HBO’s Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan as two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery investigating a murder in the American heartland. The second episode, titled “Trust Fall,” builds on the foundation of the pilot while deepening the show’s unique approach to Green Lantern lore. Rather than relying on spectacular ring constructs and cosmic spectacle, the episode focuses on the complex dynamics between John and Hal, introduces one of DC’s most compelling villains in limited fashion, and establishes that this version of the Green Lantern Corps operates under fundamentally different rules than the comics have ever shown.

The heart of “Trust Fall” is John Stewart’s ongoing training with Hal Jordan. The tension between the elder Hal and new recruit John crackles with genuine antagonism. Hal tells Stewart: “You’re just a f***ing substitute teacher. You’re not ready to get up in front of the class until the ring says you are,” while John responds: “The Green Lanterns’ oath is to protect people, and we both know I do a better job of this than you.”

What stands out in these training sequences is their visceral intensity. John questions whether his mentor is actually trying to train him or kill him—a tension the episode mines for maximum dramatic effect.

The show’s restraint with ring usage is intentional and refreshing. Rather than spectacle, the series prioritizes character development and the mystery unfolding in small-town Nebraska. Thus far the series provides a fresh take on the popular universe and its characters driven by its grounded storytelling.

Ulrich Thomsen has joined the Green Lanterns series in the recurring role of Sinestro. The character is described as “ruthless yet undeniably charming, Sinestro is a former Green Lantern who turned rogue. Sinestro’s manipulative nature drives his enduring obsession with his former mentee, Hal Jordan.”

Thomsen is a Danish actor known for his role as Christian in the 1998 film “The Celebration” and for playing Kai Proctor in the Cinemax series “Banshee” (2013–2016). His appearance in “Trust Fall” is brief but strategically devastating. Sinestro appears in prison, introducing himself from behind bars—a striking visual that immediately raises questions about his origins, his imprisonment, and his knowledge of John Stewart.

In DC Comics history, Thaal Sinestro was created by John Broome and Gil Kane, first appearing in Green Lantern Vol. 2, #56 from 1961. He is a fallen Green Lantern who turned rogue after his abusive teaching techniques were exposed.

One of the most significant departures from traditional Green Lantern storytelling is how the show handles the power rings themselves. The hosts note that constructs created by the ring persist after the user removes the ring—a fundamental change from comic book canon where the ring’s creations typically dissipate immediately.

This mechanic has profound implications. Traditionally if the ring is not worn by the user, the constructs vanish. The adorable bird construct remaining after John has removed the ring is both intersting to the audience, and seemingly concerning for Hal. The restraint shown in the series regarding the usage of the ring doesn’t feel like a limitation imposed by the script for budget reasons. Instead, it appears to be part of the story itself. The show is interested in building tension around whether John will actually use the ring, when he’ll use it, and what happens when he does.

The episode hints at a larger conspiracy involving the Manhunters—an organization or faction with apparent ties to both Sinestro and the Green Lantern Corps. The dialogue between John and Hal suggests a deeper history that the show is deliberately withholding from viewers. Hal’s aggressive training approach may not be sadistic; it could be born from genuine concern about threats John doesn’t yet understand.

Emmy-nominee Chris Mundy (“True Detective: Night Country,” “Ozark”) serves as showrunner. Joining Mundy in the writing of the show are heavy hitters Damon Lindelof (“Watchmen,” “The Leftovers”) and comic writer Tom King (“Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”). This is genuinely elite creative talent, and it shows in every frame.

Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre’s co-stars include Kelly Macdonald as Kerry Macon, Garret Dillahunt as William Macon, and Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, among others. The supporting cast is equally strong, suggesting that DC Studios is committed to surrounding their lead actors with the finest character actors available.

What’s remarkable is that DC Studios appears to have learned from previous attempts to adapt Green Lantern. Rather than rushing to show off cosmic action and alien worlds, Lanterns grounds itself in a mystery that happens to involve Green Lanterns. The murder investigation becomes secondary to the character dynamics and the slow revelation of larger cosmic conspiracies.

Two episodes into Lanterns, the series has established itself as something genuinely different. It’s not the typical superhero show structure where spectacle and action drive narrative. Instead, it’s a mystery series with sci-fi elements, grounded character work, and a showrunner experienced in crafting layered television drama.

“Trust Fall” plants crucial seeds for the season ahead—especially regarding Sinestro’s imprisonment and his knowledge of John’s recruitment. The training sequences establish John as a capable but uncertain fighter, Hal as a mentor with hidden depths, and the Green Lantern Corps as an organization with serious skeletons in its closet.

The post Episode 75: Lanterns Episode 2 – Trust Fall appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

For years, mentioning Green Lantern in Hollywood was like invoking a curse. The 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds earned the dubious distinction of becoming a cultural joke—a movie so thoroughly maligned that even its star spent the next decade publicly disowning it. With a $200 million budget and only $220 million in worldwide returns, the film didn’t just underperform at the box office; it fundamentally broke the property.

The disaster haunted both the character and the property for over a decade. Every superhero film announcement seemed to invite comparisons to Green Lantern’s failure. Reynolds himself became the perfect target for late-night comedy and internet jokes, turning the film’s legacy into a running gag that showed no signs of fading.

For Green Lantern fans, the question wasn’t whether the character deserved better—it was whether anyone would ever try again.

Enter HBO’s Lanterns, and everything changes. The series premiered on August 16, 2026, to an immediately different kind of buzz: genuine enthusiasm from critics and audiences alike. The DC Studios series garnered 9.3 million viewers worldwide in its first three days, with 6.7 million from the United States—a figure that outperformed recent HBO shows including IT: Welcome to Derry, The Penguin, and True Detective: Night Country. This wasn’t just strong viewership; it became the biggest premiere for any DC Studios show on HBO Max.

More importantly, the critical response broke the Green Lantern curse entirely. HBO’s Lanterns premiered its first two episodes to strongly positive early reaction from critics and viewers, marking a turnaround for DC Studios after the divisive Supergirl reception.

What’s most striking is how critics described the show’s approach. Rather than attempting another straightforward superhero origin story, the series embraced a completely different DNA. Lanterns works as a mystery told in a premium cable mode—Mundy’s True Detective experience is evident—while still functioning as a Green Lantern story. The show, created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, deliberately folds the fantastical elements into a recognizably grounded world.

The 2011 Green Lantern film featured an ensemble cast including talented performers like Mark Strong and Angela Bassett. Yet the film’s casting choices, particularly Ryan Reynolds in the lead, became emblematic of the production’s confusion about what it wanted to be.

Lanterns took the opposite approach by pairing two actors with entirely different career trajectories but complementary strengths.

Kyle Chandler arrives to the role of Hal Jordan as an established Emmy-winning performer. Chandler won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2011 for Friday Night Lights and went on to appear in a number of Oscar-nominated films including Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, The Wolf of Wall Street, Carol, and Manchester by the Sea. His grounded, authentic approach to character work—the same qualities that made him essential to Friday Night Lights—brings immediate credibility to the character of a world-weary, experienced Green Lantern.

In contrast, Aaron Pierre represents the rising wave of talent breaking through in 2024-2025. Pierre’s star rose significantly as he starred in the hit Netflix film Rebel Ridge in 2024, and also voiced young Mufasa in Barry Jenkins’ highly anticipated Lion King prequel for Disney. What makes Pierre’s casting particularly significant is that he comes to John Stewart as a classically trained actor from the prestigious LAMDA in London—not a personality forced into a role.

What makes Lanterns significant goes beyond just delivering a quality Green Lantern story. The show arrives at a pivotal moment for DC Studios under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran. After years of struggles and false starts, the series marks a turnaround for DC Studios after a divisive reception to Supergirl.

Notably, while James Gunn is an executive producer and elements tie Lanterns into the larger DCU narrative, his lack of direct creative involvement is noticeable, and refreshingly so. Instead, the show was given to experienced television creators who understood how to build character-driven narratives alongside superhero mythology.

Like Lindelof’s Watchmen sequel, Lanterns folds the fantastic into a recognizably real world, touching on some real-world issues in the process, with Stewart’s race central to his character’s story. This represents a deliberate move away from the spectacle-over-substance approach that plagued the 2011 film.

For longtime Green Lantern fans, the Lanterns premiere represents more than just validation. The 2011 film taught Hollywood a hard lesson about spectacle without purpose. Ryan Reynolds has since reflected that “character over spectacle” became the lifelong lesson from Green Lantern, with Reynolds noting that “too much money, too much time wrecks creativity. And constraint is the greatest creative tool you can possibly have.”

Lanterns appears to have learned this lesson thoroughly. By grounding the story, emphasizing character development over CGI set pieces, and assembling a creative team with proven television pedigree, the show avoids the fundamental mistakes that sank its predecessor.

The early ratings and critical response suggest that audiences are responding not because it’s a superhero show, but because it’s a genuinely well-crafted television drama that happens to feature Green Lantern. That distinction, while subtle, represents a complete reversal from 2011’s approach.

The Green Lantern curse didn’t end because someone finally spent enough money or assembled the right A-list cast. It ended because creators decided to ask different questions about what a Green Lantern story could be. Instead of “How do we make this spectacular?” the question became “How do we make this matter?”

Lanterns answers that question by focusing on character, consequence, and the genuine tensions between two vastly different people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. For a character that seemed permanently damaged by one terrible film, that’s not just a comeback—it’s a complete rehabilitation.

Want more episode breakdowns? Listen to Welcome to Your Doom Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or visit the official website. New episodes weekly as Justin and Atul dive deep into the shows and films you care about.

The post Episode 74: Lanterns Episode 1 – Pilot appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

In this episode of the Welcome to Your Doom Show, hosts Justin and Atul dive deep into Alien:Romulus, the highly anticipated latest installment of the Alien franchise. Join them as they review the movie’s plot, characters, and visual effects while breaking down the callbacks to the original Alien films that fans know and love.

Justin and Atul start with a non-spoiler discussion, highlighting the practical effects and world-building that set Alien: Romulus apart from recent sci-fi releases. From the intricate set designs to the thrilling creature encounters, Alien:Romulus impresses with its dedication to the look and feel, as well as the high-quality sound design. They also explore how director Fede Álvarez brings new life to the iconic xenomorphs and facehuggers, creating suspenseful and terrifying scenes that echo the original Alien films.

As the conversation shifts into spoilers, the hosts dig into Alien:Romulus‘ character development, focusing on Rain and Andy, the android. The dynamic between these characters, along with the supporting cast, adds emotional depth to the high-stakes sci-fi horror narrative. They also discuss how the film successfully integrates hard sci-fi elements, such as space travel and cryosleep, creating a more immersive experience for viewers.

For those who enjoy the Alien franchise or are simply looking for an engaging sci-fi horror film, Alien:Romulus delivers. Tune in to this episode for an in-depth review, a breakdown of the film’s most intense moments, and a discussion on where Alien: Romulus ranks among the franchise’s classics.

Don’t miss out on this thorough analysis of Alien: Romulus and what makes it a standout entry in the series!

Also, be sure to check out our take on Alien Covenant in Episode 4.

The post Episode 073 – Alien:Romulus Review appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

Join Justin and Atul in another thrilling episode of “Welcome to Your Doom,” where the harbingers of doom delve into the most anticipated 2024 movies! This week, our dynamic duo dissects a slew of upcoming movie trailers, sharing their thoughts, predictions, and witty commentary. If you’re a movie enthusiast looking forward to the biggest releases of 2024, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, Justin and Atul kick things off with a lively discussion on the X-Men ’97 animated series, setting the stage for a deep dive into the most exciting 2024 movies. They discuss it at a high level and avoid any spoilers. Expect an episode on just X-Men ’97 in the near future.

They explore the dark and mystical world of “Hellboy: The Crooked Man,” venture into the eerie depths of “Alien: Romulus,” and the zany, potentially unnecessary, nonsense that is “Deadpool and Wolverine”. At this point Atul realizes we’re dealing entirely with legacy sequels, but that doesn’t stop them from tackling “Gladiator 2”, and the quirky supernatural adventure of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Justin and Atul provide their unique perspectives on whether these sequels can live up to their predecessors. They also ponder burning questions like how many Deadpools is too many?

The discussion doesn’t stop there. The duo dives into “The Crow” and other notable 2024 movies, including the “Watchmen” animated film and “Batman: Caped Crusader”. Each trailer is meticulously analyzed, with Justin and Atul debating their merits and speculating on their potential success.

So grab some popcorn, strap in, and join Justin and Atul on this wild ride through the latest movie hype and speculation.

Some other episodes to check out related to some of the movies we discuss here:

The post Episode 72 – 2024 Summer Movies Hype appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

The harbingers are back and ranking the Halloween franchise from worst to best. Justin takes his best crack at a definitive list to help guide new Halloween goers which movies are worth watching, and which are less so.

We’ve discussed the Halloween franchise at least a few times throughout the course of our podcast, however this is the first time we’ve attempted a ranking. How close did we get? Do you agree or disagree? Hit us back in the comments wherever you’re seeing this.

The Halloween franchise has taken so many twists and turns over it’s 40+ year legacy. The franchise has changed studios, creative teams, actors, and even villains.

I think the beauty of these films is there is a little something for everyone. Need some classic Horror? Carpenter’s classic has you covered. Something a bit more gritty and visceral? Please consult Mr. Zombie. Do you want something with a hip hop legend in it? THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS!

This franchise truly has something for everyone and if you have yet to take a deep dive into all of the films we encourage you to do so, for better or worse.

We’ve put out content on our takes on some of the various Halloween films so please check out some of our past episodes to hear more nuanced takes on some of these films.

The post Episode 71 – Ranking The Halloween Franchise appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

In true Welcome To Your Doom Show tradition, we, the harbingers of DOOM bring to you another Halloween movie review 1 year later. Halloween Ends is the epic (?) conclusion to the David Gordon Green timeline of halloween films.

Set 4 years after the events of Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends continues the story of Laurie Strode and Haddonfield. While Laurie has seemingly healed, the wound Michael Myers had left in the town seems to have spread throughout its residents. Most notably, an indirect casualty of the fear and distrust of the past 4 year is Corey Cunningham. An unfortunate accident rendered him a pariah of Haddonfield, and he has lived the past 4 years with that fateful night looming over his head.

Halloween Ends is full of twists and turns, many of which seemed downright random and out of place given the backstory of the previous 2 films in this trilogy. Though, if there is one thing this movie does, is it ends.

As many of you must know October is one of our favorite months of the year. The leaves are changing, the weather is cooling, and All Hallows’ Eve is approaching.

Atul and Justin discuss they have been up to this month so far, and what is to come. This includes other movies we’re watching, video games we’re playing, and we discuss a major strain on our relationship.

Want more Halloween content from us? You can find our reviews of the previous instalments here:

The post Episode 70 – Halloween Ends appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

Folks, the new DCU is upon us and is helmed by none other than Marvel’s poster boy James Gunn. Gunn, the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Slither, Super, and The Suicide Squad, shares the CEO responsibilities of DC Studios with Peter Safran. Safran has produced several DCU films prior including Shazam and Aquaman, and was worked with Aquaman director James Wan on several previous projects.

Their first phase of the DCU shared universe has been dubbed Gods and Monsters. What does that mean? James Gunn or Peter Safran haven’t told us yet. Sounds overly grandios, but in Gunn we trust, right? The slate of films in this first wave of the DCU includes well known and relatively unknown characters alike. Superman, Batman, the Green Lantern Corps, the Flash, and many more you may know. More obscure characters or groups like Blue Beetle, the Authority, or Creature Commandos are also discussed.

Gunn also mentioned that continuity would be shared amongst films, TV, and even video games. The blueprint for how this will all work is unclear. An Elseworlds title was also included in the announcement that would encompass anything that doesn’t fit in the shared DCU. Matt Reeves’ Batman or Todd Philips Joker would be considered Elseworlds titles. We cover all this and more in this episode.

We also chat a whole bunch about the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts trailer that we’re excited about, and Atul swoons over the new WTYD studio/Justin’s office. More cool stuff to come on that in future entries and on our YouTube page.

For more DCU related content you can check out our Review of Zack Snyder’s Justice League or the Joss Whedon Justice League, as well as Aquaman.

The post Episode 69 – James Gunn’s DCU appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

In 2021, the shape returned in Halloween Kills. Michael Myers managed to escape from his would-be grave from Halloween (2018, ugh, it kills me just to write that) to continue to wreak havoc on the small town of Haddonfield.

Overall, the film was a mixed bag of exceptional cinematography, questionable narrative decisions, and just some goofy shit. But has goofy shit ever kept Atul and I from liking a film? Possibly. This time? Maybe.

This is the precursor to Halloween Ends being released this weekend so we thought what better time than now to revisit this film.

Also check out our Halloween (2018) episode here.

The post Episode 68 – Halloween Kills appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

It took them 6 tries, but the Predator series finally has a sequel worthy of the original 1984 film. Prey is the Predator’s 7th outing and catalogs the trials of Naru, a Comanche warrior, healer, and overall badass. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the film is set in 1719 where the feral Predator stalks all matters of predators local to that part of the world.

Overall, the film is a welcomed departure from much of what has been done in the other pred-sequels. Where they ramp up the pace, Prey takes it’s time. The sequels ramp up the complexity, but Prey streamlines the plot. They increase the violence, well…ok Prey’s pretty fucking violent. But more on the sequels shortly.

All in all, this was a wonderfully shot film. A strong attention to deal was clearly on display as shown the the characters, their environments, and their day-to-day. To add to the authenticity, Trachtenberg had shot several scenes entirely in Comanche. They were also shot in English, which is what was ultimately release, likely to appease a wider audience. It’s clear that Prey was made with a lot of love for the franchise, the characters, and yes even that lovable monster.

Also, be on the lookout for the Predator’s OnlyFans page. Confused? Intrigued? Interested? Well then listen to the episode to find out more.

They’re easy to shit on when comparing to the gold standard of Predator from 1984. However, I’ll be damned if some of them don’t get their due. Predator 2 is the most underrated by far of the series. Predators is good fun that is, in my opinion, Robert Rodriguez trying to make his version of the 1984 film with a few twists and turns. AVP had some neat ideas. The Predator was completely out there, but took some fun swings. AVP Requiem was…alright that one was bad, but if I could put a positive spin on it, it was so damn dark it was barely a movie.

In any case, as I was shitting on the sequels earlier, I just wanted to clarify that they’re not nearly as bad as people like to say. Including us. In the episode.

Also, if you haven’t checked out our review of The Predator, you can check it out here: Episode 26 – The Predator.

The post Episode 67 – Prey appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.

What’s up doomers, we are back! I think it’s safe to say we’ve taken a bit of time off, but we are getting back to business. I mean, sort of. This was a remote podcast, but we’re hoping to get these back to being in person soon.

In this episode, we get back to the roots of the podcast. We’re talking about some games, some comics, and even some music. Truly, back to business.

In terms of gaming, we talk about a couple of games that Atul has been playing, namely Returnal and Skul the Hero Slayer. In terms of gaming, we also touch a bit on the Evil Dead game coming soon to a console near you.

We also talk about Victor Vran, a top-down RPG-style game that is extremely fun but also comes with an Overkill add-on that is completely built around Motorhead and their lead singer, the legendary Lemmy Kilmister. The game is extremely satisfying and provides multiple levels of customization for your character builds. And honestly, a game that just pumps Motorhead tracks at all times can’t be bad.

Another hot topic from the episode is the Street Fighter art of Ricky Baba. Ricky has been producing high-quality 3D content for a long time. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him since my time at Dreamworks where he worked as a surfacing artist and beyond. He’s an extremely talented artist of multiple disciplines and you can see his full spectrum of talents on display in the various renders of the classic Street Fighter 2 characters that we all know and love. You can check out his art here.

The post Episode 66 – Back to Business appeared first on Welcome To Your Doom Show.