The Sandmanseason 2, Vol. 2 is packed with potential, changes, and nostalgia, and is well aware that expectations are high as the show comes to an end. While season 1 of the series and the first half of season 2 unfolded through more episodic adventures that pushed Tom Sturridge’s Dream of the Endless closer to becoming something human, Vol. 2 tells a more compact, focused story. The show doesn’t attempt to hide the fact that it’s sad to go, and wants us to be sad along with it, but simultaneouslyacknowledges that a story is worth telling, no matter how it ends.
The Sandmanseason 2, Vol. 1left fans on an uncertain note, with Dream reckoning with his past and determined to delay the darkness he knew lay in his future.The Sandmanmoves with purpose, hurtling toward its inevitable conclusion. It’s less about the relentless pursuit of destiny than the exciting potential that things will evolve, whether we like it or not. The weight of the season’s conclusion is heavy, butthere’s still adventure to be found within the self-reflective final chaptersof what will be remembered as a standout addition to the fantasy genre.
The Sandman Is Ready To Say Goodbye, But The Series Wants You To Remember It
The Series' Parting Words Will Hit Home For Fantasy Fans
All good things must come to an end, and even if the King of Dreams isn’t ready to say goodbye,Netflix’s fantasy series tries to send us off with a bit of hopein the midst of all the farewells. Unsurprisingly,The Sandmangets off to a slow start, wrapping up extraneous plot points to get to the meat of season 2’s second installment, and waiting to reveal how all the threads will tie together neatly. However, the series justifies the moments when it takes its time by sitting with the emotional weight of the narrative’s conclusion, which proves to be ambitious.
Grieving is a central point in Vol. 2, as Morpheus doesn’t just fear the potential punishment from the Furies; he also secretly craves it, wishing to be punished for his role in his son’s death and suffering. The parent-child dynamics that were foreshadowed in Vol. 1 come into their own in Vol. 2.We’re reminded that Dream isn’t just a father, he’s also a son,and there’s always a reason to be gentle with people who want to be better. This want is entwined with the act of being human, whichThe Sandmanhas a deep admiration for.
As always,The Sandmandoesn’t draw a hard line between heroes and villains; good and bad.
IfThe Sandmanseason 2, Vol. 1 was something of an apology tour for Dream, Vol. 2 is a nostalgia tour, with familiar faces from season 1 coming together to herald the end of the story. As always,The Sandmandoesn’t draw a hard line between heroes and villains; good and bad. Like the Endless themselves, everything in the story simply is, but that doesn’t mean things can’t evolve. The beauty of storytelling and daring to dream, according toThe Sandman, is that the possibilities never disappear, even after the curtain’s closed.
I was thrilled to see Boyd Holbrook return as The Corinthianin Vol. 2. Though he was a terrifying antagonist in season 1, he was a lesson gone wrong, rather than a true villain. Holbrook is just as charming this time around, but asThe Sandmanpoints out, because the Dream who brought him back is different, his nightmares must be as well. His chemistry with Jenna Coleman and the unexpected team-up between The Corinthian and Johanna Constantine is a surprising highlight of this half of the season.
Holbrook and Coleman are only a few of the many actors who lend their talents toThe Sandman, making the series feel vivid and important, even when the plotlines are outlandish.These performances, alongside the always beautifully composed visual world,are a testament to the time and love that have been poured into the series. Narratively,The Sandmanwonders about the purpose of stories, of dreams, and of our legacy after we’re gone. Whether or not the audience will agree, the series argues that what defines the narratives we create and consume is the fact that they end.
The Sandman Isn’t Afraid To Get Sentimental About The Stories We Tell
Audiences Will Be Satisfied With The Sandman’s Hopeful Ending
We’ll miss Dream, his realm, and the world ofThe Sandman, especially as the fantasy landscape on television looks bleaker every year. Though the series knows we’ll forget the story and the characters one day, it hopes to leave us with a message that will stick with us, if only in our dreams. If season 2, Vol. 1, was mostly set up, then Vol. 2 makes good on the promise of its payoff, and successfully makes the audience sorry that we won’t be seeing Dream and his allies return to our screens again.
SometimesThe Sandmanoverreaches in its attempts to make its sweeping proclamations about the nature of life and love, tugging on our heartstrings too hard. With its broad ensemble and ambitious premise, nuance is occasionally lost in the shuffle, but it’s easy to forgive. However, the performances anchor the series in the emotional realism that made us start watchingThe Sandmanin the first place.The Sandmanmight not be completely ready to say goodbye. Thankfully, it’s willing to recognize that nothing can last forever, even the King of Dreams and his ability to inspire some of the greatest stories ever told.
All episodes ofThe Sandmanseason 2, Vol. 2 will be available to stream on Netflix on July 24th.
The Sandman Season 2, Volume 2
Cast
The Sandman is a 2022 adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s iconic comic series. The narrative follows Morpheus, the King of Dreams, who, after years of imprisonment, embarks on a quest across various realms to recover his stolen artifacts and regain his lost power.
