The highly anticipated and long-waited for television adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman is finally here, and what a masterpiece it is! Netflix’s The Sandman is a beautiful translation of the highly popular graphic novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman. The Sandman graphic novel was published by DC and was issued from January 1989 to March 1996. The story itself boasts a total of 75 issues and has since developed quite a cult following. Many fans have stated that the release of Netflix’s adaptation is thirty years in the making!
And was the wait worth it? Absolutely. The cinematography, casting, special effects, sets, locations, all meld perfectly to present the intended vision introduced by the original graphic novel.
The Sandman: Sleep of the Just (Episode One)
In the pilot episode “Sleep of the Just”, we immediately have an introduction to the main character Dream (Tom Sturridge), also known as The Sandman. From this introduction, the dark and fantastical scene is laid out before us. This is a world where dreams exist in another reality. This world is a place only accessible by dreams.
But with the lure of dreams, there are also nightmares. The adventure begins when Dream leaves his kingdom to hunt down a stray nightmare, The Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook). Before Dream can obtain the wayward Nightmare, he is immediately captured and imprisoned by an occultist’s spell.
The occultist, Roderick Burgess (Charles Dance), seeks to capture Death to bring back his long lost eldest son. He soon learns he has captured the incorrect Endless. The Endless are a species of beings immortal, including Dream and Death. The imprisonment of Dream causes a plague of “sleeping sickness” upon the waking world. Due to the fear and denied wishes of these captors, it is not until many years later that we see Dream finally free and able to return to his realm.
Upon Dream’s return to the Dream kingdom, we are again met with a worried but thankful Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong), Dream’s right-hand and friend. However, the Dream kingdom is now a dilapidated ruin and empty of its residents. Though Dream vows to rebuild the kingdom, it appears this will be a long journey.
Will Dream be successful in his endeavors? What will stop the “sleeping sickness”? Are the residents who left the dream kingdom willing to return? How will The Corinthian’s murderous spree end? Will it end? What is Ethel’s use for Dream’s stolen items, and where has she hidden them?
There are so many questions that require an answer.
The Sandman: The Verdict
The dark gothic atmosphere of the story immediately drew my interest. It is amazing to see the pages of the graphic novel come to life. The scope and filming create a perfect unison with the intended feel and presentation of the characters. I am eager to continue this journey along with Dream. I want to get to know each character in this vivid world.
If you are an old fan of the graphic novels, you will certainly love this masterpiece of an adaptation. The involvement of Neil Gaiman can be felt in the bones of this intricate story. If you are a new fan, such as myself, get ready to be pulled in and hooked immediately upon impact. Netflix’s The Sandman is a must watch. I fully recommend this show to old and new fans alike. There is something here for anyone who has ever been intrigued by the darker side of dreams or the mystery of life’s darker nature.
Still not sure about jumping into the adventure? Check out Netflix’s The Sandman Official Series Trailer below!
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Tess is an Alaskan artist and writer who sometimes talks to birds. She also enjoys tv shows (the vampire ones mostly), movies, cross-stitch, and traveling. When she is not rooting for the villain or dressing up to weird her neighbors out when checking the mail, she can be found attempting to be a decent mom to a small horde of goblins.
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