HBO’s ongoing detective show Lanterns has already proven itself exceptional. Created by Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and comics writer Tom King, Lanterns follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), who will eventually occupy Hal’s mantle. Together, they investigate a dark murder mystery in Rushville, Nebraska, which gradually exposes a cosmic conspiracy.
The show has already established its merits, thanks to a measured slow-burn approach that thrives on the central duo’s riveting chemistry. Although chock-full of comic book references and superhero-isms, Lanterns shines brightest when it leans on its murder mystery elements. The mystery in question is also engaging and unpredictable, keeping audiences on edge at all times.
If Lanterns has ignited a love for detective shows, you’re in luck. There are countless great series out there worth checking out (although most don’t have magic rings and exploding aliens). Here are five shows to watch once Lanterns ends and you still need a dose of hard-boiled mystery drama.
1
True Detective
Streaming on: HBO Max
Parallels between Lanterns and True Detective have been repeatedly drawn, and for good reason. True Detective’s police procedural format instinctively embraces a slow-burn pacing that (usually) pairs two detectives together on a case. Season 1 of the show might prove to be the closest thematic match to Lanterns, but subsequent seasons also have their fair share of gritty violence and complex character studies. Apart from Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey’s iconic team-up as Marty and Rust in the first season, the latest entry, Night Country, features yet another formidable team-up with Jodie Foster’s Liz Danvers and Kali Reis’ Evangeline Navarro.
Season 2 of True Detective might not have been a satisfying follow-up to the celebrated original, but it unfolds like a bleak Californian noir with moody, tragic characters like Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell) and Ani Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams). Season 3 is a worthy return to form with a masterful Mahershala Ali at the center of an emotionally resonant mystery that explores the impact of memory and aging. Even without the Lanterns parallels, True Detective is a quintessential detective series that paved the path for contemporary entries in the genre.
2
Spider-Noir
Streaming on: Prime Video
Spider-Noir hews closer to Lanterns as a comic book-inspired series that does not follow superhero conventions to keep things interesting. The setting is 1930s New York City, where aging private investigator Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage) struggles to make ends meet. After some exceptional events occur, Reilly is 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 responsibility of being a superhero who is way past his prime.
Spider-Noir draws heavily from noir tropes and hard-boiled detective fiction, allowing the show’s Depression-era backdrop to feel visceral and lived-in. There’s a melancholic air to the events that unfold (especially in the high-contrast monochrome version of the show), setting it apart from most standalone superhero stories that are also self-contained mysteries. There is also no dearth of memorable fight sequences in Spider-Noir. These gorgeous spectacles go hand-in-hand with quieter character moments that allow Ben Reilly to emerge as a nuanced character. It is a beautiful, witty show that is coolly confident about its noir-tinted vision.
3
The X-Files
Streaming on: Hulu
Any discussion about a detective procedural setting with two partners is incomplete without Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) from The X-Files. An extraterrestrial connection is also present between the two shows, although the focus is ostensibly 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 to create a uniquely engaging format. The Mulder-Scully dynamic is the beating heart of the show, creating a much-needed balance between belief and skepticism.
The X-Files understands the need to mix up exciting monster-of-the-week cases with an overarching storyline. A key example is the mystery involving the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis), whose presence haunts 11 seasons of the show. Although the mythology isn’t the most consistent, part of the story’s appeal lies in the way Mulder and Scully evolve as characters. Of course, the newer seasons take ambitious turns in an attempt to one-up the most interesting reveals, but The X-Files maintains its rock-solid appeal through a compelling exploration of its interpersonal dynamics.
4
Mare of Easttown
Streaming on: Prime Video
If you’re interested in a grounded procedural confined to the secrets of a small-town community, Mare of Easttown is worth a watch. In the show, 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. Instead of focusing on the flashy aspects of a murder mystery, Mare of Easttown is about grief and how people in close-knit communities deal with such a visceral sentiment.
Perhaps the show’s greatest strength is its brevity. Mare of Easttown wraps up its riveting mysteries within seven episodes but keeps its focus squarely on our lead, who makes for an engrossing character study. Mare cannot escape the expectations of those around her, nor can she turn away from her professional duties to deal with her personal hang-ups. This rich exploration of Mare’s inner landscape blends well with the insular dynamics presented within a town torn apart by tragedy and loss. The show’s bleak setting might not be for everyone, but Mare of Easttown is a must-watch for those who like small-town mysteries that are brought to life with excellent performances.
5
Watchmen
Streaming on: Prime Video
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 the most unforgettable ways. The buried history of the real-world Tulsa massacre is recontextualized and brought to the fore, with the show examining the caustic effects of generational trauma and historical racism through a grounded superhero framing.
Watchmen is less of a standard whodunit and more of an intricate puzzle-box mystery that plays around 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. It’s an exceptional superhero tale that feels perfectly suited to our turbulent present, scathingly prescient in its critique of state-sanctioned violence that often exacerbates systemic bigotry.
