John Stewart Isn’t a Green Lantern Anymore — Here’s What Changed in ‘Lanterns’ Episode 6

In “Bad Optics,” the sixth episode of HBO’s “Lanterns,” John Stewart’s role in the story looks nothing like it used to. Here’s what’s actually changed.

From Green Lantern to architect

Stewart has stepped away from the Green Lantern path shown earlier in the series. By the time the episode picks up in 2026, he’s a partner running an architecture firm alongside his brother — a civilian role with no ring involved.

The panic room contract

Instead of Lantern duty, Stewart’s current focus is a government contract for large-scale panic rooms, built to shelter 20,000 people during future attacks. The episode doesn’t specify the terms of the contract, its timeline, or its current status beyond the fact that Stewart’s firm is pursuing it.

What it means for his role in the story

The shift puts Stewart in a different kind of “protector” role than before — one built around infrastructure and planning rather than direct Lantern action, which is now handled by Guy Gardner. It also sets up the tension that runs through the episode once Hal Jordan returns to Rushville and reconnects with Stewart.

Because “Lanterns” is an ongoing season, it’s worth keeping an eye on later episodes for how this plays out further.

Sources / Learn more

• The Ringer

John Stewart vs. Guy Gardner in ‘Lanterns’ Episode 6: Two Different Paths

“Bad Optics,” the sixth episode of HBO’s “Lanterns,” puts two former and current Green Lanterns side by side — and they’ve ended up in very different places.

John Stewart: out of the ring business

By the 2026 setting of the episode, John Stewart has left the Green Lantern path behind entirely. He now runs an architecture firm with his brother, and the firm is pursuing a government contract to build large-scale panic rooms designed to shelter 20,000 people during future attacks.

Guy Gardner: the one who stayed

Guy Gardner (played by Nathan Fillion) took over as the active Green Lantern after Stewart stepped away. Unlike Stewart, Gardner is still doing the job — he’s the Lantern presence in the story while Stewart works from behind a desk.

Where the two collide

The episode’s tension comes largely from putting these two approaches next to each other: Stewart trying to protect people through civilian infrastructure and a government contract, Gardner still operating as an active Lantern, with Hal Jordan’s return adding a third perspective to the mix. The available reporting doesn’t go into how Stewart and Gardner’s relationship plays out beyond that tension, so further episodes may fill in more.

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• The Ringer

How the Three-Person VR Combat Simulator Rule Works in FF7 Revelation

One specific detail Naoki Hamaguchi shared with Anime News Network at Tokyo Game Show 2026 concerns a new twist in the VR Combat Simulator: certain fights will require a three-person party where each character can only be used once across that fight set.

What “once per set” actually means

Based on what Hamaguchi described, these are fights structured as a set — not a single battle — and the rule is that once you’ve used a given character in one fight within that set, you can’t use that same character again for the rest of the set. In practice, that means you’ll need to plan a roster across the whole set rather than just picking your strongest three-person team for every fight.

Why this exists

This connects to a larger point Hamaguchi made about the VR Combat Simulator’s design philosophy: battles are built around enjoyment rather than pure difficulty. The three-person, use-once rule appears to be part of that — it pushes players to experiment with different character combinations instead of defaulting to one optimal team for every fight.

This is also tied to a broader accessibility push for Revelation’s endgame content. Only 2.6% of Rebirth’s PS5 players earned the platinum trophy, largely because of grueling VR boss gauntlets. Hamaguchi said Revelation’s platinum will be easier, with an expected completion rate of 20% or more — while the VR Combat Simulator itself keeps offering these kinds of structured, multi-fight challenges rather than becoming purely difficulty-driven.

What this means if you’re planning ahead

• Don’t assume you can run the same three-character team through an entire fight set.
• Expect to need a wider bench of characters built up and ready, not just your favorites.
• The framing suggests these sets reward variety over raw optimization — matching the “enjoyment over pure difficulty” goal Hamaguchi described.

Beyond this description, no further mechanical detail (like how many fights make up a “set” or how many sets exist) has been confirmed yet. With release still roughly seven months out at the time of this interview, it’s worth checking official Final Fantasy VII Revelation updates for the finalized system closer to launch.

Sources / Learn more

• Anime News Network

What’s Changing With the Moogle House Mini-Game in FF7 Revelation

If you played Rebirth and dreaded stepping into a Moogle House, you’re not alone — director Naoki Hamaguchi addressed this directly in an interview with Anime News Network at Tokyo Game Show 2026, confirming the mini-game is getting reworked for Revelation.

What was wrong with it in Rebirth?

The context here doesn’t spell out every specific complaint, but it’s confirmed that the Moogle House was one of the disliked elements of Rebirth’s open world — part of a broader pattern of filler content that made the open world feel bloated to players.

What’s actually changing?

Two things are confirmed:

• The mini-game returns in Revelation rather than being cut.
• It’s been reworked to be more accessible.
• The premise changes: instead of the Moogles running a merchant operation, they’re now pursuing an idol-group act.

That’s the extent of what Hamaguchi described in this interview — there’s no detail yet on new mechanics, controls, or how long the mini-game takes to complete.

Why bring it back instead of cutting it?

This fits the broader direction Hamaguchi described for Revelation: keeping the game’s large scale while making it easier to play overall, specifically to address complaints that Rebirth’s open-world content had too much padding. Reworking the Moogle House rather than removing it suggests the team wants to keep the idea but fix what didn’t land.

Since this is still about seven months from release as of the interview, some of these details could be refined before launch — worth checking Square Enix’s official channels closer to release for the final version of the mini-game.

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• Anime News Network

What Happened to the Bruins’ Backup Goalie Job After the Korpisalo Trade?

Trading Joonas Korpisalo to the Rangers left an open spot behind Boston’s starter, and the preseason opener against Washington on Sunday gave the first real look at who’s in line to fill it.

What changed

With Korpisalo gone, the Bruins no longer have a set backup. Michael DiPietro got the start in goal for Sunday’s preseason game against the Capitals at TD Garden, with Jiri Patera behind him on the bench. That pairing is how Boston is using its first preseason game to sort out the competition for the job Korpisalo left behind.

Who’s competing for the job

Based on Sunday’s game, the backup competition currently comes down to two names:

• Michael DiPietro — got the start in the preseason opener
• Jiri Patera — backed him up in the same game

The available reporting doesn’t say who Boston’s starting goalie is or how the coaching staff plans to split the remaining preseason starts, so it’s not yet clear how this competition will resolve.

What’s next

The Bruins and Capitals play again Friday in Washington, closing out this stretch of the preseason schedule. That game — and the two other preseason games on Boston’s schedule — should give a clearer picture of how the goalie competition is shaking out. Worth checking the official Bruins reporting closer to that date, since goalie assignments in the preseason can shift game to game.

Sources / Learn more

• NHL.com

What Are the Terms of Matt Poitras’ New Bruins Contract?

Matt Poitras is playing under a new deal with the Boston Bruins, and the confirmed terms are short and specific.

💰 The contract terms

• Length: one year
• Type: two-way (his salary depends on whether he’s on Boston’s NHL roster or assigned to the AHL)
• Value: $850,000

That’s the extent of what’s confirmed about the deal — the available reporting doesn’t break down signing bonuses, performance bonuses, or an exact signing date, so there isn’t more to add on those points right now.

Where Poitras fits right now

The new deal lines up with Poitras getting preseason ice time on a young forward line alongside Fraser Minten, James Hagens, and Marat Khusnutdinov, including Boston’s preseason opener against the Washington Capitals Sunday at TD Garden. That lineup spot doesn’t add anything to the contract’s terms, but it’s a sign of how the Bruins are using him early in camp.

If you want the full breakdown straight from the club, it’s worth checking the official Bruins release for any additional details that come out later.

Sources / Learn more

• NHL.com

When Do the Bruins Play the Capitals Again After Sunday’s Preseason Opener?

Boston and Washington aren’t done with each other yet. After Sunday’s 5 p.m. preseason opener at TD Garden, the Bruins and Capitals are set to meet again Friday in Washington, closing out that portion of the preseason slate.

What happened Sunday

The TD Garden matchup was the first of four 2026 preseason games for Boston. Michael DiPietro got the start in goal, with Jiri Patera backing him up — both in the mix for Boston’s backup job following the Joonas Korpisalo trade to the Rangers. Up front, a young line of Fraser Minten, James Hagens, and Marat Khusnutdinov saw ice time alongside Matt Poitras, who recently signed a one-year, two-way, $850,000 extension. On defense, prospect Frederic Brunet — coming off a career-high AHL season with Providence — skated with Charlie McAvoy, while Jordan Harris, back from the ankle fracture that limited him to eight games last season, paired with Henri Jokiharju.

Washington countered with goaltenders Mitchell Gibson and Logan Thompson, newly acquired forward Alex Tuch (on an eight-year, $84 million extension after his trade from Buffalo), and defenseman Cole Hutson heading into his first full NHL season.

📅 The next meeting

• When: Friday
• Where: Washington
• What it is: The second meeting between the two teams, wrapping up this stretch of the preseason schedule

No further details on lineups or start time were included in the available report, so it’s worth checking the official Bruins or Capitals channels closer to Friday for those specifics.

Sources / Learn more

• NHL.com

What Does the Chargers Defense Need to Fix Against the Raiders?

The Chargers’ defense didn’t hold up well in Week 1, and defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary has said as much — he called the unit’s performance against Arizona inadequate and pointed to several areas that need work heading into Week 2. The challenge now shifts in a different direction: instead of a Cardinals offense the Chargers had to defend through the air, the Raiders bring a physical, run-heavy attack built around big, strong tight ends winning at the point of attack.

What actually went wrong against Arizona?

It’s worth being precise here, because the fix depends on the diagnosis. Against Arizona, quarterback Jacoby Brissett neutralized the Chargers’ pass rush not because the line failed to generate pressure, but because he got the ball out quickly on short throws before that pressure could matter. O’Leary’s prescription reflects that: he said the defense needs to get hands up in passing lanes and play tighter coverage — which he specifically noted will matter again against Kirk Cousins.

What has to change for the Raiders game?

The bigger shift is structural. Where Week 1 was about handling the pass, Week 2 is about stopping the run — specifically a Raiders offense built around big, physical tight ends at the point of attack. That’s a different kind of problem: it’s less about coverage discipline and more about winning individual matchups at the line and in run fits.

Does Brock Bowers change the picture?

⚠️ This is the part still unsettled. Tight end Brock Bowers missed the Raiders’ season opener following a knee cleanup procedure, but returned to limited practice this week. His availability for Week 2 isn’t confirmed. Regardless of whether Bowers plays, backup tight end Michael Mayer is also considered a significant threat, so the Chargers’ run-defense plan doesn’t hinge entirely on one player’s status.

Bottom line

Going into Week 2, the Chargers defense needs to do two distinct things at once: keep applying the coverage/passing-lane discipline O’Leary called for after Week 1, while also retooling for a run-first, tight-end-centered attack that’s a different test than what Arizona presented. Given that Bowers’ status is still in flux, it’s worth checking for updated practice reports closer to game day.

Sources / Learn more

• roundtable.io

How to Find the Nearest Public Bathroom in NYC Using the Throne Bathroom Network App

New York City has started installing 17 free public bathrooms across all five boroughs, and the easiest way to find one nearby is the Throne Bathroom Network app. Here’s how it works.

📍 Finding the nearest bathroom

Open the app and it will show you the closest available unit from the network of 17 locations, which include spots in the Bronx (such as near Yankee Stadium), Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island. The bathrooms are self-contained units — they don’t rely on local water, sewer, or power hookups — and each one is ADA-accessible, touchless, and includes a sink, a flushing toilet, climate control, and a baby-changing station.

Checking cleanliness and availability

The same app also displays real-time cleanliness ratings and availability for each bathroom, so you can check before you go rather than walking up to a closed or occupied unit. This is one of several ways to access the bathrooms — you can also use a text message, a QR code, or a tap card provided through local community partners.

When you can actually use them

The bathrooms operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Installation began the week of September 16, 2026, so not every location may be active yet depending on when you’re reading this — the app should reflect which units are currently open.

What this is part of

This rollout is a one-year pilot, built by Throne Labs after being selected by NYCEDC through a competitive bidding process. City officials have described it as a step toward a broader goal of doubling the number of public restrooms citywide by 2035.

Since installation is still rolling out borough by borough, it’s worth checking the app itself or the city’s official announcement for the latest status on which bathrooms near you are already open.

Sources / Learn more

• NYC.gov

How the Chargers’ Coverage Approach Against Kirk Cousins Needs to Differ From Their Jacoby Brissett Game Plan

The Chargers didn’t have a good Week 1 on defense — defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary said as much, calling the unit’s performance against Arizona inadequate and pointing to multiple areas that need work. Going into Week 2 against the Raiders and Kirk Cousins, the coverage approach has to look different than it did against Jacoby Brissett, for a few specific reasons.

What actually went wrong against Brissett

According to O’Leary, the problem in Week 1 wasn’t that the Chargers failed to generate pass rush. It was that Brissett got the ball out quickly on short, timing-based throws, which took the rush out of the equation before it could get there. In other words, the coverage had time to work against — Brissett simply didn’t give it much time to be tested downfield.

What changes against Cousins

O’Leary said the defense needs to get its hands up in passing lanes and play tighter coverage, and he specifically tied that adjustment to facing Cousins. That’s a shift from the Brissett game, where the issue was timing against short-area throws rather than tight coverage at the catch point. Against Cousins, the emphasis moves toward disrupting throwing lanes and staying in phase with receivers longer.

There’s also a broader context shift: the Raiders’ offense is described as physical and run-heavy, built around big, strong tight ends at the point of attack. That means the Chargers can’t build their Week 2 plan purely around pass defense the way they might have leaned into after facing a quick-throw passer — run defense against a tight end-centered attack is part of the equation too.

The tight end factor

Part of why coverage discipline matters here is the Raiders’ tight end group. Brock Bowers, who missed the season opener after a knee cleanup procedure, returned to limited practice this week, though his Week 2 status isn’t confirmed. Backup tight end Michael Mayer is also considered a significant threat regardless of whether Bowers plays. Either way, the Chargers’ coverage plan has to account for a heavy tight end presence that wasn’t the same kind of factor against Arizona.

Quick comparison

Bowers’ practice status is still developing, so it’s worth checking the latest team report before kickoff for confirmation on whether he’s active.

Sources / Learn more

• roundtable.io