LANTERNS Producer Calls the Green Lantern Ring "Sexist" and Reveals Some Writers Knew Nothing About the Character
Apparently, being Hal Jordan in the DCU means becoming everyone’s favorite target. Since Lanterns premiered, the guy has been criticized, called a racist, and now his Green Lantern ring is being accused of being sexist!
Lanterns writer and co-executive producer Vanessa Baden Kelly has opened up about the HBO series' writers' room, revealing that some of the writers came into the project knowing nothing about Green Lantern.
She also joked that the Green Lantern Corps ring might be "sexist" for overlooking Bernadette Stewart, who she considers more fearless than the men it chose.
The comments are already getting plenty of attention from fans, particularly after some of the other conversations surrounding Hal Jordan since Lanterns premiered.
The series itself has been doing well. Reviews have been positive, and HBO says the premiere pulled in strong viewership numbers. Season 2 hasn't officially been ordered yet, but writers have already started meeting to discuss where the story could go next.
Fans have been more divided. We're not even halfway through the season, and viewers have already debated Hal Jordan's apparent death, changes to Green Lantern lore, and the show's unusual interpretation of John Stewart's origin.
Hal, in particular, has become something of a punching bag since Lanterns arrived. Recently the host of DC Studios' official podcast called Hal a racist. Now we've got a supposedly sexist power ring to throw onto the pile.
For what it's worth, I love the show so far, and I really like what they're doing with Hal. It's different, sure, but the character has been one of the more interesting parts of Lanterns. There's still plenty of story left to tell, so I'm interested in seeing where all of this takes him and John Stewart.
Speaking with Collider, Kelly explained that the writers had varying levels of Green Lantern knowledge when they entered the room. Fortunately, Tom King was there with plenty of comics and an understanding of where the boundaries were.
"I'll start by saying that by having Tom King and Damon Lindelof in the room, with Tom King offering so many Green Lantern books, those conversations are really robust because many of us were more casual Green Lantern fans. Some didn't know anything about Green Lantern."
King apparently served as the room's Green Lantern guardrail, stepping in whenever an idea strayed too far from something fundamental about the characters.
Kelly recalled him saying things like, "Oh, no, that doesn't change. That is who John Stewart is," and "It's just not going to happen. Sorry, that's never going to work."
Kelly said those conversations helped the writers remain "respectful to the canon while simultaneously being a fresh take and a more human, grounded version of who this character is."
The more unusual part of the interview came when Kelly discussed why the Green Lantern ring didn't choose Bernadette Stewart. In Lanterns, the ring initially selected John Stewart Sr. before apparently moving on to Hal, but Kelly thinks Bernadette had a stronger claim based on fearlessness.
"The thing that I would always say in the room is that if the ring wasn't sexist, Bernadette would have been chosen, because she really is just the most fearless of everybody.
"For me personally, as a writer, and I feel like most of the writers’ room would probably agree, this idea of willpower and overcoming fear is so different depending on where you stand."
Kelly went further into what Bernadette's perspective says about the way the Green Lantern Corps evaluates potential recruits.
"So, what Bernadette was pointing out to them is, 'You guys don't take any care in learning the differences of the people that you're asking for this.
“So, yes, you got a shit face for this job, and it's clear you don't like him, but here's why you don't like who you got — because you're actually not picking the bravest people. You're picking the people dumb enough to not be scared.'"
Calling the Green Lantern ring "sexist" is certainly going to raise some eyebrows, although Kelly may have been having a little fun with the idea.
Either way, the comment has already made its way around social media, where some fans see it as another example of DC Studios taking shots at Hal Jordan. Poor Hal can't catch a break!
Still, we're only three episodes into an eight-episode season. Five episodes remain, and judging an entire character arc before seeing where it ends doesn't make much sense. Lanterns is clearly playing a long game with Hal and John, and I'm enjoying the ride so far.
I’m excited to see how the series pulls everything together by the finale. The DCU is still young, and Lanterns has the opportunity to establish one of its biggest corners of the universe. I hope it stick the landing.
Regardless, Hal Jordan might want to keep his head down. At this point, even his ring is catching accusations.