MovieChat Forums > Justice League (2001) Discussion > What's with Green Lantern?!

What's with Green Lantern?!

posted 10 years ago by night_wolf873
24 replies | jump to latest

His overall impression is that of a constant whiner and complainer, frequently pretentious and condescending to others with occasional sarcasm that's uncalled for. Acts like he calls the shots and/or is the right one and feels the need to say something despite the absence of need. Honestly, it makes him outright insufferable (e.g. in Enemy Below) whenever I watch the show, I end up skipping up his scenes whenever it's mostly him and Hawkgirl. I don't read comics but is he like that in them? Hal conversely seems like a much better Lantern in his demeanor.

[–] cind5 10 years ago

That's why the producers picked John Stewart over Hal Jordan. Because he was edgy and would add some friction between him and his fellow JLers. The one thing that the producers didn't want it to become was Super Friends.

Art makes the disturbed comfortable and the comfortable disturbed.

[–] night_wolf873 10 years ago

A good point of course, however bit of a stretch to say it'd have turned into Super Friends. We have other characters with bit of a contentious attitude like Batman and even Hawkgirl to some degree, although perfectly balanced, but in case of John: he's too much. It's to the point where it's a wonder they take him along on missions. Even in the actor's voice it seems like they were pushing him to constantly make John sound like he's got an attitude problem, that doesn't necessarily equate to being edgy: more like forcefully annoying. Although he can nice at times, but certainly not a well balanced character. Which is why I was asking if it's true to the comics.

[–] PreachCaleb 10 years ago

He's a military man. He knows the importance of working as a team. That comes across in this interaction with the team. He knows a chain of command is needed to get the mission done.

Can't stop the signal.

[–] night_wolf873 10 years ago

That's the thing, there is a chain of command majority of the times. I think everyone knows that is an essential aspect of an effective team. But he seems to show signs of contentious attitude (mildly) even when there is someone leading. That seems to contrary to his military code, doesn't it?

[–] PreachCaleb 10 years ago

There really isn't a chain of command. That's part of the problem with the group, and something John knows they need. They're all more or less equal in command.

A strict chain of command isn't really established until JLU when J'onn becomes the team coordinator. The only time Stewart really shows a contentious attitude then is when he's upset J'onn sent Shayera and Vixen on a mission together.

Can't stop the signal.

[–] night_wolf873 10 years ago

I thought Superman has always held that leader title, albeit without the need for stating it. Still you got a point about clear and defined roles which were only ever established in Unlimited series. But it's more of a creative direction with the first two seasons than anything else, and as you said everyone was equal and the right person per episode group would take charge. It's during those moments that I felt his attitude is to be balanced when there was one, better leader present. Anyways, I hope you guys don't think I'm dismissing your points, merely discussing :)

[–] PreachCaleb 10 years ago

Of course, not. I love a good discussion.

Can't stop the signal.

[–] Jimmy-128 10 years ago

(John Stewart is) a military man.

Unless they changed things significantly post-Crisis, he wasn't a military man in the comics. He was an architect.

[–] PreachCaleb 10 years ago

Fortunately, we're discussing the show, not the comics. ;)

[–] Jimmy-128 10 years ago

True, but the show got its material from the comics. That's why Clark Kent was a reporter and not a heart surgeon, and Bruce Wayne isn't a struggling photographer, etc.

But in John's case, the writers for the show seemingly made up a background out of whole cloth, rather than using the material they had.

[–] PreachCaleb 10 years ago

The show is not a literal translation of any of the comics. Saying "Unless they changed things significantly post-Crisis, he wasn't a military man in the comics. He was an architect" has absolutely nothing to do with a discussion of the character in the show.

But in John's case, the writers for the show seemingly made up a background out of whole cloth, rather than using the material they had.

Very good. They did the same thing for Hawkgirl.

Can't stop the signal.

[–] rizzo_77 10 years ago

Actually, he has become both. He was a marine. Then he was an architect. Through most of the "Blackest night" stuff i've been reading, they talk a lot about him being both. All bases covered!

[–] Jimmy-128 10 years ago

Didn't Blackest Night come out after the tv show--which would make this yet another example of the tail wagging the dog?

[–] jimanchower 10 years ago

They also used John instead of Guy, Kyle or Hal because he's black and they wanted diversity. Same reason they went with Hawkgirl instead of Hawkman or Aquaman.

[–] Jimmy-128 10 years ago

Same reason they went with Hawkgirl instead of Hawkman or Aquaman.

And originally, I thought they were idiotic for using Hawkgirl instead of Black Canary or Zatanna. Boy, was I wrong!

[–] coreycitn63 10 years ago

Would that mean they didn't have Barry Allen as Flash too?

[–] Jimmy-128 10 years ago

Well, Barry was still dead at that point...

[–] Nothin_But_the_Rain 10 years ago

I actually really like this characterization of John Stewart. He's obviously someone who is used to calling the shots and being the coolest, most senior, most respected person in the room. It creates an interesting vibe to have him working with a bunch of people for whom that is also the case.

One thing I really love about this series is that the heroes aren't all terrific people. And even the ones who are good people, aren't always nice people or easy to get along with. It's much more fun to watch than if they were all nice to everyone and got along with each other.

"Why is it that every time I need to get somewhere I get waylaid by jackassery?"

[–] night_wolf873 10 years ago

Of course I'm all for that diversity and none of them are perfect, which makes for great character development. However, I'd reemphasize that it's to the point where he's a 'nuisance', it's present even in the actor's voice tone. There's nothing wrong in having a person who has some attitude problem, but within reason so he's bearable. John hardly seems to learn or show some modesty. Remember how hard a time he gave Shayera despite her dilemma, like his feelings outweighed hers. For an accomplished adult and a military man, his presence is a bit off.

[–] MrsBuckyBarnes 10 years ago

i think the difficulty here OP is that you don't seem to accept that your perspective on his character is subjective; you find his persona unbearable but others do not. i find the flash's tomfoolery very annoying a lot of the time but i accept that this is only an element of his character and there are other heroes in the show that balance him out. plus i accept that there must be many viewers out there that love the joker attitude the flash adopts at times. i feel the same way about the green lantern. he can be abrupt and headstrong but he is far from alone in that regard. plus he made a good point about the importance of teamwork and someone acting as a coordinator. added to that he has an honesty about him that takes courage, such as the way he confronted his feelings for sheyara and challenged her to do the same.

Never, never to be squandered...the miracle of another human being.

[–] night_wolf873 10 years ago

I'm aware my perspective is subjective and accept it, much like anything. Just saying John stands out as an oddity in that league spectrum, especially because he is one of the main characters and featured in lot of episodes. I think his best use was in episode Savage Times. Although I think his behavior with Sheyara is debatable in that he wasn't completely right, I suppose one might react the same way in real life as he did whilst feeling different inside. I'm alluding to same example of S2 finale. However, I must mention that courageous honesty is not special to John, even Green Arrow demonstrated it who unfortunately was not featured enough. My point is that you can have character like John with little more balance. Even using that example of Flash, his silly personality was well handled within the group dynamic. There wasn't too much of it, and his character more than made up for it with moments of mature attitude and understanding, considering however much time he was given in the show. I can't say that for John, again that's more of a subjective outlook. Anyways, it just made me wonder if that's how he is in source material or something exclusive to JLU. I know his romance with Sheyara was invented for JLU, so that got me wondering if its true for any other aspect of the character?

[–] manofsteel4455 9 years ago

Why can't Batman be more of a teamster? His lone ranger attitude is always likely to get somebody killed.

[–] gambitcolumbus 9 years ago

I like this show, but it just seems like except for Flash, ALL of the "original 7" characters seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Flash even points out in one episode that Superman looks like Batman when he gets all scowly. I would put Hawk Girl or GL at the top of the list for size of that chip. Interesting, though, that GL's best friend seems to be Flash (who he even reveals his former nickname to).

[–] Phantom_Panther 9 years ago

I think Batman fits this description more. See Twilight of the Gods or the Doomsday Sanction.