Will the Lanterns finale reveal Lianna as the true villain? Exploring possibilities

The Lanterns finale is going to premiere on HBO Max on October 4, 2026; it is expected to reveal who killed Hal and why. Moreover, the finale also has to answer how Sinestro escaped the maximum security prison on Oa and ended up in Antaan's homeworld.

While many theories have speculated Kerry as the one who killed Hal, there is one theory that suggests it might have been Lianna.

Lianna's appearance and behavior in Lanterns don't match that of a Guardian

We first met Lianna (played by Laura Linney) in Lanterns episode 3 when she showed up at John Stewart's house after his father, John Sr., failed the test to become a Green Lantern. Lianna introduced herself as a member of the Guardians of the Universe and offered the Stewart family compensation by giving John a chance to become a Lantern in the future.

John's mother, Bernadette, agreed, and that's when John's training started. Lianna has appeared in Lanterns a few times, and it is unlikely that being a Green Lantern Corps member and recruiter is all she is. A theory by ComicBook Club suggests that Lianna may not even be a Guardian of the Universe, despite being presented as one.

One of the key points of this theory is Lianna’s real appearance. In the comics, the Guardians are usually small and blue-skinned. When the show reveals her true form, the camera frames her from behind at an obscure angle; the visible silhouette (tall, grey, large-headed, white-haired) doesn't match that of the Guardians in the comics.

She is also seen in a red outfit with a white cross on the back, but the white cross didn't catch anyone's eye initially. After the release of episode 5, a Threads user Owen W., via a Threads post, pointed out the white cross on the back of Lianna's outfit as she was disappearing from John's motel room. As the post and the theory point out, this design looks similar to the comic-book look of the Weaponers of Qward, particularly the Chief Weaponers.

The Weaponers of Qward are ancient Green Lantern villains from the antimatter universe. They have gone through several versions in the comics and were originally presented as the counterparts or rivals of the Guardians. The Weaponers have always opposed the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps and have been involved with the creation of yellow fear-based technology, including Sinestro’s yellow ring.

The theory therefore suggests that Lianna could actually be a Weaponer who is pretending to be a Guardian. Additionally, it is not just her appearance that's odd. She appears unfamiliar with several aspects of human culture and behaves differently from how the Guardians are normally expected to operate.

John Stewart’s parents previously told him to communicate with the Guardians through a payphone, suggesting that the Guardians normally communicate with Lanterns in a particular way. However, every time Lianna communicates with the Stewarts, it is in person. We see her arrive at the Stewart family's house after John Sr. was left traumatized by the Lanterns' test.

She tells Bernadette how Lantern qualities can be passed down, suggesting that John might be a good fit. She also personally appears at John’s motel to talk to him. In the comics, the Guardians aren't known for visiting Earth often. It is thus strange that Lianna showed up in person just because a potential Lantern failed, was traumatized, and his son could have a chance at being the next Lantern.

Moreover, she keeps communicating with John in person. That further suggests that she might not be aware of the actual rules of communication between the Guardians and the Lanterns, which can only mean that she's pretending to be someone she isn't.

If Lianna is a Weaponer, she could be secretly infiltrating or observing Earth while posing as someone from the Guardians. This could introduce Qward and the antimatter universe into the DCU. The theory could also connect the show to the larger DCU because in an October 2025 interview moderated by Variety, James Gunn had indicated that Lanterns will be important to the wider DCU story.

Talking about Lanterns and how it ties into Man of Tomorrow, Gunn had said:

“It may not seem like it at first, but it is all very connected,”

Thus, if Lianna is a Weaponer, her presence and actions can open up a whole new treasure trove of opportunities for the DCU to explore. An antimatter-universe faction potentially trying to interfere with or attack the main DCU could therefore become a larger storyline beyond Lanterns.

Besides this theory, something I, as a viewer, have observed and found strange is the way Lianna manipulated John. While the Guardians aren't exactly known for their compassion, it is unlikely that one of them would stoop to the level of manipulation to convince a potential Lantern to do something.

But Lianna does that. In episode 4, Lianna used John’s insecurities and trauma regarding his upbringing to aggressively pressure him into taking Hal Jordan's ring. This cruel and direct manipulation tactic isn't what the noble Guardians who strive for peace are known for.

However, it is yet to be confirmed if Lianna has been pretending to be a Guardian or not. Thus, until the finale airs, Lianna being the main villain of the show is still a theory.

Lanterns finale episode, titled Dirt and Stars, will be released on HBO Max on October 4, 2026.

Trending

For more articles like this, follow Soapcentral.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback