Lanterns stars J. Alphonse Nicholson and Jasmine Cephas Jones, as well as writer and co-executive producer Vanessa Baden Kelly, gathered for an advance tastemakers screening and panel ahead of Episode 3, moderated by Trey Mangum, managing editor of Blavity and the owner/founder of BLKCinema.com, to discuss the episode centered on John Stewart’s origins.
What is ‘Lanterns’ Episode 3 about?
Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Episode 3, titled “Outkast” and written by Baden Kelly, centers on John’s parents, John Stewart Sr. (Nicholson) and Bernadette Stewart (Cephas Jones), and the Guardians’ early decision that John was destined to become a Green Lantern.
What did the cast say about playing John Stewart’s parents?
As reported by The Nerds of Color, Jones said the line “Even if space y’all dont consider us,” resonated with her own family’s history, recalling her father’s experience being unable to hail a cab after a standing ovation performance because he was Black. “I think everybody on the stage has had a moment or two or three or four or five where they have not felt seen or not heard or have been overqualified for something and still not have been seen as an equal,” she said.
Jones also said she appreciated that Bernadette wasn’t written as a passive character. “When I first read this episode, I was just so excited that I wasn’t a prop,” she said.
Nicholson said his own experience as a father shaped his performance, explaining, “I know what it is to be a flawed parent. I know what it is to feel like a failure. I know what it is to feel like that you’re not enough, and so now you just gotta breathe and believe.” He added, “She knows me. She knows who I am,” referring to knowing the script was written by a Black woman.
How did Vanessa Baden Kelly approach writing John Stewart’s parents?
Baden Kelly said that the writers’ room initially focused on John himself before turning attention to his mother’s role, drawing comparisons to sports parents like Earl Woods and Richard Williams. “The more we would talk about those types of families and those that level of parenting, I would just keep bringing them up again,” she said. “And I’m like, ‘so where’s John’s mom?’”
Lanterns airs new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, streaming simultaneously on HBO Max.
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