SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “Lanterns” Episode 5, titled “Lights Out,” now streaming on HBO Max. This week’s episode of “Lanterns” finally unmasks the Manhunter, who’s been at the heart of the mystery in Rushville throughout the season. As revealed at the end of Episode 4, the Manhunter is in fact Zoe Macon, played by Poorna Jagannathan.
In an interview with Variety, Jagannathan said that she had no idea she was the Manhunter until she got the script for the fourth episode. The episode begins by delving into how the Manhunter holds so much sway over the people of Rushville. We see Sheriff Kerry (Kelly Macdonald) years before on the run from some gangsters to whom her father owed money.
They track her to the Rushville diner, where Zoe is sitting in a booth by herself. Out of nowhere, she snaps one gangster’s neck and informs the other that he will be going back to his boss and telling him that Kerry is dead. Kerry is grateful, but obviously scared.
Zoe explains that Kerry can have a safe and peaceful life in Rushville, so long as Kerry is willing to protect Zoe when the time comes. It’s a Faustian play she makes.” Given that, Rushville goes into high alert, as Zoe knows that Antaan (Paul Ben-Victor) and his team will be on their way to kill her. All the citizens arm themselves and prepare for battle.
Hal (Kyle Chandler), meanwhile, has left John (Aaron Pierre) trapped in their car after forcing him into a crash at the end of the last episode. He plans to let Antaan and Will Macon’s (Garret Dillahunt) militia shoot it out while he goes after Zoe to turn her over to the Guardians. Zoe tracks John down just as the car begins to burn.
But rather than save him, she waits for it to explode. Now severely burned and barely alive, John is taken to the local hospital, where he reveals to Zoe that he knows the Guardians are the ones who created the Manhunters in the first place. Zoe offers John a deal: She will heal his injuries so long as he lets Hal die and tells the Guardians that all is well.
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