Parents' Guide to Lanterns

Crackling with wit, briskly plotted, and laced with intriguing lore, this easy-to-love series is just the thing to tempt superhero-fatigued viewers into giving their attention to the DC universe. Kyle Chandler, is, as always, terrific; he's terrific in everything, but Lanterns gives him a cool role worthy both of his talent and of the epic storytelling in the best comics. On the edge of being done with his role as a space cop, he's world-weary as he trains his replacement, in the classic tradition of detective two-handers. Yet he's still confident in his ring-endowed powers, has retained an impudent sense of humor, and wishes Pierre's John Stewart well even as he believes the best way to get him to Lantern level is tough-love lessons. Far from inhabiting only a two-dimensional comics space, Chandler's Jordan and the relationship between him and Stewart feels grounded and real, a fine anchor to hold on to as we're propelled into a murder mystery with intergalactic ramifications.

If viewers are fresh to the Green Lantern world, there's a bit of backstory they have to absorb, but it's artfully delivered in exposition that traces the form and function of the Lanterns and the Guardians that guide them. That over with, Lanterns gets to work dropping tantalizing hints about where the season is headed, and how the show's overarching universe has affected world history and current events. Lanterns' writing and plotting are simply terrific; fans of Lost may be excitedly noting the presence of Damon Lindelof in the writers' room, as well as True Detective's Chris Mundy. These creators know a thing or two about spinning an addictive episodic tale; put them together with the absolutely stacked cast and you've got a goer.