Lanterns: Trust Fall

Lanterns started off setting up an interesting dynamic between veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan and his trainee John Stewart. It kicked off an interesting storyline in a small town with a lot of secrets. It ended with a big surprise in 2026, with the main storyline being set in 2016. “Trust Fall,” continues the 2016 plot as Hal and John learn a bit more about what’s really going on in Rushville.

The episode opens with John getting a rude awakening (literally) as Hal decides it’s time for some actual training. Given the way Hal’s been acting, it’s not the most useful training session, but we do learn two things: Hal isn’t checking in with the Guardians, and John doesn’t pull off the task at hand, but does something different that surprises both of them. The immediate aftermath also shows that John has some surprises for Hal. Hal gets a warning, demonstrates a shortcut, and sends John on an important errand. The fact that Hal needs the errand done at all shows that he’s cocky and doesn’t really plan ahead well.

After John leaves, Hal does some more investigating about the shooting that called them there. He performs a few basic tests and finds that some of the security doesn’t work right. Curious about this, Hal tries to contact the sheriff and can’t find anyone in town. He uses his ring, and ends the charge while doing it, to find out where everyone went, and interrupts a town meeting. He’s about as polite and non-disruptive as you’d expect from what you saw in the pilot episode. He ends up having a brief meeting with his lawyer, Billy, whose major concern seems to be when Hal is leaving. The Sheriff gets annoyed at the disruption, and asks Hal to leave, which he actually does, but mostly because he got a phone call. John has arrived at Hal’s place, and it’s not at all what you’d expect. While Hal gives John directions needed to complete his task, Hal furthers his investigation by taking matters into his own hands. Hal’s directions include a passing reference to another Green Lantern, and we learn that the uniforms in this world are not the same as what the GLs wear in the comics.

While Hal commits a few crimes, John succeeds in his main task, finds out a bit more about how Hal lives, and deals with a housekeeping matter that is on the disturbing side of things. Hal is not particularly cooperative, and he’s definitely brash and cocky, but he’s not stupid, and he quickly finds a strange anomaly at the field where the shooting happened. John gets a nasty surprise as he gets ambushed trying to come back from his task, which once again shows why secret identities are so important for superheroes. Yes, I’ve said that before and will again. There’s a reason, or a lot of them, that comic book Hal wears a mask. John has a series of fights trying to get away from these strange attackers, and is doing pretty well until an outside force interferes.

Hal has another encounter with Sheriff Kane that doesn’t go at all how he expected. She does confirm that there’s a lot of strange things going on in town, and that her father-in-law, Will Macon, is a big part of it. He does score a point in saying her initial objections to Hal working the case seem to be null and void at this point. The sheriff reluctantly agrees to accompany Hal out to the Macon ranch, where things further go not at all as planned. Where Hal was welcomed the first time he went there, the guards don’t want to let him in. Will shows up eventually, and they spar about his mysterious benefactor and Will, too, is on the “You did your job, you should go now” bandwagon. Hal disagrees, and we get a very sharp demonstration of the fact that the Green Lantern rings work differently on this show than in the comics.

John ends up in a bad situation, but the people there are disconcertingly friendly. They also show a great deal of knowledge about how ring constructs work. There’s a very odd conversation where it becomes apparent that there’s a lot Hal hasn’t told John. I won’t say the man’s methods are reasonable, but his explanation does offer some insight into why he’s doing what he’s doing. John gets subjected to a very strange procedure, then is given a task and a deadline. John is really not having a good day. Hal has to deal with the repercussions of his own bad day, and has a long, actual conversation with the sheriff, instead of the butting heads and arguing they’ve been doing so far. They actually exchange a small amount of information, and we get another interesting hint about the sheriff’s background, which involves one of DC’s most famous fictional cities. As their talk concludes, he also notices some very strange things about one of the town’s institutions. There’s clearly a lot of weird in Rushville. We also get a reference to a classic GL villain, and apparently at least some of Hal’s adventures are publicly known.

Finally making his return to Rushville, John and his new friend for the episode head to the diner. He runs into Zoe, who he met last episode, and they have a far-ranging talk covering marriage, trust, and eccentricity. I kind of wonder how John is affording these flights, car rentals, and cab rides. Unless this, too, is different in the James Gunn DC Universe, Green Lanterns don’t get paid. John eventually makes his way back to the motel, where he and Hal have another argument/conversation. John has completed all his tasks, and Hal still can’t manage anything approaching praise. We do get to see the classic ring recharge and oath, although Hal seems like he’s really over the concept and the procedure. They debate some more, and John goes back to his room. You really have to admire John’s dedication. Hal is a horrible trainer/boss, and I can’t imagine most people would have stuck around this long.

The episode ends with an unexpected series of changes. Hal suits up and takes off, leaving not only Rushville, but the planet. He goes someplace that isn’t identified, but I’m pretty sure I know where it is, and most Lantern fans would probably agree. Hal meets with an old foe, asks some questions, and we learn that, considering his circumstances, this enemy is remarkably well informed. Their conversation, and the episode, end with some questions, each trying to find out more about something they think is important.

What I Liked: I am intrigued by the strangeness around one of John’s ring constructs, and it’s interesting that Hal, and the strange group that attacked John, all know it’s unusual. It was good to see that John can give a good accounting for himself even without the ring. The sheriff is interesting, and my theory about her possible ties to a different DC character are sounding more and more possible. I still can’t say I’m enjoying this version of Hal, but I will give him credit for being dedicated and smart. The later scene between Hal and Sheriff Kane had a lot of interesting bits in it, as did John’s meeting with Zoe. It was nice to see the oath, Hal’s security phrase for his vault was a nice nod to another Green Lantern from the comics, and I enjoyed seeing Hal in the uniform. I’m very curious about both the group that grabbed John and Hal’s visit at the end of the episode. At the moment, I don’t even have a theory about who Macon’s mysterious benefactor is, and I’m looking forward to getting some clues on that front.

What I Didn’t: Hal is still coming off as obnoxious and abrasive. That’s supposed to be Guy Gardner, not Hal Jordan. I hate how he’s treating John.

The mysteries around Rushville are definitely drawing me in. I’m looking forward to seeing where they lead. I’ll give “Trust Fall” a 4 out of 5. I’m already eager to see next week’s episode.