Who exactly is Will Macon, what is really happening at his Rushville ranch, and how much should Hal Jordan and John Stewart trust the family that has suddenly taken such an interest in them?
In this
#dcuniverse Lanterns deep dive, I take a detailed look at the Macon ranch barbeque sequence and the growing mysteries surrounding Garrett Dillahunt’s Will Macon. The scene opens up some major questions about his politics, his resources, his influence in Rushville, his knowledge of extra-terrestrial threats and the mysterious person or organisation behind the property he claims merely to manage.
There are already plenty of theories around Will Macon and the people surrounding him. Is there anything here to support speculation about Manhunters, Martians or another hidden alien presence? Could the series be drawing on a completely different corner of DC Comics mythology, including characters such as Vandal Savage? And what should we make of Will’s obsession with history, preparedness, colonisation and the possibility of Earth facing an extra-terrestrial threat.
I also examine the complicated relationship between Will and Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan. Billy Macon previously suggested the two men would be “like-minded”, but what similarities does he think they share, and where might their worldviews begin to diverge? Hal’s own history with Abin Sur, the Green Lantern Corps, the Guardians of the Universe and whatever happened near Rushville decades earlier makes that comparison particularly interesting.
There is plenty happening around Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart too. His interaction with Noah Macon raises some intriguing Green Lantern questions, while the revelation about Zoe adds another layer to a relationship that was already worth watching closely. How much did Zoe know when she first met John? Why had the Macon family researched him? And should their earlier conversation now be viewed differently?
Sheriff Kerry Kane remains important as well. What does she know about Will Macon? Why is she so wary of the influence surrounding the ranch? And what should we make of her increasingly unusual dynamic with Hal Jordan?
This is a scene-by-scene Lanterns analysis rather than a plot recap or Lanterns Easter Eggs hunt, exploring Will Macon, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Zoe Macon, Billy Macon, Kerry Kane, Green Lantern lore, DC Comics theories, Vandal Savage, Manhunters, alien mysteries, character psychology, visual storytelling and the wider conspiracy developing around Rushville in the
#dcu
If you’re looking for Lanterns analysis, Will Macon theories, Vandal Savage theories, Green Lantern lore, Hal Jordan analysis, John Stewart character analysis, Manhunter theories, Rushville breakdowns, or detailed HBO and DC Studios Lanterns deep dives, you’re in the right place.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to the Macon Ranch
Hal and John arrive at Will Macon’s heavily armed Nebraska compound and immediately start making assumptions about what they’ve walked into.
01:20 Like-Minded Men
Why Billy Macon thinks Hal and his father will understand one another, and what Hal and Will appear to have in common.
04:30 Who Is Will Macon?
A closer look at Will’s worldview, his fear of extra-terrestrial threats and the mystery surrounding the man behind the ranch.
05:32 Vandal Savage?
Why some of Will Macon’s dialogue, behaviour and imagery make Vandal Savage a more interesting possibility than the obvious alien theories.
08:45 The Mystery Benefactor
Will calls himself the ranch’s caretaker, raising questions about who actually owns the property and who may be backing him.
09:50 Kerry’s Warning
Sheriff Kerry Kane appears deeply wary of Will’s influence, his favours and the power he holds around Rushville.
11:45 Hal, Kerry and the Beer
Hal produces a beer, a Green Lantern bottle opener and what may be the worst attempt at flirting in Nebraska.
13:15 John Teaches Noah
John helps a child improve his football throw, creating an interesting parallel with Green Lantern training and John’s own upbringing.
14:20 Who Is Zoe Macon?
The reveal of Zoe’s connection to the Macon family changes the context of her earlier conversation with John.
15:20 Eating Off Another Man’s Grill
Will delivers one of the scene’s most loaded lines and lets John know exactly how much information travels around this family.
16:20 Hal and John Finally Bond
John’s confession produces one of the warmest moments yet between the future Green Lantern and his increasingly amused mentor.
16:55 Who Is the Enemy?
Hal and Will may be preparing for the same threat, but their ideas about outsiders, danger and how Earth should respond could put them on opposite sides.
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