In some other dimension, in some other life, Zoe could have been a well-renowned healer of all diseases, from cancer to diabetes. A goon severed your pinky? Zoe can grow it back almost instantly. Did you severely burn your body? Zoe, with the help of an advanced machine, can repair your skin. But don't just blindly believe me. You can ask John and Kerry for their testimonials. They are 100% satisfied customers of Zoe's Institute of Magical Healing With Alien Technology. Oh boy, our world can certainly benefit from such a clinic. Unlike conventional medicine or the unscientific homeopathy, the patients of ZIMHAT would see almost instantaneous and very, very effective results from Dr. Zoe. And Zoe would also not be referred to as a Manhunter but as a Manhealer, so maybe instead of Dr. Zoe, we can call her Manhealer Zoe.
It's a pity, then, that in the universe of Lanterns, Zoe remains a Manhunter who must be executed by any means. There go your utopian dreams. Instead of happy patients and a disease-free country, we see explosions and gunfire and stabbings. Everything culminates in John giving Zoe a headshot, and this is after he makes a deal with her: he would lie to the Guardians, leave Hal to be killed by Zoe, and take the ring for himself, finally becoming the superhero he has been dying to be. But John realizes that this path is so littered with manipulation, distrust, and dead bodies that when he forcefully snatches the ring from Hal and wears it, he feels empty. After leading a puppet-like life, John, in Lights Out, finally prioritizes his freedom over being a pawn to some other being. He rejects the offer of becoming a Green Lantern and leaves the ring behind.
The episode could have been more edge-of-the-seat if Pilot hadn't jumped forward in time to 2026 to show Hal's corpse freezing in the snow and John checking Hal's hand for the ring. How does this undermine the suspense in Lights Out? You are never convinced that Hal or John are in any danger of being executed at this point. And if John checks Hal's hand in 2026, that means he clearly isn't going to wear the ring in 2016. What I would like to know is what this ex-Marine did between now and that future reunion with Kerry. Did he become a private detective? Did he become an artist? Also, how did John's parents react to his decision not to go forward with his superhero responsibilities? Were they understanding? Were they pissed? There are so many questions indeed. I certainly hope Lanterns has all the answers ready.
Final Score - [5/10]