In Lanterns, appearances are rarely as straightforward as they seem. That is especially true for William Macon, played by Garret Dillahunt, and his wife, Zoe, portrayed by Poorna Jagannathan. Wealthy, influential, and fiercely protective of their community, the couple emerges as a formidable presence in Rushville while keeping their true motivations close to the vest.
In an interview with Black Girl Nerds, the stars discussed their respective roles in the series.
When audiences first meet William, he appears to be the person holding all the power. Dillahunt said that perception is intentional.
“I want them to think that he’s the powerful one,” Dillahunt explained. “I don’t want them to know that he’s actually kind of first mate to this captain.”
His comment hints at a power structure that is more complicated than it initially appears. William may possess the wealth, status, and intimidating presence commonly associated with authority, but he is not necessarily the person steering the ship.
Jagannathan joked that the story initially positions Zoe as William’s “trophy wife,” only for the audience to discover that they may have read the couple’s dynamic incorrectly.
“The way the story structure is, people should feel like I’m the trophy wife and just kind of an outsider in this town,” she said.
Dillahunt quickly corrected her with a playful response: “Trophy husband.”
The exchange reflects the chemistry between the actors, but it also speaks to one of the more intriguing ideas running through Lanterns and that is power does not always belong to the person who appears to have it. William’s public image may command attention, but Zoe’s influence and understanding of Rushville suggest that she occupies a far more significant position than outsiders realize.
Zoe’s relationship with John Stewart adds another layer to her character. While John remains guarded around Hal Jordan, he finds himself connecting with Zoe almost immediately. Jagannathan believes that bond develops because the two recognize something familiar in each other.
“I think he lowers his guard because we’re both outsiders,” she said. “We’re both people of color in a very white town, and we actually refer to that.”
That shared experience allows Zoe and John to understand one another before either fully explains who they are. Both characters are navigating spaces in which they are visibly different, while also working within systems controlled by powerful white men.
“We both have white men as bosses, so to speak,” Jagannathan added. “There’s a kinship there, which is often true. When I walk into a room and there’s another person of color, we’ll lock eyes.”
For Zoe and John, that unspoken recognition creates what Jagannathan described as an “instant affinity.” It is a connection rooted in shared awareness, but it is not entirely platonic. Zoe is immediately attracted to John, and the revelation that she and William have an open marriage leaves room for that attraction to develop.
Still, Zoe’s interest in John does not mean she fully trusts what he represents. He and Hal have arrived in Rushville as outsiders investigating a community that believes it can manage its own problems.
According to Jagannathan, Zoe, William, Sheriff Kerry, and the people of Rushville function as foils for the Green Lanterns. While John and Hal may view themselves as investigators or protectors, Rushville’s residents do not necessarily see them that way.
“They have created a paradise here in Rushville,” Jagannathan said. “We will take care of our own. We’ll take care of our own problems, and if we have aliens, we’ll take care of them. We don’t need anyone from the outside to figure that out for us.”
That fierce self-reliance places Zoe and William directly at odds with the Lanterns. Rushville is not simply a backdrop for the mystery. It is a tightly guarded ecosystem whose residents are determined to protect the life they have built, even if doing so means hiding uncomfortable truths.
“We’re very, very protective,” Jagannathan emphasized.
That protectiveness raises a compelling question: Is Rushville truly the paradise its most powerful residents claim it to be, or is that image another carefully maintained illusion?
Dillahunt and Jagannathan’s characters embody the tension at the center of that mystery. William wants the audience to believe he is in control, while Zoe initially allows herself to be underestimated. Together, they challenge John and Hal’s assumptions about who holds power, who needs protection, and whether the Green Lanterns have any right to intervene.
In Lanterns, the biggest threat may not be the secret hiding beneath Rushville. It may be what the town’s residents are willing to do to keep outsiders from uncovering it.
You can catch Lanterns Sunday nights on HBO and HBO MAX.
