Let me tell you first that this is not a spoiler, and neither will I ever write any spoilers because the stories that I am going to talk to you about are so stunning that I want you all to watch them yourself and enjoy the feeling of settling those dramas into your heart. :)
The Sandman, season one, what to say. It's like someone gave you a big, fancy comic book and said, "Read this, but don't just read the words, look at the art." And then you're like, Okay, let's see, and you start watching, and the first thing that hits you is that the show is a visual treat. It’s like a really expensive and dark painting that someone animated and put on Netflix. The aesthetics, the costumes, and the settings are quite good. It's truly a beautiful dream to watch.
But then, you look at our hero, Morpheus, or Dream, or Sandman, and the vibe turns gloomy, man. He's walking around like someone told him he can’t have extra cheese on his pizza for a hundred years. LOL! With a jawline that could cut glass and a hairstyle that defies gravity, his default expression is a pout. He's got this whole "I'm the lord of all dreams, but I'm also really, really sad about it" look going on. Although his sad look is understandable as long as he is captured, but even after he is freed, seeing him in the same state will make you feel like giving him a tissue and telling him that everything will be fine, friend, but then you remember he’s an immortal cosmic being, and his suffering is probably deeper than the problems in your life.. It's almost funny how committed he is to that one expression. 😆
The first few episodes are a bit slow. When Morpheus finally escapes after 100 years, his first instinct is not to throw a party but to go searching for his stuff. He's like the fantasy world's most emotional detective, trying to find his sand, his helmet, and his ruby. I myself was thinking that a god's powers lie in his inner self and not in his things. Thankfully, this was clarified for Sandman in the subsequent episodes as well. This whole first half of the season is just him going from one mystical place to another, and it's all very well-shot. One thing that I did not like is that the role of Lucifer in this drama is played by a female actress. This felt weird because a few years ago I watched a US drama called Lucifer, which was really very good, but the point is that Lucifer in that drama was male, and in Sandman, it is female. I mean, come on, at least the genders should have remained the same. Anyways, when he goes to hell to meet Lucifer, played by Gwendoline Christie, the whole "who is more powerful" fight felt more like a debate competition than a battle for the ages. "What is the one thing everyone wants that I can't give them?" "Hope!" "Okay, you win. Bye." It was a bit anticlimactic, no?
And this brings me to a question that was nagging at me: why is a god of dreams so powerful and important? I mean, are we supposed to believe the guy who controls our nightmares is more of a big deal than, say, the god of death, or the god of destiny? It's like the guy who runs the local cafe suddenly gets the same treatment as the country's president. Coffee is important for sure, but is it that important? It's a fun thought to chew on while you're admiring the stunning visuals. 🍿😎
The show is a series of stories, which is good, but sometimes it feels less like a coherent series and more like an anthology. The episodes with Dream's siblings, especially Death, are priceless, of course. The episode with Death is a masterpiece it's beautiful, heartwarming, and sad all at once. The episode with the man who refuses to die is also amazing. But then you have this whole arc about the Corinthian, a nightmare with teeth for eyes (that was so good), and a woman Rose Walker who is the Dream Vortex. Though visually impressive, that part of the story feels a little overdone, as if they were trying to fill the episode with more plot than necessary.
The casting, though, is on point. Everyone is fantastic. Tom Sturridge, despite the pout, is perfect for the role. The Corinthian with his teeth for eyes is scary and suave. And the Indian actors, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Asim Chaudhry, as the two quarrelling brothers, Cain and Abel, are a joy to watch. They feel so normal and grounded in a world of super serious, immortal beings. It’s a nice touch, a little bit of home in a world that is so dark and gloomy.
In conclusion, The Sandman is a visually stunning and well-acted series. The pacing can be a bit of a snail race at times, and our hero's persistent sadness might make you want to send him to a stand-up comedy show. But if you're a fan of deep, philosophical fantasy and can appreciate a show that's a feast for the eyes, then this drama is a truly enjoyable watch. It’s a dream, but a slow and sleepy one.
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Note:
English is not my first language. So sometimes I use 'Google Translate'. Please don't think that anything I have written in this blog has been copied from somewhere or is AI-generated.
The thumbnail is a screenshot from my Netflix and other photos are taken from google.
All the other content, images and words are mine unless otherwise stated.
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A wonderful weekend to all!
