Sandman is back for the second half of its second season on Netflix, and it’s time for the story to come to an end.
One of the biggest comics of the 1990s, Sandman has languished around Hollywood for years looking for a live-action adaptation to become a reality. At long last, Netflix made it a reality, and it feels as though we have already sped through what fans had waited years to see.
The second season is being delivered in two parts with a special episode to follow the season finale. The first six episodes, known as Vol. 1, were released on Netflix on July 3, and the second half debuts today, July 24.
The strengths and weaknesses
Tom Sturridge has been fantastic as Dream throughout the series, and he really shines in these final episodes. As we see the ramifications of all of Lord Morpheus’ actions over the centuries from personal moments to the way he has interacted with the other Endless coming to a head.
There isn’t much time for anything other than Dream’s journey here, and then an unlikely romance for two other characters – which I won’t name for spoiler reasons – is interjected and takes up what little air there is in the room.
For a series that knew it was ending, it’s a true head scratcher as to why this new story twist felt needed.
Sandman Season 2, Vol. 2 – The Endless Will Be Ending
If you’re already on board with the series, then there is little chance you won’t be finishing it up anyway. If you’re one of those viewers who waits to see if people are happy with the ending of a series before you start it, then it becomes a bit more complicated of an answer.
As I said in the season 1, vol. 1 review, there are a lot of really interesting things to check in with here, but it does feel as though the series would have been better served from receiving a third season and allowing some story beats a bit more room to breath and grow. Condensing 75 issues of a comic into two seasons of television definitely shaved off some of the nuance of the original story, and that is a shame to be sure.
It’s still a worthwhile journey, but go in with measured expectations.
It is worth noting, on July 31 there will be an additional episode, but it is based around Death, and just as in the comics it is not a continuation of the main story per se. This volume does conclude the main storylines.
Disclaimer: Netflix provided Batman-News with all six episodes of Sandman Season 2, Vol. 2 for the purposes of this review. We watched them to completion before beginning this review.
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