The 10 Best TV Shows Like Lanterns

Lanterns, the latest HBO show debuting on Sunday nights, has already sparked speculation about its storyline and tone. Fans have drawn parallels between the program and other HBO classics such as Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, noting the show's blend of violence, sex, heroics, swearing, geek appeal, and a downbeat vibe.

James Gunn, the mastermind behind DC Universe projects, is known for his comedic style, with shows like Superman and Creature Commandos. However, Lanterns and the upcoming Clayface movie seem to venture into darker territories, pleasing DC fans who crave more edge, reminiscent of Zack Snyder's DCEU movies.

Lanterns takes a starkly different approach to the previous live-action Green Lantern film, which underperformed with Ryan Reynolds. The show's Hal Jordan and John Stewart mostly wear everyday clothes, with most action taking place on Earth for now. While Lanterns was initially pitched as a True Detective take on superheroes, it's clear that both series share gritty, violent, and sexy crime drama elements, albeit with HBO-level intensity.

True Detective is a prime example of a gritty crime drama set across multiple time periods, with established movie stars like Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. In Lanterns, Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler play the leads and could potentially appear in future DC movies, although their star power stems more from the characters than the actors themselves.

HBO and Damon Lindelof have previously tackled gritty superhero stories, with Watchmen, a deconstruction of the Charlton Comics superheroes, serving as a legacy sequel to the comic. The show doesn't include aliens, but it features a world where the existence of superheroes has altered history. Similarly, Lanterns involves a murder investigation that may be tied to an alien invasion and multiple non-linear timelines.

The X-Files is another show that shares similarities with Lanterns. The protagonists in both series are partners investigating a crime that may involve extraterrestrial beings. Hal Jordan has more credibility than Mulder, having actually been to space and worked with aliens, but both characters express certainty about the presence of aliens before tangible evidence is found.

Peacemaker, another show in the same DC Comics universe, deals with tracking down alien threats. While Lanterns has a more grounded approach and a zany comedic sensibility, Peacemaker is largely written by James Gunn and features a comedic tone. If Lanterns gains a dedicated fanbase like Peacemaker, there's a possibility for crossover within the DC Comics universe.