Lanterns Writer Tom King Explains Why [SPOILER] Got Away With Killing Hal Jordan

The season 1 finale of the Lanterns show finally disclosed the identity of the individual who killed Hal Jordan, a revelation that had been hinted at from the very first episode. The person responsible for the murder is Sheriff Kerry Kane, portrayed by Kelly Macdonald, who carries out the act after revealing that her son, Noah, has Manhunter blood.

In a surprising turn of events, John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre, decides not to punish Kerry for the murder, as he does not believe that Hal would have desired her to face any consequences for her actions. However, Lanterns co-creator and writer Tom King had a distinct reason for allowing Kerry to evade justice. During an interview with The Ringer-Verse in October 2026, King expressed his perspective on the subject, stating that those who commit crimes should be punished, and in this case, the most severe punishment for her was the knowledge of her actions and the burden of living with them.

Aaron Pierre, who plays John Stewart, offered his interpretation of the character's actions. He emphasized John's capacity for empathy and understanding, even when faced with difficult situations. According to Pierre, John is able to connect with others on a deeper level and extend grace and consideration, despite not having directly experienced those qualities himself.

The finale's unexpected twist generated an overwhelming amount of discussion and debate among Lanterns fans. Many viewers expressed their outrage on the r/LanternsTVSeries subreddit, questioning the decision to kill off Hal Jordan and forgive Kerry without any repercussions. Some fans argued that Kerry's actions were shocking and seemed to come out of nowhere, while others believed it aligned with the character's nurturing instincts demonstrated throughout the series.

Despite the controversy, there is no denying that the finale will continue to ignite passionate conversations and debates among Lanterns fans for a considerable amount of time.