With the release of Lanterns, an annoying recurring theme that has been present all throughout the rest of James Gunn's DCU was abandoned, making the new HBO series feel like a breath of fresh air in comparison to the rest of the franchise. Lanterns finally had its long-awaited premiere, introducing fans to Aaron Pierre's John Stewart and Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan. The series has been somewhat divisive due to the decision to kill off Hal Jordan in just the first episode, but many have agreed that the show at least feels different than the rest of the DCU in one major way, which they appreciate.
Lanterns was marketed as a more grounded and darker story, but now that the first episode has been released and fans can see just what the tone of the show feels like, it is clear that Lanterns is the first project in the entirety of the DCU that doesn't have a significant amount of comedy in it. In fact, so far, Lanterns doesn't have hardly any comedy in it whatsoever, which is extremely encouraging to see.
Every other title in Gunn's DCU has largely centered around comedy or has had a tone that is not as serious as many fans would like. The animated Creature Commandos series and Peacemaker Season 2 were especially known for including an over-the-top amount of comedy, leading to those projects being criticized by fans for that very reason.
Notably, Superman and Supergirl contained notably less comedy than those other two projects, but they still made it a point to have a lot of comedic moments and elements, while also not feeling gritty the way that Lanterns does.
Obviously, there is nothing wrong with comedy. It is one of Gunn's signatures when it comes to filmmaking and writing, and it is largely what made a lot of his most beloved projects, such as Guardians of the Galaxy, as charming as they were. However, there's a saying that goes something along the lines of "too much of a good thing is a bad thing," and that definitely applies to the DCU.
For one, Lanterns' change of tone has already been praised by DC fans, as it finally feels as though they are watching something different, while still remaining in the same universe.
However, it is also important to note that the DCU's comedy has turned a lot of general audience members off from the DCU or made them not give it a chance. Now that Lanterns is more grounded and darker, it could mean that the DCU will attract a new audience that the rest of the DCU hasn't been able to reach so far.
In turn, that could turn those viewers into fans who come back for other DCU titles, only making the franchise more successful, which is all that anyone (fans and Warner Bros.) wants.
A good example of how fans feel about comedy is comparing Matt Reeves' The Batman and its spin-off, The Penguin, to the DCU. Those two titles have a huge following and a large group of people who will defend them no matter what. However, they essentially have no comedy in them, which is something that their fans appreciate. Some of those same fans have publicly stated that they aren't fans of Gunn's style, and therefore don't really support the DCU.
Now that Lanterns has made it so the DCU has a project in it that is similar in tone to The Batman or The Penguin, it is possible that those fans who haven't cared for the DCU in the past will be willing to give Lanterns a shot, at least.
How the DCU Should Handle Its Tone in the Future
Lanterns is truly a breath of fresh air for many DC fans, and it proves that the DCU can work as a connective unit, even while one project has a different tone or maturity level (Lanterns is an extremely rough TV-MA series, specifically regarding language).
Fans have already praised Lanterns for the way it stays away from comedy, especially since comedy wouldn't fit the story that Lanterns is telling. The show not incorporating a lot of comedy is a step in the right direction for the DCU, but it is extremely important for the franchise to see how well it is working with Lanterns and keep that in mind for future movies and shows.
For example, Clayface is set to be released in October. That movie deals with a lot of themes and details that aren't light-hearted, so it wouldn't make a lot of sense for there to be an abundance of comedy in it. Hopefully, there won't really be much comedy in that film, and if there's not, it could only reinforce the idea that fans want some more serious stories.
That being said, it is okay for Gunn and the DCU to incorporate comedy when necessary and in reasonable doses. Everybody likes to laugh, and, as mentioned, comedy is part of Gunn's personal style.
