DC Studios’ new HBO drama “Lanterns” returns with episode 2 tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern as the mystery continues from last week’s premiere.

Veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and rookie Lantern John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) investigate a murder that could have major consequences for the wider DCU.

If you’re looking for an alternative to watching on cable, you can watch for free tonight using DIRECTV’s 5-day free trial for new subscribers.

How to watch ‘Lanterns’ for free on DIRECTV

Option 1: DIRECTV free trial + HBO Max

The most direct way to watch “Lanterns” is to start a DIRECTV 5-day free trial and choose a package that includes or supports HBO Max. DIRECTV’s current streaming plans include:

• ENTERTAINMENT: $79.99/month
• CHOICE: $108.99/month
• ULTIMATE: $119.99/month
• PREMIER: $164.99/month

All plans include unlimited Cloud DVR and can be canceled anytime.

Best Option for HBO and HBO Max

DIRECTV PREMIER is the only package that includes HBO Max as part of the base package. Subscribers receive:

• Live HBO channels
• HBO on demand
• Access to the HBO Max app

Add HBO Max to other DIRECTV packages

Choose ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, or ULTIMATE and add HBO Max separately.

DIRECTV also offers:

• First 2 months of HBO Max for free
• HBO Max renews at $18.49 per month thereafter

What is ‘Lanterns’ about?

Based on DC Comics’ Green Lantern mythology, “Lanterns” follows John Stewart and Hal Jordan, two members of the Green Lantern Corps who become entangled in a dark mystery rooted in America’s heartland. Rather than focusing primarily on cosmic battles, the series leans heavily into detective storytelling, suspense, and character drama.

‘Lanterns’ episode 1 recap

Skip ahead if you don’t want spoilers. The premiere episode, titled “Pilot,” established multiple timelines and introduced the central mystery driving the season. We saw how Hal Jordan’s public heroics inspired a young John Stewart years earlier, setting him on a path that would eventually lead to the Green Lantern Corps.

The pilot episode followed Jordan and Stewart investigating a tragic shooting in Rushville, Nebraska, though Jordan quickly suspects extraterrestrial involvement. Their partnership started off tense as the experienced Jordan and disciplined Stewart clashed over methods and personality.

The biggest shocker arrives in the future-set storyline, where John discovers that Hal Jordan is dead and his Green Lantern ring is missing. That revelation transforms the season from a murder investigation into a larger mystery centered on the identity of Hal’s killer and the fate of his ring.

What can fans expect from episode 2?

Episode 2, “Trust Fall,” is expected to continue exploring both last week’s investigation and the future storyline surrounding Hal’s death. John and Hal uncover evidence linked to advanced alien technology while the future timeline focuses on John’s attempts to determine who killed his former partner.

The mystery surrounding Sinestro, local power broker William Macon, and the missing Green Lantern ring are all poised to become increasingly important moving forward.

Other ‘Lanterns’ streaming alternatives

Philo Bundle+

This bundle combines Philo’s live-TV offering with several premium streaming services.

The package costs $33 per month and includes:

• More than 70 live channels
• HBO Max Basic with Ads
• AMC+
• discovery+
• Unlimited DVR storage for eligible content

Get Philo

For only $33/month, choose Bundle+ to combine Philo with HBO Max, AMC+, and Discovery+.

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Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max Bundle

This is a great way to save over 40% off subscribing to individual streaming services.

Current bundle pricing includes:

With Ads

• Disney+
• Hulu
• HBO Max
• $19.99/month

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• Disney+
• Hulu
• HBO Max
• $32.99/month

Watch on Disney+

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