Movies

The Sandman Season 2 Vol. 2 Review: Show Makes Smart Changes to Source Material

BBG News

In the first season of “The Sandman” Season 2, the majority of adaptations were quite true to the original storylines of “Season of Mist” and “Brief Lives.” However, any deviations from the comics mainly removed content rather than expanding upon the stories. Volume 2, consisting of five episodes, significantly alters the source material in many ways and often enhances it.

In the second part of Season 2 of The Sandman, Dream of the Endless (played by Tom Sturridge) is seen readying for his end. By bestowing upon his cursed son Orpheus the death he longed for in Brief Lives, Dream unwittingly sealed his own fate. What remains uncertain are the specifics of how Dream’s demise will unfold and whether he can still rescue the dream realm.

The story begins as Dream starts selecting his heir, which triggers events. Ancient foes aim to hasten Death of the Sandman and disrupt his effort to preserve his realm. Consequently, a conflict erupts simultaneously in various regions throughout all existence.

Best bits of The Sandman Season 2 Volume 2 are the extras

Without a shadow of a doubt, aficionados of the initial comics will recognize this adaptation as it faithfully follows The Sandman stories The Kindly Ones and The Wake. However, there are novel subplots not present in the comics and scenes specifically crafted for them. Notably, Johanna Constantine (played by Jenna Coleman) is a new addition to the storyline, tasked by Dream with locating his missing heir apparent in the mortal world. Given her impressive performance in the previous season, her return here is certainly a delightful surprise.

In the new adaptation, there are additional scenes that deepen the roles of characters who were less prominent in the source comics. One standout scene showcases a melancholic Dream encountering his sister Despair (Donna Preston), unaware of it, and they have a heart-to-heart conversation about his issues. These moments elegantly expand upon the original narrative.

The Sandman is too focused on dialogue versus visuals

Regrettably, the latest installment seems to underscore how the earlier episodes fell short when it comes to fully portraying the essence of the original source material. Although numerous scenes closely mirrored the dialogue from the comic books, the artwork did not receive the same attention. Consequently, the Netflix adaptation appears less visually impressive compared to the comics.

This implies that the significant reductions in Netflix’s funding for The Sandman Season 2 are evident, as popular characters requiring CGI (such as Merv Pumpkinhead) only occasionally appear now. Even though many of these visuals might not be feasible in live action, regardless of a large budget, it still feels incongruous.

Ultimately, Netflix’s version of The Sandman embodies a focus on style over story development. Interestingly, this is not due to attempts to replicate the series’ distinctive visuals, but rather from following the source material meticulously, as if it were sacred text. While it does a decent job as an adaptation, those who are satisfied with their recollections of the comics can comfortably choose to overlook it.

Grade: 6/10

Read More

2025-07-24 09:56

Previous post Unlock the Secret to Takashi Murakami’s 108 Flowers Revised NFT Card! 😍💐
Next post Sophie Cachia lists four-bedroom Melbourne home for $1million – ahead of buying dream property with AFLW star girlfriend Madison Prespakis