

Fred

John’s fine ahh crazy momma. She’s acting so good I almost forgot how beautiful she was… almost

CJ Dennis

Their mindset on race sure, the way they go about training John not so much lol.

LeFlaneur

“If they were racist they wouldn’t watch a show with a black lead” You got to reach that postformal stage John…

Nedjie Toussaint

literally, people that watch shows forget everyone has different POV

Lauren B.

Why "Midwest Huxtables" sound like a slur tho?? 🤔

Zodiac_purp999

come here son! BOO!! , lupa is hilarious 😂

John sekiro

Yeah people took what she said as being the narrative of the story for some reason

GNEISS

no... they didnt beat him for no reason they trained him to be Fearless, this is nothing like Joe Jackson

J

“He was scared because he’s black that’s why he couldn’t get the ring”

baja

And make it the BLACKest night

Jamaal Ellison

I said it Before John sr reminded me of Frank Laminski. Frank Laminski grew up in a life where he was never noticed or appreciated as anything special, he felt unappreciated and completely average. He then decided to join the Air Force to gain a sense of purpose, but still went unnoticed. Soon after he overheard a conversation from his commanding officer's regarding who will test drive a new concept jet, The Flaming Spear. The commanding officer agreed to let Frank test drive it, but he pushed the jet to its limits, and as a result the engines failed. As Frank was crashing, Hal Jordan (who just received his Green Lantern ring) saved him. After he reported his crash, he was grounded, and not allowed to fly ever again in the Air Force, but he did not care about his military career anymore, the only thing he wanted in life was to be a Green Lantern. Frank soon left the Air Force and dedicated his life to training (both mental and physical) with the hope that whoever gave Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) his ring, would see his dedication and training and give him one as well. He tried this for years and years, all the while tracking every appearance of Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) and learned as much as he could about the Green Lantern Ring. As more time passed he watched as a new Green Lantern was chosen, then another, and then a third. However, Frank did not give up hope, and pushed himself even further, often times taking the most dangerous of jobs such as becoming a security guard in Arkham Asylum, and also honing in his firearm skills, learning as much as he could by reading various literature, etc. As a consequence, Frank chose to forsake any personal relationships. Eventually, Frank's patience ran its course and he fell to his knees in his apartment, calling out to whatever entities he believed was watching him and asked what he needed to do to prove his worth. Just about when he was going to give up all hope, a Green Lantern Ring bursted through his window, speaking the words: "Frank Laminski of Earth. You have the ability to overcome great fear. You have been chosen. Welcome to the Green Lantern Co-- Error. Welcome to th-- Error. Malfunction detected. Recalibrating. Rescanning. Frank Laminski. You do not have the ability to overcome great fear. You have not been chosen. Correct candidate located. Charting course: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba." The ring then zoomed away and found a new host in Simon Baz. It was then after that moment that Frank gave up all hope and fell into deep depression. But just when all hope was lost, Frank returned to his apartment after a long day to find a mysterious hooded figure in his room. The figure told him that he was watching him and tracking his movements for quite some time. This figure then told Frank of a certain ring that did not need to choose its wearer, but one that anybody could use: the Phantom Ring. Frank asked who this figure is, so he removed his cloak to reveal himself to be none other than Volthoom, the First Lantern.[1] Soon after, Frank followed the advice of Volthoom and travels to the location of the two current Green Lanterns of Earth, Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz, who just so happened to be protecting the exiled Guardian of the Universe, Rami, the creator of Phantom Ring. He distracted them by setting a house on fire across the neighborhood, and in the distraction he sneaked into the house, took the ring, and became the Phantom Lantern, but due to the nature of the ring, it took the form of the ring that is connected to the emotion he is the strongest in at the moment, in this case willpower, and he becomes a pseudo Green Lantern.[2] He then bursted out of the house, and rushed away to "go make a difference in the world", and that was what he does. He went and rescued cats from trees, stopped forest fires, and rescued a kid from an oncoming tornado. It was soon after the tornado was nullified by Frank that both Simon and Jessica arrived and confronted him, telling him he was not "a real Green Lantern". He became infuriated with the two of them and began to glow red with the power of the Red Lanterns, but soon turned his mind to how it was his right to be a Green Lantern, and as a result, he exploded with a bright orange light, becoming a pseudo Orange Lantern.[3] He then stormed off, raced back to Volthoom for help, and started experiencing multiple emotions at once (fear, anger, and greed) and as a result became a pseudo Yellow Lantern, Red Lantern, Orange Lantern respectively in rapid succession. He then maintained his composure and control, and became a "Green Lantern" once again. He then rushed back to Simon and Jessica for one final confrontation.[4] Frank appeared before the two Green Lanterns, but due to his increasing emotional instability, he shifted between fear (yellow), rage (red), hope (blue), fear (yellow) again, orange (greed), and fear (yellow) for a final time[5], then to finally ended up feeling compassion (indigo) and as a result, became a pseudo "Indigo Lantern". His compassion became so great that he felt the urge to remove the ring, and indeed did that very thing. After he took the ring off, he came to his senses and before he can put his ring back on, Simon shoved him and took the Phantom Ring, to then pass it to Jessica Cruz. Frank was then knocked out, tied up, and beaten. Simon and Jessica called in a favor from Cyborg and had the Justice League relocate and hold him in one of the Watchtower holding cells, even as he ranted on that he would reclaim the Phantom Ring.[6]

Leopold

Brother you don't need your father shoot a gun at you to grow up fearless. I don't think Hal is going to say "we have that in common"

General Grevious

How are people not realizing that the mom was hung up on her own troubles dealing with racism and projected part of that onto the guardians who don’t even understand the concept. This episode did a great job going into depth with who John is as a character and how he became worthy of being a Green Lantern. People are so upset that being black is brought up when it’s essential to the story😂

Garrett

Said subject matter was wildly incoherent and nonsensical. You had two ppl living in middle class suburbs, playing woes me to aliens who’ve seen a billion other worse civilizations and sob stories. Then proceed to ironically make the main test of fear, the apple shooting, revolve around two fears any average goddamn person on the planet has in spades and has forever, I.e. death of the self and death of loved ones. Unless white people super human they don’t have some magical resistance to said fears, but they nonetheless want to act like they got an edge?! Despite there also being a million and one other factors that contribute to life outcomes besides race.

Joshua Cato

This is long, but stick with me here. See, that’s why it’s so hard for me. The more I think about and listen to people’s opinions on the episode, the more I realize that I think this episode is amazing. I think it does a really good job of highlighting the flaws in humanity by introducing the neutrality of the ring and the Guardians when it comes to emotions and Lantern-picking. It’s also a very thoughtful and thought-provoking discussion. It’s really interesting, but for some reason it kind of loses me because, honestly, anyone would be afraid if a giant green bubble suddenly picked them up out of nowhere. I think it’s a great analysis of the struggles Black people have to go through just to even attempt to have the same footing as a white person. I just think it was kind of poorly executed. I feel like it doesn’t neatly correlate. There’s a disconnect between the fact that Black people can experience fear and discrimination and still have to show up every day, and the fact that an alien ring is causing fear through its selection process. The show says that this process has caused disturbances for many people, and while I understand and empathize with Jon’s mom’s sentiment about how unfair it is, if you remove yourself from just her perspective and look at the situation as a whole, the candidates before Hal were probably experiencing the same fear. The struggle of fear as a Black person can’t be properly understood through this comparison when anyone would reasonably be afraid of an alien encounter. That’s where I feel the episode loses me. I understand what it’s trying to say, but I don’t think the comparison is executed as effectively as it could have been. The more I think about it, though, the more I think I figured out what bothers me. I think the episode tries to give us this complicated, deep, thought-provoking idea in just a few lines of dialogue, so it doesn’t get the proper time to dive into and dissect the topic. When you just throw a line at me about how it’s unfair to ask if a Black person is afraid in America and then move on without really delving into the topic or trying to get the audience to understand what you’re saying, it comes across as, “We don’t have the time to show you how this happens.” And that’s just an unfortunate reality of television. They’re working with a budget and a limited amount of time, and they can’t fully explore every topic—especially in a show about Green Lanterns. That’s why the issue feels somewhat tacked onto the episode to me. And I’m not saying race hasn’t been an important part of Jon Stewart’s character, because it absolutely has. I just wish the episode had given this particular idea more time to breathe, because I think there’s a genuinely great discussion here that could have been explored much further. Also—and this might just be me—I feel like it’s fear that pushes Jon’s parents to place this abusive amount of importance on him becoming a Green Lantern. The idea of, “We were robbed of this opportunity because we, as Black people, were not taken into consideration or properly prepared. So now we’ll train you to be afraid of nothing so you can achieve something amazing,” reads to me as hope for their son, guided by this subconscious, or probably even surface-level, fear.

L1NG

that’s crazy, it’s a pre existing black character what are we moaning about

John sekiro

Im not sure what that has to do with what you quoted from my comment but ok

Kevin

I think my question is why does it need to be subtle? Considering the time period, it’s in their face and prevalent. And considering that the characters are in the midst of it idk why they’d try and skirt around it

mercury_black17

i mean i see why the guardian wants john but hal is still more powerful than john ever will be bc hal will power is much much more raw power

Tae

john said it this ep. You love the people that raised you, even if they're crazy

Mrlanie

psychologically abusing your baby as a way for your parents to fix their falling-apart marriage AND so that they can live vicariously through you is absolutely wild, poor John :(

LeFlaneur

Developmental causes of fear responses include forms social antagonism like racism. Be it systemic or interpersonal, it really isn’t that outrageous a concept to explain John Sr. excessive fear response for the ring. So yes, it was an apt choice, not incoherent, not nonsensical. It works for these characters, and it works for this story.

TheRealJayron

Any chance you guys will pick Slime back up? The new season is Peak

Shemar Smith

That is very interesting I hope they mention that one day🤔

Grimm

Crazy how people could not understand the mom a teacher btw is trying to teach an alien about racism. Also people need to pick up a comic book literally the reason why John Stewart was created was to speak about racism in America. There's even a comic panel of The Guardians thinking Hal Jordan is a bigot because he doesn't like John Stewart. People really don't think immortal beings doesn't know about racism.

Mea

'Midwest Huxtables' x_x Hal has such a smart mouth lol. This was a solid episode, but it also felt like an episode we'd see at the end of the season too? Like a culmination of everything until the final episode. Seemed kind of early for it, but I still liked it.

Shane

Most, if not all of U.S history has been various kinds of terrorism on Black Americans. Acting like that wouldn't/doesn't raise the general fear level of the populace is ignorant, at best.

Mea

Oh wow that reminds me, they were together in the Justice League shows on Cartoon Network and I think in the comics too. I liked them together.

Deion Williams

She clearly makes it a point to say that the question of fear has a disproportionate response based on race in America in the 80s. She is a crazy person, but her logic is sound.

John Travelle

A dumbass statement. Nobody said it was because he didn’t experience racism. Racism isn’t the only form of hardship. And regardless, Hal didn’t earn the ring. He literally said so himself.

maui

idk I would say that it was good display of her character, because I think that what the show was trying to say is that she IS wrong in her way of thinking. We as an audience are supposed to feel that her trauma, while justified, has negatively impacted her and John. She makes assumptions about Hal, we know not to be true. She is constricted in her ways of thinking because she so desperately wants to defy stereotypes. I think those extreme ways of thinking are wrong (and are meant to be viewed as such) but are unfortunately also what might be necessary to create, programe or raise, someone like John. The way he was brought up has fucked him up and I believe, as the show goes on, will be further explored. I really really like this episode and its a shame so many people hated on, because of what I believe to be some preconceived notions. They might have viewed the episode as a superficial commentary for the black experience or perhaps preachy, missing that it conveyed the environment that John grew up in and how it shaped him.

Matthew Barrett

@Wacky Its not racist. Her point was that jumping a black man in the middle of the night, throwing him in a sphere and asking if he's afraid isn't going to have the same outcome as doing the same to a white man most of the time. The ring didn't know any better, cuz the guardians don't know the situation on earth.

Matthew Barrett

Brother... His parents grew up in the 60s. Do you REALLY need the show to demonstrate what they went through? Or can we just look in a history book perhaps?

Matthew Barrett

All ya'lls criticisms are so blind to history and the moment in which she is making her commentary in. It's the 80s, they lived through the civil rights movement. That shit is still fresh as fuck in their minds. It makes sense for the characters sorry it ruffles your feathers

P3rcy

This episodes writing did not live up to the hype my god. No way this what people on the internet are saying is so good. It’s like writers are on a hamster wheel even when they try to write Black characters well. They cannot help but be cliche. The way his parents are written gave me flashbacks to the shitty writing in the blackbox episode from Derry. Also spiking your kids’ cortisol levels makes them unable to learn or concentrate over time. It shrinks their brains. That’s been researched for years now. Dr. Stacey Patten has written on the subject. So John literally has to be superhuman before he gets the ring to not have severe behavioral issues and trauma as an adult despite his upbringing lol.

Thunter

I know that Hal is a big asshole to John, but their actors (Kyle and Aaron) have such good chemistry together and I hope they’ll both have major roles to play in the DCU (Coping that Hal is somehow still alive or will comeback)

Devin B

Imo if John asked to be a Green Lantern then whether it's bad parenting or not depends on what age John is. Five years old is way too young to decide anything concrete so if his parents slowly acclimated him to his training as he got older then it wouldn't be crazy but off rip they went straight to shooting apples off his head and alienating him from his brothers.

CAM

Both this and the last weeks episodes were real good

Devin B

@Marlia the mother asked the Guardian if she was aware of race on earth and she told her no, at that point she knew at the very least they don't take into account anyone's race but she still made it seem like she was disregarding only black people. I understand they wanted to highlight that character flaw in her but I can have an opinion on said character flaw.

Devin B

@Danielle no one said characters have to be all knowing but at least take into account the information presented to you and in this case she knew the Guardian has no information on Earth's history regarding race.

CAM

I feel like a few people are think the parents punish him or beat him all they do is train him yes it’s to the extreme but that’s what needed to be done and they still let him be him when they weren’t training. Also when he was still an infant the father said”he’s going to hate us” and the wife knew as well but that was the opportunity that was granted and no I’m not saying it isn’t and wasn’t traumatizing but they’re not just some horrible people, they just knew their relationship would be rocky knowing it was the the best option for him, the mother is said it could be a detour but if you really feel afraid then it’s over and he can whatever he wants

Delinda Arts

they must have sat teen John down to watch Reacher, thats why he not afraid of shit. He had to go through the unimaginable.

Blackbulls6

I’m glad they used common sense. Guardians don’t care about earth racism. They be doing ultra racism in space. The guardians liking that John’s parents started raising him as a robot. Programming is crazy

LUPASAN

YOOO I DID NOT CATCH THAT

LUPASAN

*Atrocitus entered the chatroom*

LUPASAN

Yeah there was a slight hint of spice when he said that. Definitely comes off a way

Isaac Cobbinah

Lmao the 60s?? How old do u think they are?

Blackbulls6

James Gunn doing Dex-Starr backstory will be my Christmas present

CJ Dennis

@Kevin because the focus with any character should be exactly that their character and not just their race, gender or whatever. John's parents can be interesting without most of their lines needed to heavy-handedly reference the racism they have faced. Subtly just means you are approaching things in a slight manner, not ignoring anything or dancing around stuff 🤔.

CJ Dennis

@Matthew So just because John's parents are black and are living through the 80s they have to heavy-handedly mention the racism they have gone through? Is there nothing else interesting about their character to focus on other than that? John Jr himself is interesting without ever once needing to discuss his struggles or experiences as a black man 🤔? Not trying to argue with the questions I asked, I'm just asking so you can elaborate. I can elaborate too, though I think I made my point in my initial comment clear so I don't think I would fall into the blind criticism territory lol.

ShrimpSharktale

Why should we get "subtle hints of race issues" when the racism they were receiving at that time was not subtle at all😂

Bobby Robinson

Holy toxicity from the parents fuck Grooming to the extreme level

Courtney Anne Thomas

The only part I don’t like is the mom taking out that pain on people that didn’t understand it for example the aliens they didn’t intentionally NOT choose ur husband cause he black and I don’t think that Hal was chosen because he was white or privileged but because again he passed the test

Afrobushidohub

Like think about it, John's whole life was slated for this moment, he's basically more robot than Hiro was in Inuyashiki...If The guardians never selected him, his whole min would of probably snapped...He would of been a even bigger demon than Sinestro

LeFlaneur

Now, how old do you think two professionals on their third child are in the 80s? You know, it’s ok if there’s some gap in your knowledge, and that impacts how you engage with stories.

ChrisM

The mom is the real villain. They tried to paint the dad like he was on bullshit back in episode one, while it was the wife’s plan all along

Teejay

Peak episode but I refuse that slander that the mom thought Hal didn’t earn that ring

Kyuubi16

Don't sit there and act like people don't do the opposite and give fake positives.

Offw0rlder

You damn degenerates I'm so proud T-T

Kyuubi16

Trust me its so annoying. I honestly hate people cry racism/sexism when you call out terrible writing. I can't tell you how many times I called out annoying racial tropes for people to immediately cry racism then get all into a fumble when I reveal I'm Black and we're not a monolith.

Kyuubi16

Green Lanterns are space cops, why are we wasting time and energy on racial nonsense? This honestly does major disservice to both Hal and John as characters. Like why would you give him elements of artist, basically stealing Kyle's whole flow and not keep him as an architect? If anything thats another demotion as being a black architect in that time period/time was actual impressive background and depiction and plays into how he uses his power making each Lantern unique. As usual it comes down to writers being incompetent using the same low standards and generic effort instead of having to put any real work in.

RedSunCrusher!!!

In their most recent stream roshi had a big discussion about slime and politics in anime. He said that he doesn't like to watch politics in animes especially if they start off as a fantasy and takes a deep nose dive into politics. Even before that stream someone asked him will they continue slime and he said no it's over and done with do not expect them to ever come back to slime.

GhoulEx

Except you haven't pointed out why the writing is terrible. I'm sorry but Pointing out/mocking superflous shit isn't critism

ShaquanVirse

The John Red Lantern connection I made this episode. The entire episode based around Fear but there's another aspect to John which I think shows when he fires at his mom - Not him not being scared but his anger/rage in the moment

ShaquanVirse

Atrocitus has been hinted at in episode 2? What if he's on Earth and that's the major threat. Actually what if John turned red? Wouldn't that make him the biggest threat?

ShaquanVirse

Hal being pressured by the Yellow Lanters & John being pressured by the Red Lanterns

ShaquanVirse

My theory is the mom will become a Red Lantern

ShaquanVirse

With Blood & Rage Of Crimson Red Ripped From A Corpse So Freshly Dead Together With Our Hellish Hate We'll Burn You All THAT IS YOUR FATE!!!!

ShaquanVirse

Atrocitus has been hinted at in episode 2? What if he's on Earth and that's the major threat. Actually what if John turned red? Wouldn't that make him the biggest threat?

Clinton the Bingethinker

4:03 John out here using the “Wait” function like it’s a video game 🤣 “How long would you like to wait?” John: “Yes.”

I.C.Y

I know people hate these parents but this is no different then parents who want D1 athletes. They put them through rigorous training as children; they don't get to have the same fun as others, siblings often feel neglected one way or another, and all of the parents hopes constantly are placed on their shoulders. This is very reflective of real life situations.

Tre

"No, not dad.... You" with the dead pan stare was hard as hell and actually had me cracking tf up

Śtórmí X

It’s kinda funny that Jon really didn’t earn being a green lantern 😭…he was raised and groomed for it. While he had the guardians attention In a way it was kinda handed to him…I’m tripping ?

PennyWhysTV

yeah i think that aspect was way over done.

maseken

Yeah when I initially watched this ep, I thought it was pretty obvious the how John's parents are also in the wrong, they even say in the show they know that their child will hate them. Also I thought the nuance was there that how they think of Hal is also a little overboard, while still having the obvious valid reasonings. The nuance is what I thought was interesting, but the interenet did it's thing and just pointed and said "duuurrrr bad, they mean this blah blah blah"

Ghost

So you’re comeback to the review bomb is that this episode, which is regarded as the best in the series by almost the whole fan base (which isnt a black majority), was potentially review flooded with positivity and only got to a 9.2? Do u think before you talk?

So Tired

Oh wow, I did not notice until now. Just saw the ratings and yeah, it’s clear as day we know who. This is such a good episode, including after this.

So Tired

I’m screaming!!! Not the Cauliflower Crusaders😭😭😭

So Tired

The problem with this comment is that she is not using this as an excuse where she saying in the time back then is 100% reasonable even though what the parents is doing is not right in any which way.

ShaquanVirse

In blackest day, in brightest night Beware your fears made into light Let those who try to stop what's right Burn like my power SINESTRO'S MIGHT!!

ShaquanVirse

With Blood & Rage Of Crimson Red Ripped From A Corpse So Freshly Dead Together With Our Hellish Hate We'll Burn You All THAT IS YOUR FATE!!!!

So Tired

It Is clear that y’all lacked the understanding where the mom is coming from this is her POV, understand that.

So Tired

Why else do you think she says even y’all don’t consider us you wanna know the other thing that she was also talking about, God. Because where were God during that time and way before that.

Devin B

@So Tired it's not a hard POV to understand in the first place, imo in terms of a TV show it felt they were forcing the point even though they already established it

So Tired

This comment is so ignorant

So Tired

This comment is so ignorant the comment still stands they still in that time.

So Tired

31:36 No his mom was holding herself together. She was emotional and scared because they dropped him off on a bad side of the streets. She fear that something had happened to him, and then when he came in to his room, she hold herself together because remember like she said fear is contagious.

Mack

Very well said and agreed. I think what makes it worse too is that this was a projection on John. They’re acting as if reaching this honor for John will make it worth all that they went through in their own life.

CJ Dennis

How so? Not arguing just asking 🤔.

CJ Dennis

@Gneiss it's Joe Jackson in how they push him and it's a different form of abuse 🤔. Though granted we aren't shown any possibile beatings on screen lol.

lackingnames

@Matthew that point made no sense when she made it either... Wake up anyone like that and they'll be afraid. Literally anyone.

lackingnames

"If you abuse your child but your child grows up so traumatized and programmed by your abuse that they think they love you, was it really child abuse?" Dumbest comment I've seen in a while holy.

Mack

Yet everyone else in the convo engaged in the conversation earnestly and in good faith. But I guess dunking on someone for internet points was the better direction to go, you fucking weirdo

Jo Jo

another goog one ive heard recently is, flavorless flour sacks

Cinmnapple

Yes you are tripping lol. That’s like saying Venus and Serena didn’t earn being tennis champions bc they’ve trained for it since they were children. Or Michael Jackson didn’t earn his place on the charts bc he trained for it since childhood. (Joe Jackson and Richard Williams inspired the characterization of John’s parents btw). He worked his whole life to be a green lantern and he still isn’t one so there’s nothing to say he didn’t earn and even if he was one there’s no reason to say he didn’t earn it just bc he worked for it. I think you mean to say he’s not an underdog bc he was groomed for the role but I don’t think they’re setting him up to be one

Leon Allen

I don't trust Wendy Byrd

Śtórmí X

You worded it better than I did thank you

Danielle

I actually agree with you, I don’t personally like that approach either. But it’s hard to tell whether people’s issue is similar to yours or if they’re just being a weirdo.

Cinmnapple

It’s a micro aggression lol

Drake Rage

45:07 Oof, I can relate to having similar, terrible parents, smh.

Ranginald Vagel

Anime protagonist levels of traumatic training

Paleo_Geo

You mean John, not Jordan

Paleo_Geo

You know John’s character was CREATED to fight back against social injustice, that was like his entire inception, moron

Ranginald Vagel

Oh my GOD, the plague of media illiteracy. I blame the school system

Ranginald Vagel

This is exactly like when people thought Ironheart was pushing Riri being right about Tony’s privilege but then the entire show was spent proving her wrong

Ranginald Vagel

Forced? It seemed pretty organic to me. I don’t see it. If anything, the rap accentuated how this family is preoccupied with blackness and what it means socially and culturally.

Kyuubi16

One, talk like an intelligent adult without using insults. I’m fully aware he was created as a strong positive example, but this boring and tripe generic mah tragic racism upbringing for the 49th time. It’s played out and overdone.

Ranginald Vagel

I felt the same way, but then I somewhat saw what she was going for. It doesn’t matter if it’s malice or ignorance, the results are all people look at. Being unintentionally disadvantaged by people who lack knowledge and context happens on Earth too. She’s honestly so complex that I’m kind of shocked they were willing to write her like that. It’s too real for a comic book show lol. I feel a lot of the consternation around the parents is that fact that you can’t properly sum them up in the space of an Internet comment.

DJ

I agree with Roshi. I feel like the convo between Bernadette and the Guardian was forced a bit. I don't think someone, in my opinion, would go on about racial inequality and inequity the way she did to an alien who doesn't understand humans. It came off weird. I think her being outwardly frustrated with the Guardian and then revealing the reasoning for the frustration to the Dad would have worked better. The scene felt inauthentic.

Aidan Price

most likely military housing, the way the mom was talking makes me think they grew up in a rough area

Persona

Bro Tai Lung

JoZé

His mom was going hard as fuck and it threw me off a bit but i did like this episodes writing though, some the delivery was wild though.

Paleo_Geo

Played out and overdone?? Name 5 other superhero’s with a racial background like John’s if it’s so “overdone” bro 💀 you can’t think for shit

Kyuubi16

Supercell, Wonderman, Black Lightning, Falcon and Winter Soldier, Ironheart, Watchnen, and I’ll throw in She-Hulk for overly focusing on gender ideology instead of who She-Hulk is. I don’t watch these shows to hear preaching about real world nonsense I want to watch these shows super heroes be good moral human beings and fight criminals and aliens not preach to me about ideology.

john segun doe

I loved how they showed her traumas on display through her parenting and mindset. It was great story telling imo

Djc394

with how the mum was talking to the guardian you'd forget the dad was asked the question first 😂

Orl

Some of it is reasonable, a lot of it is racism as retaliation.

Orl

Princess Sakura, atleast be subtle about your racism against white people. Youre not doing your cause any good.

Orl

Us as in the black equivalent of the white racists?

Orl

Even Lupa AND Roshi got visually uncomfortable listening to the race stuff that they even verbalized their disagreement in this episode but sure, non poc people were racist because they didnt like it.

Hopeless Mongrel

W non racist people who appreciate good media

PurpleMamba

Parents were moving like Endeavor from MHA

ChexMixDix

heard a discord noise a few times and went looking through all my tabs

Offw0rlder

“He’ll hate us.” “So be it.” Nigga whaaaaat!? 🤨 I don’t like this at all. John jr. got hoed for a parental objective

Offw0rlder

Hollon Mrs. Stewart kinda fine 🧐 Damn

pilbil

are you hearing yourself? this is like saying "joe jackson abused his kids so they can become rich and famous"

pilbil

people often want nuance where there is not. understanding a motive behind a behavior, isn't nuance. his parents abused him. full stop. sure they have reasoning for it but theyre quite literally "durrr bad."

GrayStark

It’s like they feel some weird need to constantly justify its western conservative setting with over the top eye rolling dialogue. Still loving the show but like cmon😂

Kevin

Let’s keep it going. You are once again attempting to separate race from the aspect of one’s character. If I attempt to play a character on TV I have to know their life and motivations. As it so happens for black people in America, race is a critical part of our background especially the further back we go in history. You can’t(and in my opinion) write a character simply based on their character without diving into why and how they gained those characteristics. Especially when you’re dealing with shows based in real time periods.

420deepthroat

people negatively review bomb because they heard something they didn't like about an episode they didn't even watch. do people do the opposite? maybe, but not nearly to the same amount

Kareem Davis

Hate watching is a real thing.

A. P.

Bro these the worst neighbors ever. Gotta listen to gunshots all times of the day cause these mfs shooting apples 🫩

Adrian Locke

Nigga John was getting raised like he was a viltrumite lmaooooo

CJ Dennis

@Kevin Perhaps I should further clarify what I mean when I said that a character's focus should be their character and not just their race, gender etc. It does not mean separate a character's race from their character it means that you have a character's race, gender, or whatever inform them but not define them or rather you don't have to make that the only interesting aspects of their character and the stories you tell with them. Let's look at some examples: John Stewart himself in most adaptations (including this one) is interesting because of he is portrayed as a stern soldier who exhibits patient and is efficient at what he does. His race informs him such as showing that he comes from a predominantly black neighborhood and communities. However, not everyone of his stories has to be about how he has to overcome the common struggles of a black man. Which is something they did with James on Supergirl often. I.E. James on that show was an interesting character, but most of the episodes that focused on him had his story being about him overcoming racism at a young age or dealing with police brutality. Now, no one is saying that you can't tackle those issues with black characters, but if that's the only story we feel the need to give them then we are limiting the rich diverse stories that can be told with black characters. Not to mention my initial point about how the character can feel more like a mouthpiece or a vehicle to drive home a message when one does that. Moreover, to use a non-black character as an example look at Daredevil. He's often an interesting character not because of his blindness but because of his personality, ideology, character struggles, and never once does Daredevil has to act like a spokesperson for the struggles of the blind community in order to be interesting. It informs him by being something that he's had to learn to live with and utilize to his advantage, but it's not the only thing that defines him. All in all, I apologize for the length of this comment but it's a sad necessity in order too get more of my point across. Characters of any race, gender etc. Ideally ought to be interesting because of their character, personality, storyline, character arc and whatever else and their race, gender, age, background etc ought to inform them but not always be the centerpiece of their stories. Again, it's not to say you can't tackle or adress some social ills, but too often media falls back on those to try to make their black or female or whatever characters interesting. Where as if one wants to make a straight white male character interesting obviously they can't lean on some social ill they have to give them other aspects and stories to make them actually interesting, and we can do the same with non-straight white male characters 🤔. Have a good one.

Lola

(Sorry English is not my first language so bear with me lol) I understand what you mean actually. I do agree that media that tackle non white straight men tend to try to elaborate about that aspect of their character a lot. Unfortunately those things do affect how a character behave. Even white characters also are heavily affected by their race and such other characteristics as they affect their behavior. There are things white characters would do that other POC characters would be less likely to do. For example, the classic meme that black people in a horror movie wouldn’t do half the things white characters do like trespassing with no care or investigating something suspicious when it’s not their business to do so 😆 Of course everyone from one race, culture or other similar group and background are not the same, I’m generalizing. The point here I’m trying to make is that trying to separate a character from those aspects are a bad idea. As someone who wrote stories before I can tell you that is bound to give you poorly written characters that are not realistic at all. If I’m writing a woman, I should consider stuff about her race, because just the way she takes care of her hair in battle will change depending of the texture of her hair. I should consider the way women are treated in the society I created in the story because it will affect the way she presents herself, etc. Those aspects ultimately matter.

Lola

Also most modern media stories we consume are talking about race and gender and such because those characters often live in Western countries where white people are generally the one in power. If the characters lived in a society where their race is predominant and in power, they are less likely to talk about this issue (ex: an Asian superhero living in a Asian country will most likely talk about the issues an Asian person would face in an Asian country/culture/environment)

ViralCorgi

I wonder if it was a later change to switch from having the dad be the obsessive parent training John to instead having the mom be the mastermind behind it all. Honestly, I don't like the redirection. It makes the mom seem unnecessarily unlikeable and makes the dad's role seem more...pathetic? A man haunted by his failures and wanting to sculpt his son into succeeding where he failed is a pretty solid storyline that can allow you to disagree with his actions but still sympathize. Having him instead become a self-pitying, dangerously unstable alcoholic that needed his wife to “soldier up” and give him a new purpose through rigorously training their son doesn’t invoke the same level of sympathy. His character feels more timid and easily influenced and not at all like a seasoned Marine….which may be the point, but by proxy it lends the wife to be the scapegoat villain who carries the bulk of the blame for John’s upbringing. This feels like a lazy cop out because her motives are all force-fed to us. We don’t get to observe or experience the oppression that these characters face, we just keep hearing about it. Too much telling and not enough showing– we logically know what she’s referring to but we can’t FEEL the heaviness that's making her move on demon time like this. Idk maybe this is comic book accurate, but it just feels a little forced and off. Still enjoying it though.

Ale

Sheera saying a bird wearing a watch made me burst out laughing at work.

Zuri Young

Acting like there isn’t a significant amount of non poc ppl that disliked it simply because of race being mentioned at all (regardless of how it was mentioned) is disingenuous.

CJ Dennis

@Lola as I mentioned in one of my replies to Kevin, no one is saying that you need separate ones race from ones character nor does it mean that race issues should never be tackled 🤨. I'm saying that you use it to inform a character but not define them, nor do you need to lean on it so much in order to make their story or character interesting. A great example that I think exemplifies what I'm talking about is Static from Static Shock. Granted he's used as an example for this a lot lol, but it's probably because that show did a good job in characterizing Static or Virgil as a smart sharp-witted kid who is into video games, technology, hip-hop, and comics. In addition, he's driven to help people as a superhero because of the good influence of his father, his friend Ritchie, and his deceased mother, and it helps him better himself. Now of course he happens to be African-American and therefore we see him come across some black-related issues such as racism, urban gang violence, and among other things, but that was not in every single episode, because facing those things was not the only thing that made static an interesting character, and it wasn't the only interesting stories they told with him. Moreover, you brought up that if you have a female character you'll consider how her race, hair style, and how she'll be treated in society factors into her character. Sure that can inform her, but is her story only going to be about her facing a common women problems or racial problems (if she's a poc) or are there other things that are interesting about her? Yes a white character's race can also play a part in their character. However, when people think of what makes Batman and Superman interesting is it only their race or is it their characterization? Heck with a character like John Stewart there is a reason why a whole generation fell in love with him from the Justice League animated series, it's largely because the focus was on John being a stern but heroic figure that often showed he was more than just a fancy ring. He wasn't just a black character, he was a superhero character that happen to be black. Which one could argue that there is a lot more power in just showing a female or a poc character just be an interesting character and do some interesting stuff without needing to put so much emphasis on the fact that they are female or a poc. Nevertheless, hope I've explained better what I'm getting at about race, gender, or whatever informing a character but not defining their whole story or characterization, and how that does not equate to separating the two things or ignoring any irl issues 🤔. Sidenote: I mentioned this being something in modern media but really it's been a problem since media and Hollywood have been a thing. Have a good one.

StorySmith []

Bro isn’t a dishonorable discharge like a big deal? Don’t veterans like lose their medical benefits and the right to own a gun? If I were John like hell would I say yeah ok to this BS

Kevin

I think @Lola hit the nail on the head here. I haven’t watched super girl so can’t comment on that point. But let’s take the John Stewart example. He’s a stern soldier who exhibits patients and is efficient, why? Certainly not because he’s just born that way but because his environment and upbringing required him to be better…why? Because at the time the expectations required for John to be an excellent soldier were high…why? I hope you see where I’m going with this. I’m not saying everything goes back to race nor am I saying that there aren’t shows that are a little too heavy handed. However, I want to drive home how important it can be in defining a characters actions, especially given the time. Because we do see multiple sides of John, and I don’t know how episode 3 takes away from other parts of their character that we’ve been shown. Daredevil is an odd representation to me so instead I’ll use Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders. Quite often we hear reference of Thomas’s Gypsy heritage. It influences some of his decisions, his connections, etc. But never do we see the same level of fatigue that people tend to have when watching black people. Why is that? Lastly, I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by it, but the struggles of the black man especially in that time period were anything but common.

Paskowitz

They cooked with this episode holy.

Kris Barnes

Honestly I’d crash out too if I could’ve been Green Lantern and lost out on the job because I was scared

CJ Dennis

"The struggles of a black man....were anything but common"? Did you mean "they were common" lol? Nevertheless, I do see what you're saying and do agree, because again I'm not saying you have to ignore the race of a character and their background. I'm just saying that you use it to inform them not make it all that they are. John is a good example of this because as you demonstrated his background and race does contribute to his character. However, do you notice how John in this show never once has to verbalize that or we don't give him a line where he says something like: "as a black man I have to work twice as hard" or whatever 🤔. With him alone any racial commentary is often subtle or it's presented in a way where it goes without saying. Whereas the mother is given all these lines that while we may understand where she's coming from, it might feel like this the only interesting angle we can do with her as opposed to maybe revealing some other things about her character that lead to her traumas and her being so pushy with John. Lastly, in regards to why it seems like people get fatigued with black characters referencing their background as opposed to a character like Thomas Shelby. It's all depends on the exacution. I can't speak for Peaky Blinders as I haven't seen it, but maybe they do it in a subtle way or a way where again it's just there to inform the character, and not heavy-handedly tell the audience something. Whereas like you said some media does do that with black characters. When you have something like a Static Shock (if you saw my response to Lola using that as an example) that does the cultural referencing well, and not every single episode is trying to hammer in some race messages (and when it does it doesn't come off like it's being hammered in). Then you have very little complaints from anyone. I also think the fatigue might come from some people (particularly black people) getting tired of seeing the same old "overcoming struggles and oppression" type story we've seen numerous times in mainstream media for decades. No one is saying that those story don't have their place or shouldn't be made at all, but in a post-black panther world people want to see more unique narratives with black characters that don't have to always be about overcoming racism, slavery etc. See also, how women are tired are seeing the "build a woman up by tearing the men down" type narrative, or how Gay people are tired of seeing "the tragic coming out" stories. Again no one is saying we should never make them, just that they are perhaps a bit overdone 🤔. Sorry again for my verbosity. I hope I'm making things clear. Thanks for your insight.

Faeginn

Bit of trivia but John's constructs are incredibly detailed because in the comics he's an architect so his constructs aren't hollow and he knows the internal workings and details of things. Compare that to Hal who creates aviation related constructs and Guy who makes big fists and baseball bats lol. Also Kyle Rayner is one of the most creative lanterns who comes after John and he's a comic book artist. The writers actually had a challenge where he could never make the same construct twice in a comic run, because he's a bit of a nerd all his constructs are like big anime mech suits and shit compared to these straight edge military guys

Kris Barnes

Fantastic episode. As a Black man this really hits and I empathize with John’s experience. It’s very sad he never got to have the childhood he wanted and was moulded into who he is now. I’m glad he was recognized though and seems genuinely happy about being the next Green Lantern.

mondawmin mall

I agree to a certain extent Roshi the wife definitely took it too far, but the only thing that I felt like she was completely fair and saying was that “are you afraid” to a black man would have way deeper responses and thoughts just off of violence for existing in this country alone all the things that can happen she was completely valid in that point. It’s not fair to come to earth and ask that question because the experience of being on earth while being a different race being treated a certain way and being threatened because of it, it’s not gonna be the same for everybody the guardians do not understand Reese so of course, when they ask their question, they figured it would be universal, but the answer is not universal. If we go to different neighborhoods and ask what year Shakespeare wrote Hamlet and we ask every neighborhood in the country only certain people would be able to answer because of what they were taught in the education in their area so it’s a universal question, but not everybody is brought up the same way and they did not have the distinction to know that so that was their point when they said we’re not even considered up there. She explained that to the guardians of the Guardian proceeded to make sure they did better with the selection process.

Tyler Fraser

ion think they ever used the diamond they said she got questioned by the cops when she tried to cash it in

Leo Moreno

yall like to blame everything on racism just like the mom. The episode was good but the way it talked about racism was dumb. Saying aliens that know nothing about humans didnt choose stewart cuz hes black is dumb.

Leo Moreno

calling others racist while calling them racial names and thinking youre not racist is why nobody likes you people

Ghost

did i call them racist? did i say i wasnt racist myself?

Landez97

Somebody needs to call cps on them omg 😭

JotaroDrake

35:25 yeah kyle is a artist and it shows in his constructs in the comics

KingMarkoIII

Hmmm maybe it was just the weird racial speak going on. Like saying the fucking aliens from another galaxy don’t consider black people is wild to even put into a narrative. In general a lot of people just…don’t have the tolerance for those weird dialogues anymore lol. It’s kind of uninspiring and doesn’t really further the conversations. I think the show is still fine…but it’s got some weird tonal/narrative decisions when it comes to John

KingMarkoIII

I just want to say as a random resident marine apart of this Patreon there is no reason they made Jon Stewart a Sgt Major….made no sense 😂. There not dropping Sgt majors out of airplanes for a special ops mission he would have stopped being a sniper 2 ranks ago and a supervisor at best of them. Weird decision there lol. Also he’s just straight up too young to be that high of a rank 💀.

So Tired

Loud and wrong I watch her New Rockstars Interview, and she literally said the opposite

Azure samurai

Yk watching this it makes sense John fell in love with Vixen because he liked animals even when he was a kid

Ergo Somnium

There's a very good reason they don't give the job to people with a lot of fear in their hearts.

Ergo Somnium

Bro was a d1 crash out, no wonder the ring ain't want him. He would have DEFINITELY folded and got that yellow ring asap, or God forbid a red ring. XD Edit, I spoke too soon. Both of his parents have obsessive personalities to a degree. Man, what a childhood. Double edit, man this episode was fire! It shifts the perspective of the last 2 episodes majorly.

Ergo Somnium

I think you're misunderstanding some stuff. He wasn't a Sgt. Major when he want on that op. By that time he'd retired from that position, so my guess is that's the show's way of telling you he went into Black Ops. Secondly, how young do you think he is? He seems to be in his late 20's, early 30's. That's more than enough time to make a career, especially if you've been receiving training for decades.

KingMarkoIII

…yes he was. He went there in uniform to receive the mission. He had Sgt Maj chevrons on. He was a -former- Sgt Maj. He was discharged after that. And no boss, I’m not saying he can’t have a decorated career while only being in his late 20s. But ranks don’t work like that. Understand Sgt Maj is like the very top of enlisted in the marines. It takes like a minimum of 16 years to get there. And that’s being generous. By like order and doctrine lol. It also just, like is said before, doesn’t make sense. Because…Sgt majs arent on the front lines. It’s an administrative duty. Like…by design. There’s another rank literally designed to be that person who isn’t administrative that’s of equal rank to Sgt Maj called a Master Gunnery Sgt. Both are E-9s and even then they wouldn’t be doing solo sniper missions.

KingMarkoIII

You can’t really say that majority of the fanbase liked this episode. I just watched it today but even before I saw both positive and negative things about this episode. I watched it now and honestly…. It’s one of those where I hope there’s some conclusion to it. I liked the extreme aspects of it and the parents willingness to do this for there sun….but the racial tones of it are bit unyielding and In not a very good way. It comes off as more preachy and generally overabundant. Kicking down someone else for their skin when in reality his father has the same chance. I know there’s more to it and it’s a different time. It also lost the plot for me when John as a boy was apparently dissed by his brothers (as a joke but still) for “talking white” and one of their trainings was leaving him alone…in the hood???? What message is supposed to be sent there 😂. Telling the alien that they don’t consider them either as if the aliens from another galaxy care about the socio political state of earth and considered that. Also, side note, even the military parts of it are kinda…wholly innacurate in its setup and generally specificities lol. You can’t tell me these aspects aren’t just a little weird I think some nice returns can come out of it all though if they play it right. I liked the episode despite all that.

Naw1n

John's artistic talent definitely worth more than his actual training. Kyle Rayner (the white lantern aka the strongest lantern) is a comic book artist, not a soldier.

Abigail

Was the woman a white martian? She had an x on her top.

Yeh2001

Not you taking this shit as a fact lmao the majority of the fan base is white if every white person hated it it wouldn’t have a positive review at all lol

Michael Saylor

You guys really rely on reviews lol losers

Konasuba

She says that because that’s the perspective she has in life and is angry at the world for it. You aren’t supposed be to agree with what she’s saying even if there’s truth for our real world

Prune Chips

I thought so too. It felt very scripted and abstract 😭. It would've been better if something like the diamond incident happened and she explained to the guardians why she wasn't surprised

Krype

That’s my main issue as well I don’t mind them showing those themes or perspectives because people do think that way. It’s the fact that the show doesn’t do enough to show that it’s wrong instead tries to make it morally gray or the ends justify the means.

Krype

You cooked but I’m afraid it falls on deaf ears.

Krype

For making John so smart he didn’t think of just breaking in somehow and waiting for him inside the house. He had all the time in the world to figure out a way without getting caught 😭

CJ Dennis

@Krype to be fair, I could've been more thorough in my initial comment like I was my the replies here lol 🤔.

Chosen One

I would agree if she was trying to teach the alien instead of getting upset and acting like the alien purposefully set them up to fail.

Grimm

I mean she is a black women in the 80s kind of fitting to show frustration no? imo make more sense since she smart enough to expect an all powerful being to know about racism if they police the entire universe.

Kingbrick

-SUBTLE SPOILERS!- "not many boys grow up with a father like you...", "hal jordan and boys like him grew up with privilege...", Chefs kiss for the fans fr. alwhile establishing the moms worse side above her nurturing side, as we ultimatley dont see them treat their other kids, as it will not be shown, we dont KNOW THSE people completely fr, moms smart, intelligence/crzy are part of the same coin, and dad seems like a well fellow, there was honestly even if witheld, all came forward eventually, alls to say well deserved 10/10. Good amazing nuggets for the fans of green lanterns right here! without any forced writing, its almost Incredible.

Kojdwoa Xaquayza

Side note but how are we in 2026 and patreon still hasn't figured out how to order episode right?

Deressed

People with an IQ high enough to know that claiming Hal got the ring for being white, which makes no sense because these are aliens who don’t care about race. They don’t even know what race is really. We were just annoyed to see the mom acting stupid

TheMilkMan

Thank you Lupa. We need to stop this "blame the white man" theme in recent tv shows, instead why don't we show different groups of people actually coming together, the good white people today have nothing to do with what happened, shows are still drilling this ridiculous idea that white people of this generation MUST repent for what their ancestors did, no they don't that's the whole idea of what MLK was fighting for: EQUALITY for ALL Americans, not just black, not just white, not Asian, not Hispanic, but ALL people. Attack on Titan had a lesson there that I think ALL Americans should live by, current generations should not be bound by their past, they are not responsible for the wrongdoings of their ancestors, they were not there, why is it just America that is still stuck in the past? Do you see Jewish people forcing Germans to apologise? No. Do you see the Japanese apologising for what their ancestors did to many countries? No. My people were persecuted by Spain and Japan, you don't see us sharpening pitchforks and lighting torches, why? Cause the past is the past, we have moved on and so did other nations, America hasn't, that's why ya'll are still fighting. How can you move forward if you're constantly looking back?

Itsnickk

7:24 she didn’t even believe him before he shot the TV Shira (I’m not hating I’m just saying) 😂

Itsnickk

For some reason I don’t like the mom