Released: 5th August 2022
Number of Episodes: 11
Certificate: 18
Created by: Neil Gaiman, David S. Goyer and Allan Heinberg
Starring: Tom Sturridge, Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong, Patton Oswald, David Thewlis, Jenna Coleman, Gwendoline Christie, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Sandra James-Young, Kyo Ra and Razanne Jammal
As a well established genre, the fantasy scene is packed with sweeping adventures and rousing set pieces. It’s difficult to make an impact with high profile contemporaries already established. Sliding in before the return of Game of Thrones and Lord of The Rings is The Sandman, an often overlooked but intriguing comic that forms an enjoyable series.
Based on the comic, which ran from 1986 to 1996, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman follows a family of beings known as the Endless who possess supernatural powers. The series opens with Dream (Tom Sturridge) being captured in an occult ritual in 1916. Imprisoned for over a century, Dream (also known as Morpheus) is finally able to return to his realm and start rebuilding. For the first half of the season he sets out to reclaim his mystical possessions; the sands that fuel his powers, an imposing helm and a ruby that influences dreams. In doing so, Dream gets entangled with his six brothers and sisters, who each have their own plans and tricks for the mortal world. The Sandman immediately sets itself apart and doesn’t proceed in a linear fashion; one moment Dream will be journeying through the modern world with Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) and the next he’s negotiating with Lucifer (Gwendoline Christie) in Hell, gradually drawing out narrative connections along the way. This gives the series an immersive quality which is paired up with human reactions to grief and tragedy. The final few episodes do slip over the edge as a set of weaker performances and a lack of build-up diminish the climax, but the sense of intrigue remains strong throughout.
The cast of The Sandman is large and surprisingly varied; well-known actors like Stephen Fry and David Thewlis take on smaller roles as the plot goes on, but the greater focus is placed on the leads. Each of the characters have defined personas that match their respective abilities; Dream is stoic and emotionless, caring little for mortal lives. Tom Sturridge does a solid job of carrying the lead role and he’s contrasted by those around him. Death is surprisingly upbeat, viewing her purpose as a necessary one in the world of men and Patton Oswald voices a quirky raven with a laidback mannerism. These characters complement and enhance the events on-screen, adding new dimensions to the Dreaming and deepening its mysteries. The human characters are well done too, but this mostly applies to the background roles; those who react to terrible events often do better than the recurring cast members. Rose Walker (Kyo Ra) and Lyta Hall (Razanne Jamal) appear late in the series and their performances feel sub-standard. When it comes to getting invested in the characters, they leave a lot to be desired.
Set in a world far removed from its fantasy brethren, The Sandman commits wholeheartedly to its presentation. A large budget has clearly been spent on the special effects which really sell the grand illusions. The fantastical settings of The Dreaming, Hell and others are rendered in brilliant detail. Each of them are distinctive and memorable with seamless transitions across the board. It’s often a grisly affair with brutal fates laid upon many characters as the series goes on. The biggest highlights come when Dream repairs his rotting kingdom and duels with his enemies in a vivid display of elemental fury. Despite the darker tone, The Sandman is filled with colour, frequently laying out the boundaries between spirits and humans. The music uses a combination of hefty orchestral beats for the spirit world and modern rock tracks for the human realm, further enhancing this contrast. If you’re looking for something different in mythical escapism, The Sandman will certainly deliver.
At first glance, The Sandman is unlike most other fantasies, leaning into a large cast and heading in several directions with its story. It has noticeable flaws and the off-kilter tone won’t sit well with general audiences. But if you’re willing to buy into the strange and winding setting, you’ll find an engaging, reality-bending tale that successfully adapts the source material.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)
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