When HBO’s cosmic murder mystery Lanterns first premiered, it quickly established itself as a standout entry in the detective genre, pairing veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) with new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they unravel a dark case in Rushville, Nebraska that spirals into a sprawling conspiracy. Created by Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and comics writer Tom King, the series has earned its reputation through a measured slow-burn approach and a central duo whose chemistry keeps audiences hooked. Now, as the show nears its conclusion, fans who have fallen in love with its hard-boiled mystery drama have a clear destination: a curated slate of five detective series worth diving into once Lanterns wraps up.
Although Lanterns shines brightest when it leans on its murder mystery elements rather than its comic-book references, the show has undeniably sparked a renewed appetite for the genre. Streaming platforms have responded with a wealth of options, and here are five series that capture the essence of what makes Lanterns so compelling.
True Detective: The Blueprint for Slow-Burn Pairings
Parallels between Lanterns and True Detective have been repeatedly drawn, and for good reason. The police procedural format instinctively embraces slow-burn pacing that pairs two detectives on a case. Season 1 might prove the closest thematic match, but subsequent seasons offer their own gritty violence and complex character studies. Beyond Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey’s iconic team-up as Marty and Rust, the latest entry, Night Country, features yet another formidable duo with Jodie Foster’s Liz Danvers and Kali Reis’ Evangeline Navarro. Season 2 unfolds like a bleak Californian noir with moody, tragic characters like Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell) and Ani Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams), while Season 3 returns to form with a masterful Mahershala Ali at the center of an emotionally resonant mystery exploring memory and aging. Streaming on HBO Max, True Detective remains a quintessential series that paved the way for contemporary entries in the genre.
Spider-Noir: Hard-Boiled Superhero Noir
Spider-Noir hews even closer to Lanterns as a comic book-inspired series that deliberately eschews superhero conventions. Set in 1930s New York City, aging private investigator Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage) struggles to make ends meet before being tempted to don the suit of the Spider, a role he stepped away from years ago. Reilly is as jaded as it gets, mimicking Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep, albeit with the added burden of being a superhero well past his prime. Streaming on Prime Video, the show draws heavily from noir tropes, allowing its Depression-era backdrop to feel visceral and lived-in. The melancholic air of the high-contrast monochrome version sets it apart from most standalone superhero mysteries, while gorgeous fight sequences go hand-in-hand with quieter character moments that allow Ben Reilly to emerge as a nuanced figure.
The X-Files: Paranoia and the Paranormal
Any discussion of a detective procedural featuring two partners is incomplete without Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) from The X-Files. An extraterrestrial connection also links the two shows, though the focus remains on grounded mysteries that hinge on dark secrets. The X-Files relies on a sustained sense of tension and paranoia, combining paranormal and conspiracy elements into a uniquely engaging format. The Mulder-Scully dynamic forms the beating heart of the show, creating a much-needed balance between belief and skepticism. The series understands the need to mix exciting monster-of-the-week cases with an overarching storyline, exemplified by the mystery involving the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis), whose presence haunts 11 seasons. Although the mythology isn’t always consistent, the show maintains its rock-solid appeal through a compelling exploration of its interpersonal dynamics.
Mare of Easttown: Small-Town Grief
For those interested in a grounded procedural confined to the secrets of a small-town community, Mare of Easttown is worth a watch. Detective “Mare” (Kate Winslet) investigates the murder of a teenage mother and the disappearance of a young girl while slowly unraveling due to her personal struggles. The small-town setting feels intensely claustrophobic, as Mare is constantly under scrutiny by the townsfolk of Easttown, Pennsylvania. Rather than focusing on the flashy aspects of a murder mystery, the show is about grief and how people in close-knit communities deal with such a visceral sentiment. Perhaps its greatest strength is its brevity: Mare of Easttown wraps up its riveting mysteries within seven episodes while keeping its focus squarely on its lead, who makes for an engrossing character study. This rich exploration of Mare’s inner landscape blends well with the insular dynamics of a town torn apart by tragedy.
Watchmen: The Puzzle-Box Superhero Mystery
Damon Lindelof is the obvious creative link between Lanterns and Watchmen, but the 2019 limited series also takes a subversive approach to an already brilliant source material. Set 34 years after the events of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ comic series, Watchmen weaves an alternate history of the 20th century in unforgettable ways, recontextualizing the buried history of the real-world Tulsa massacre while examining the caustic effects of generational trauma and historical racism through a grounded superhero framing. It is less of a standard whodunit and more of an intricate puzzle-box mystery that plays with timelines and perspectives to heighten its payoffs. A significant chunk of the plot follows masked police detective Angela Abar (Regina King) and her colleagues’ attempts to uncover a complicated conspiracy involving a white supremacist group called the Seventh Kavalry. Streaming on Prime Video, it is an exceptional superhero tale perfectly suited to our turbulent present, scathingly prescient in its critique of state-sanctioned violence that often exacerbates systemic bigotry.
“Lanterns has proven that a slow-burn detective story can thrive even when it wears its comic-book DNA on its sleeve. For viewers hungry for more of that hard-boiled mystery, these five series offer a rich tapestry of pacing, character, and suspense.”
HBO
Community reaction to Lanterns has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans praising the central duo’s chemistry and the show’s willingness to blend cosmic stakes with intimate character work. Viewers who have binged the series have expressed eagerness to explore these recommendations, noting that each show captures a different facet of the detective genre — from the sprawling conspiracy of The X-Files to the claustrophobic intimacy of Mare of Easttown.
Looking Ahead
As Lanterns approaches its finale, these five series stand ready to satisfy any viewer seeking a fresh dose of mystery drama. Whether you gravitate toward the gritty noir of Spider-Noir, the philosophical weight of True Detective, or the prescient social commentary of Watchmen, there is a perfect match waiting on HBO Max, Prime Video, and Hulu. For now, the cosmic conspiracy in Rushville, Nebraska remains unresolved — but the mystery of where to watch next is already answered.
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