‘Lanterns' Episode 4 Just Became the Show's Highest-Rated Hour Yet

'Lanterns' has spent its first half-season slowly winning over critics and fans alike, building steady momentum with each new episode of HBO's DC crime thriller. That momentum reached a genuine high point this past weekend, with the show's fourth episode earning some of the strongest reception the series has seen so far. Episode 4, titled 'The Weenie,' picks up the thread left dangling since episode 2's cliffhanger introduction of Sinestro, finally delivering the full reunion between Ulrich Thomsen's iconic Green Lantern villain and his former protégé, Hal Jordan. That confrontation sets the tone for an hour that critics have widely praised for deepening both the show's central mystery and the fractured partnership at its core. The Weenie' is now the highest-rated episode of 'Lanterns' to date, earning an 8.6 score that surpasses the show's previous high marks of 8.2 for both the pilot and second episode, and comfortably outpacing episode 3's 7.6 rating. That places the show's midseason installment as its strongest outing yet heading into the back half of the season. Critics have echoed that enthusiasm across the board. One reviewer called the episode possibly their favorite installment of the season so far, praising how it balanced answers with new questions while delivering genuine character development for both Hal and John Stewart. Another critic highlighted the episode's ability to finally give John Stewart real comedic dimension, something his character hadn't fully gotten the chance to display in earlier episodes. Much of that praise centers on the escalating tension between Hal and John, whose partnership has grown increasingly strained as each character hides secrets and receives conflicting advice about betraying the other. That friction plays out alongside a genuinely absurd sequence involving William Macon, played by Garret Dillahunt, who greets the two Lanterns entirely nude during one of the episode's more memorably bizarre moments. The episode also finally delivers real screen time between Hal and Sinestro, a dynamic multiple critics have compared to the manipulative mentor relationship between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham. That confrontation reveals key details about Sinestro's psychological hold over Hal, including the fact that he wanted Hal to kill him during their previous encounter and had refused. Not every reaction has been entirely glowing, with some reviewers noting that the episode functions more as an exposition-heavy installment compared to the show's tighter origin-story format in episode 3. Even those more measured takes, however, have consistently praised the chemistry between stars Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as one of the show's most reliable strengths. With the Manhunter mystery now fully unraveling and the tension between Hal and John reaching new heights, 'The Weenie' appears to have marked a genuine turning point for the series both critically and narratively. The episode's strong reception suggests 'Lanterns' is only building momentum as it heads toward its midseason stretch. Given how much ground episode 4 covered, expectations are understandably high for how the show follows up on its various dangling threads, from Zoe's true nature to the growing rift between its two leads. Whether the series can maintain this level of quality through its remaining episodes will be a key storyline to watch as the season progresses. Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.