User Reviews

So far, it follows the comic books quite faithfully. The first half sees him imprisoned and searching out his tools, then it transitions to being about humanity and his relationship to it.

Now, I think the first half is a 10/10. It is perfection. Incredibly to see that section rendered so well, and it made me immediately want to re read the comics.

The second half is more like a 7/10, so I rounded it to around 8, because I think though it captures to the plot beats quite well in its remix for television, it also fails to capture the uncanny aesthetic from the comics. This makes it feel incongruent with the first half and too mundane at times. The atmosphere feels at odds with what is cultivated in the first half.

Story wise, I have to disagree with many others. I think the transition and exploration is a smart move for the story overall, because it's just not sustainable to have the first arc throughout and it makes sense for where his character is at to explore what humanity means to him and who he is, which is shirked at the start for the awesome quest. It requires a downbeat and the ideas explored are still top notch. I maintain the only flaw is that the way they bring the arc to tv, aesthetically, feels like a miss. Also, some of the actors aren't as good in the later half - such as Rose, who feels only passable.

That said, totally stoked for more of this. Absolutely.

Three episodes in, I'm kinda glad there's enough about this show that I like.

As a fan of the comic books, I have to say that I was not actually looking forward to this as there's so much you can do wrong with such an outstanding source material. But the show is close enough to the comics, visually beautiful and most important, more captivating than most other shows today - you want to keep on watching!

Sadly the emphasis on the Corinthian as an evil mastermind seems unnecessary to me, and it's really sad that an essential element of the first Sandman issue - Morpheus sentencing his captor Alex Burgess to 'eternal awakening' - is totally left out. This would have shown how ruthless an Endless will be if treated badly, definitely a missed opportunity. Look it up in the comics, it's that good!!! Also the timeline seems shaky considering Dream was captured for over 100 years now (about 70 in the comics) making Alex and Paul what? 120 years old when he escapes? Also John Dee would be nearly a hundred?

Well about the politics I can live with that but I do understand it's hard for many people to swallow race and/or gender swapping for more than half a dozen characters - while the bad guys all remain white men... It's sad that there will be so much controversy about this that the show could suffer from it.

Oh by the way I love Tom Sturridges performance so far! His German dubbing actor is terrible so I watch the English original, Sturridges voice is close to what I always imagined reading the comics.

This was quite an enjoyable watch, doing a great job at adapting the comic series into a show for modern audiences. The setting and plot are compelling, the set design and art direction are great, and I think they did an excellent job in casting Dream (Morpheus). It's also well written with good dialogue.

It does miss a darkness of the comic though. Everything is less creepy and dream feels nerfed. Comic books have no limitations to what can be portrayed at any time, making the supernatural characters and elements constantly shifting and reacting to the world.

But the show, like most comic adaptations, have to deal with actual human being, budgets, time constraints, technology, etc. So a lot of what made the visuals in the comic and set the mood and showing the power of the characters has to be dropped.

And that's just something I tend to dislike about any adaptation of a supernatural or superhero series. And why I generally prefer an animated series instead of love action. But this is what we got and I like it.

What does surprise me though is the pacing at times. It can be surprisingly slow and boring at moments, which you'd think that be avoided being a 10 episode season they could have moved it along and adapted more issues if there was too much space. But then the latter half becomes way too fast paced and convoluted with a lot happening off screen.

The show is at its best when it focuses more on character stories. Episodes 5&6 are excellent examples of that being some of the best tv I've seen all year.

Overa I think it's a good watch for new comers and fans of the comic.

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But one thing that isn't an issue and it's pathetic that there are actually so many reviews complaining about this is having non white or male actors for roles that were white and male in the comic. They're acting like this is some agenda. When really it's just casting who they thought fit the part, and surprise surprise, some actors aren't white or male! Who knew....

For most of these characters their race or gender isn't even a factor in their characterization, it really should not matter to you what they look like (like Lucienne). You can make that argument for John Constantine being male is a part of his character generallt but in the Sandman story that wasn't really a part of it.

For the sake of the show being its own contained universe it's a moot point and Jenna Coleman is great at the role. You can rationalize it all you like, but unless them being white or male is inherint to their character (and we're dealing mostly with supernatural beings that don't care about race or gender) then getting butthurt about it is indicative of beliefs you may want to work on.

And don't get me started on all the people complaining about the LGBTQ aspects. You must not have read the comics if you think this is forced in. But also how pathetic do you have to be for getting so butthurt that gay people exist?

An adaptation of Neil Gaiman's comic series by the same name, The Sandman features the enigmatic Lord of Dreams as he governs his kingdom ("the Dreaming") in the face of selfish mortal machinations and diabolical familial schemes. Presented largely in the form of episodic adventures, the first season consists of two distinct plotlines. The first pertains to Dream's search for his tools after his release from a century of human captivity while the second revolves around Rose Walker, the dream Vortex whose existence and powers are a source of peril to both the real world and the Dreaming.

It must be said that the premise of The Sandman is a thrilling one. Thanks largely to its wonderful source material, the story presents its mythological and fantastical elements in a gripping manner while also retaining human emotions to render it meaningful and relatable. The rich visuals in the form of the varied vivid settings (like the unsettling "cereal" convention) and colourful character designs (of which the Corinthian is a stand-out) are impressive, immersing one into an entrancing new world to explore and discover. And the short anecdotes are an especial delight, be it the timeless tale of Hob Gandling, Dream's illuminating conversation with his sister Death, or the binding and release of the muse Calliope.

Unfortunately, the second half of the show does not live up to the promise of the first. The whole Vortex subplot feels a muddled mess with too much exposition and little reason given for the audience to care about the introduced characters. There are other general grievances, most notable of which is the naivete and powerlessness with which Dream is portrayed, aspects that do not fit one of The Endless. To state further personal criticisms: the score is lacklustre, the acting quality is variable, the casting choices feel at times forced, and the dialogue tends in places to have an overly British tone.

Nevertheless, as a fantasy buff, I have hope and anticipation for the next season. Not having read the comic books myself, I have no specific expectations or preconceptions but look forward to another dream-filled escapade, even if it's a nightmare-dominated one. Care to join along on the wild ride?

This is an adaptation and it is not exactly 100% as written in the comic. But it is the "proper" adaptation.

The actors who play each character is carefully selected to p4ovide the imagery of the character personality. Yes, there are gender and racial switching, but all within the box of character imagery.

There is 1 thing that bugs me tho, Joanna Constantine. I'm not saying Jenna Coleman did a bad job, but it is clearly a copyright and stupidity of the Warner TV and DC management. John Constantine character is still tied to the Legend of Tomorrow, so it cannot be used for The Sandman, which is a more independently produced and far from the control of the hands that ruins DC. But for fans of John Constantine, this will serve as a visual origin and extension of the character.

I watched all 10 episodes like a marathon. Engaging story. Hopefully gets a 2 season.

The show is done rather well, but swapping genders/race/etc. For the sake of inclusion does no one any good.

I understand the desire to include more diversity, but you owe it to the target audience to spend some time creating a unique character rather than altering defined ones.

The casting of Lucifer and the story from episode 4 is absolutely piss poor. Supposedly most beautiful (find out quickly that's debatable) and most wise (easily defeated when the sandman is at his supposed weakest).

Without revealing too much of the story, it has a great premise. Most of the supporting cast has great character development and surprisingly a tremendous amount of screen time. Watching for the story, but cringing through the forced inclusion - it's painful at times.

My review of The Sandman Netflix series season 1:

(Contains some spoilers)

I have finally finished watching all of the first season of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman. This was the TV adaptation of the story that has fascinated me for the last five years. I gave myself a few days to sit on it and stew on what I thought of the show.

I loved most of it. I will give it an 8 out of 10. There were a few things I disliked but I mostly loved it. I loved Patton Oswalt as Matthew. I loved how Cain and Abel were portrayed. Any scene in The Dreaming was a delight. The special effects are excellent, as is the music.

Thought I loved the show I will acknowledge some flaws. Episode six is probably the best episode of the series and most people loved it for Death's story, The Sound of her Wings. But I loved it for the second half, which adapted the story Men of Good Fortune (chapter 10 of The Sandman audio drama, issue 13 in the comic book version). I love Men of Good Fortune so much that I wish it had gotten its own episode instead of just half of one. The character of the immortal Hob Gadling was done extremely well here. I love that he is the opposite of the popular trope of the brooding immortal. Instead he loves life. No matter how bad things get he never wants to die. There's too many new things to experience and enjoy and ways things can get better. I adore his optimism and endurance and I think Morpheus needs that in a friend. The ending of the episode is also very sweet.

Episodes 7 through 10 tell the story of The Doll's House and I'm afraid I did not like this portion of the show as much as the first half. I do actually like the new character of Gault used to replace the now absent Brute and Glob. Gault is a much more interesting character and helps to teach Morpheus about the way entities can change. She reminds me a lot of Ruin from The Dreaming: Waking Hours. I hope we see more of her later but even if we don't get more content with her, her story got a satisfying and endearing ending.

The Seral Killer convention was as dark and as brutal as the original version, if not more so. I was disappointed that Morpheus did not get to rescue Rose Walker from Funland but instead she was "rescued" by The Corinthian who wanted to use her power instead.

My complaints are relatively small. I happened to love the original version of Imperfect hosts where Morpheus convalesced in The House of Mystery, nursed back to health by the spooky, horror loving, Cain and Abel. Instead he comes to them to ask to take their Gargoyle (who was always more like a dog) and re-absorb the entity he had created in order to regain some power. This scene is gut wrenching, especially since Gregory does NOT die in the source material. He's an adorable recurring character along with Goldie the baby gargoyle.

I also didn't like that the show kind of thumbed its nose at the idea of Cain being apologetic or giving Goldie's egg to Abel, almost like it was a dig at the original story. I liked that moment of sweetness. Now it is Morpheus who gives them the egg that contains baby Goldie.

I do suspect that Morpheus giving them Goldie to make up for the loss of Gregory is meant to foreshadow the ultimate end of the series but Gregory and Goldie were always meant to co-exist with each other and their interactions were adorable. I hope I am right in that I thought I saw an unfinished re-created Gregory to the right of Morpheus at the end of episode 10. I also kind of hope that the series, itself, has a different ending from the original books. As blasphemous as this may sound I would prefer an ending that focusses on duality and change instead of "Change or die."

I was also a little disappointed that it was Lucienne who apparently made Matthew into a raven instead of Morpheus. I know Morpheus was still grieving Jessamy but it gave them more of a connection if Morpheus was who recruited the dying man to be his familiar. It was sort of funny that Matthew mentions not having thumbs anymore but I always had the impression that Matthew (in the books) preferred being a raven to a man so having him lament no longer having thumbs felt a little off to me.

Some of the changes were for the better. I am glad that John Dee spared Rosemary instead of killing her. I am glad Morpheus's "battle" with "The Oldest Game" was against Lucifer instead of the demon Choronzon. I am glad none of The Corinthian's victims were left alive for long, drawing out their mutilation and suffering. I am not a fan of torture or gore in horror. I like atmosphere more than anything. And The Sandman is both Gothic horror and fantasy and full of atmosphere.

In general I loved the show. I think I would have more of a grudge if Morpheus had not set things right with Gault in episode 10. What nearly became of her really bothered me even though she is a new character. And part of me still hopes that Alexander Burgess gets free of his curse much sooner than he did in the original version. The poor man had been through enough.

In general I was very happy with how the show turned out. I sincerely hope The Sandman gets a second season.