Mon, August 31, 2026 at 4:14 AM UTC
Lanterns fans can’t stop talking about what John Stewart’s parents did to him in Episode 3. Viewers shared strong reactions on X to the show’s unexpected twist on the Green Lantern’s comic book origins.
Lanterns fans react to John Stewart’s Green Lantern origins involving his parents
Lanterns Episode 3 revealed John Stewart’s parents deliberately raised him to earn a Green Lantern ring. The episode, titled “OutKast,” showed Abin Sur’s ring first approached John’s father. His father admitted fear, and the ring then moved on to find another candidate.
Bernadette Stewart later learned from a Guardian that ring eligibility runs through genetics. She and John’s father decided to mold their infant son into a fearless candidate. The couple had young John shoot an apple off his father’s head at just age five.
Fans on X reacted strongly to the parental origin twist after the episode aired. One user wrote, “At age 5, John Stewart’s parents already told him he was going to be a Green Lantern, giving him something to believe in. They even gave him a gun.” The same user noted John’s childhood love for birds connects to his protective instinct in the previous episode.
Other viewers highlighted how the unconventional upbringing shaped John’s willpower and military career. One user posted, “His childhood trauma, his military years, and every painful lesson are shaping his willpower piece by piece.”
Another called the parents “absolutely UNHINGED,” adding, “John didn’t stand a chance growing up with parents like this.”
Some fans also observed that John still loves his parents despite everything they put him through. One user noted he “feels like he owes them everything.”
The episode ended with the Guardian recruiting John to replace Hal Jordan at an abandoned shopping mall. Hal confronted John but ultimately offered to begin training on Monday.
The final scene showed a bird landing on John’s mailbox as “Gasoline Dreams” played over the credits.
