HBO released the preview for the third Lanterns episode, which is supposedly titled "OutKast", right after the second episode this Sunday. The preview teases a John Stewart-focused episode, something that's necessary for this version of the character. The closing minutes of the episode 2 do hint that next week's episode will be focused on the new Green Lantern recruit.If you remember, the first episode reveals that John Stewart Sr. was a nightmare for his family. This week's episode ends with Thaal Sinestro manipulating his former pupil Hal Jordan by describing John as a bigger threat to the Green Lantern legend than the Manhunters.The Lanterns Episode 3 preview teases John Stewart Jr.'s traumatic past: View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe preview begins with Stewart falling through a skylight. We are not given a proper context of this scene, so it could be the "test" that Hal Jordan described in the opening minutes of the Lanterns premiere. Then, we see him meeting Laura Linney's unnamed character. She is playing one of the Guardians, the "bosses" of the Green Lantern Corps.The scene cuts to a baby (probably John Stewart Jr.)'s face being lit by the color green. This flashback is why fans theorize that the HBO series will follow the recent comics canon, where the Guardians took an explicit interest in recruiting John Stewart as a Green Lantern. This is different from the usual Green Lantern Corps practice of the ring choosing the bearer.Another theory suggests that John Stewart Sr. might've been a possible candidate to be Green Lantern, but he might have failed, which is why he raised his son to be an ideal Green Lantern candidate, who isn't afraid of anything.The Lanterns Episode 3 preview hints at this storyline with a scene at the 0:17 second mark as we see Stewart Sr. shoot the TV, which is playing news about a masked Green Lantern (Hal Jordan).Hal Jordan with a mask | Image Via: YouTube/HBO MaxThis moment has some theorizing that the elder Stewart is bitter about losing his one shot at fame and heroism and raised his son in a way where the latter won't repeat the former's mistake. Therefore, next week's episode is set to delve deep into the Stewart family's past.The preview ends with the Guardian asking John if he was wondering why he was chosen, and him replying that he knew why he was chosen. When is the third episode dropping? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostLanterns Episode 3 will drop on the same day and time as the first two episodes dropped. Thus, the third episode will air on HBO this coming Sunday. Here's when you catch the third episode on HBO:Pacific Standard Time: 06:00 PM, August 30, 2026Eastern Standard Time: 09:00 PM, August 30, 2026Indian Standard Time: 06:30 AM, August 31, 2026Greenwich Mean Time +1: 01:00 AM, August 31, 2026Australian Eastern Standard Time: 11:00 AM, August 31, 2026Central European Time: 03:00 AM, August 31, 2026Rewatch the first two episodes of the DCU superhero show before the third one drops next Sunday.