Review: Lanterns, "OutKast" | Season 1, Episode 3

In a typical prestige drama or limited series, the format-breaking flashback or standalone episode is the penultimate one, with the rationale being that delaying the finale maximizes anticipation. It’s a sensible place to put this kind of episode, because by this point in a season viewers understand how the show works and may be expecting an episode that fills in holes in the backstory, so a flashback isn’t disorienting. Damon Lindelof, however, is an innovator, and he likes to break the format in the third episode. The Leftovers and Watchmen both switched their focus from the main story in their respective episode threes, The Leftovers locking in on Reverend Matt and Watchmen introducing Agent Laurie Blake. Lindelof does it again in the third episode of Lanterns, “OutKast,” flashing back from the main story to show us how John Stewart Jr. became a Green Lantern. It’s a moving tale that deepens our understanding of the character, and most importantly, raises the stakes of his tense relationship with Hal Jordan. 

The episode unfolds as a Dr. Manhattan-esque hop-skip back and forth through time, as John tells his life story to a Guardian who goes by Lianna (Laura Linney, reuniting with her Ozark showrunner Chris Mundy) during his Green Lantern job interview. The writing, editing, and direction of this episode is marvelous. The timeline cuts have an intuitive feeling that can only come with being meticulously planned. Expect to see writer Vanessa Baden Kelly, editor Emily E. Greene, and director Stephen Williams’ names among Emmy nominees next year (Williams was previously nominated for directing Watchmen’s “This Extraordinary Being” and shared in the show’s Outstanding Limited Series win as a producer).