The Sandman Review: Unlike Anything on Netflix!

The Sandman is based on the graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and developed for television by Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Heinberg. The DC Comics  features Morpheus/Dream as one of the seven “Endless.” He’s captured by an occult ritual and held prisoner for 70 years. Dream escapes and after avenging himself upon his captors, sets about rebuilding his kingdom, which fell into disrepair in his absence.

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I really didn’t know what to expect with The Sandman. It started off a bit slow then began to pick up around Episode three and four. Even though I’m familiar with some of the lore, I’ve never read the comics, so I had no idea what I was walking into. As I am in no way familiar with it, I can only judge as a viewer.

The Sandman focuses its plot on the connection between humans and the “Endless” (despair, desire, death, etc.) and their desire to understand each other. Dream initially seems to be very cynical about humans, as I imagine any immortal being would be. But, his curiosity about them leads him to see the good in humanity. He realises they are worth serving after all.

 

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The show is about humanity specifically and what it means to be human. Our design and our purpose. But also how the “gods” or the “Endless” play their games with us. It attempts to answer or at least provide a discussion on many popular questions that have been pondered by man through time. It has a real penny dreadful vibe to it. Dark and macabre yet thought provoking. The characters aren’t quite as layered as I’d like though that’s something that can be fixed in future seasons. The cast involved however, did a pretty good job. Two performances of note were Tom Sturridge as Dream and Boyd Holbrook as Corinthian, both well cast.

The character and costume design is inventive. The CGI though…there’s something not quite right with it. A question for someone with more technical expertise… Episode six was truly the standout episode for me as I felt the themes presented were astute. Four to six is undoubtedly the entertainment height of the season as the pace is somewhat slowed in subsequent episodes followed by a lackluster finale.

It became a bit disjointed and left me a little confused about the overarching goal here. This, further character development and pacing are three things I hope they’ll correct in Season 2. I actually enjoyed this dark fantasy. I’m hoping to hear news of a renewal any day now. It’s unlike anything on Netflix and for that alone, it deserves a watch.

‘The Sandman’ Rating – 3.5/5

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