Which crime series inspired the detective style of the DC series Lanterns?

True Detective inspired the detective style of the DC series Lanterns.

The creators described Lanterns as an Earth-based detective story influenced by True Detective. The comparison is especially associated with the first season of that crime anthology, whose investigation combines a murder case with a deeper examination of the people and forces surrounding it.

Chris Mundy said Lanterns is less a traditional whodunit than an exploration of why the mystery takes place. The relationship between Hal Jordan and John Stewart is central to that approach. Mundy compared their dynamic to Rust Cohle and Marty Hart, the contrasting investigators from True Detective’s first season.

Lanterns also draws influence from Slow Horses, another series connected to its spy-thriller atmosphere. True Detective is the more direct answer when asking about the show’s detective inspiration. The series remains rooted in Green Lantern lore, including power rings, the Green Lantern Corps, and extraterrestrial elements.