HBO’s Lanterns is currently just three episodes in, but already garnering some massive praise from fans. The show, which stars Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively, proves that the DCU can continue to grow, and thankfully so.

The DCU began with a lot of promise following 2025’s Superman, which kickstarted the DCU in the world of film. Since then, though, the universe stumbled. Supergirl, the next film in the DCU, was a massive disappointment, and has gone down as one of 2026’s biggest box office flops.

Needing a hit, Lanterns has delivered for the DCU, and may actually end up being its biggest achievement. Not only has the show given the DCU not something it’s had in the past, but it’s growing the fanbase in a huge way. There is a major catch, though, that the show can’t stumble on now.

Lanterns is giving fans everywhere more excitement than other DCU projects

So far, Lanterns has delivered on its promise of giving fans an excellent adaptation of the Green Lanterns lore. Most importantly, though, it’s given the DCU a ton of excitement. While shows like Peacemaker and Gunn’s Superman generated a ton of buzz, the excitement for the projects dwindled relatively soon, especially for something like Superman, or any movie, which only plays for a set time before leaving theaters.

Lanterns, though, has captured fans’ attention in new ways. Much like other hit HBO shows, Lanterns has became appointment viewing on social media. If you watch the show and are just a little late, you run the risk of getting spoiled anywhere, as excitement over the project has only grown following each episode. While it’s not exactly an indicator that the DCU will be successful forever, the fact that a show set in it is getting this type of demand and joy is not something we’ve seen before.

When it comes to the catch, it’s simple for Lanterns. There’s just five episodes left, and the show really has to stick its landing when it comes to how it sets up the future of not only the show, but the rest of the DCU. All eyes are on Lanterns, and for the first time, on the DCU in a big way. Following the failure of Supergirl and questions buzzing around it, Lanterns may have saved Gunn’s universe for now.

Originally written by Anthony Nash at SuperHeroHype