You won’t believe how much screen time Guy Gardner really got — and why the showrunners planned it from day one. Spoiler alert: from here on I’ll be talking about “Mala imagen,” episode 1×06 of Lanterns.
Guy Gardner was always part of the plan
The creative team behind Lanterns admitted early on that they intended for Guy Gardner to show up in the series. Teasers already hinted at Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern — the same version fans first glimpsed in James Gunn’s Superman — and that tease has now paid off. Co-creator Chris Mundy told Collider they felt there was room to “push him a bit further,” explaining that Guy can be played with the comic edge seen in Gunn’s take or with a more grounded tone that still respects the DC character. That flexibility is precisely what the writers wanted to explore.
Fillion’s main worry: change the tone, not the man
Nathan Fillion has said his chief concern was preserving the core of Guy Gardner even if the show’s tone shifted. In an interview with Variety he acknowledged that the series would feel different in mood but was adamant the character shouldn’t be altered. To illustrate the point he compared it to spending a weekend in Metropolis versus one in Gotham: two very different experiences, but the person you are doesn’t have to change just because the setting does.
Where Guy appears in the story — and why he answers John Stewart
Guy’s arrival in Lanterns follows the death of Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), an event established in the first episode. Although he is wary of John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), Gardner ultimately responds when John reaches out, agreeing to a favor. The show frames this favor as more than casual heroics: for Guy, carrying the ring and holding the Green Lantern title feeds his ego and sense of identity in a way it doesn’t for Hal or John. He is uncomfortable with owing John anything, so the favor becomes the leverage John uses to bring him in.
First impression: billboard, branding, and a performer’s instincts
The series deliberately introduces Gardner not in a jail cell with John but on a billboard — a telling first image. Fillion emphasizes that Guy is obsessed with image and self-presentation; his dialogue in the episode underscores that. The character is portrayed as brand-conscious and commercially minded: he worries about corporate sponsorship, has financial objectives, and even plans like opening a bar and saving for retirement. He’s not naïve or expendable — he studies trends, knows how to work social media (yes, even TikTok), and has the showman’s instincts to boost his public profile. Gardner wants to be not just a Green Lantern, but a famous one.
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Avery Sandridge has an unmatched love for storytelling and the screen. From detailed analyses of your favorite shows to behind-the-scenes scoops, Avery offers a fresh and engaging take on everything TV series.