‘Lanterns’ – “Bad Optics”: An Apology That’ll Never Arrive

There are a few very rare instances when a live-action adaption improves upon an aspect of source material from a book. Lanterns’ “Bad Optics” episode needs to be added to that list. In DC Comics, Emerald Twilight marks the fall from grace of Green Lantern Hal Jordan when the Superman villain Mongul, destroyed Coast City. The loss of 7 million lives sends Hal Jordan over the edge as he snaps then turns on the Green Lantern Corps and Guardians of the Universe in order to take all the power of the Green Lantern power battery for himself. Hal Jordan is gone, Parallax is all that remained now. When Hal Jordan redeems himself in the Zero Hour event by reigniting the sun with his power, we then deal with the aftermath of Hal’s actions as Parallax in The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan. Lanterns’ Bad Optics episode delivers a more succinct and grounded fall for Hal Jordan, with a redemption that’s just out of reach. “I fall on my face sometimes (Igh)I look at myself, I cry sometimes”

When John Stewart pulls up on Hal Jordan at the cafe in Rushville, we see the surprise across Hal’s face. Especially as John is told by his mother (who is now friends with Hal) that Hal wanted to apologize to him for the events that turned the Rushville inside out to capture the Manhunter. If there one thing Hal Jordan isn’t going to do, it’s apologize. Fuck a load of that. John knew that but he made the 17-hour drive anyway. Hal tells John he came all this way for a sorry he’s not going to get….