This article contains major spoilers for Netflix’s Sandman SeriesThe Sandman is a 2022 fantasy series developed by Neil Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Heinberg. It’s based on the graphic novel series written by Gaiman, which ran from 1989 to 1996 and is considered one of the greatest graphic novel series of all time. Efforts to adapt the series began in 1991, but were abandoned after being stuck in development. 30 years later, a Netflix adaptation has arrived to largely favorable reviews. The show stars Tom Sturridge as Dream Lord Morpheus, who must rebuild his kingdom and reclaim his possessions after a century of being imprisoned. The show is an amazing adaptation of Gaiman’s work that perfectly captures the groundbreaking comics, and their array of characters and plotlines. Here are the best moments of the show, ranked.
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7 Dream Escapes From Roderick Burgess
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The first episode focuses on magus Roderick Burgess (Charles Dance). Hoping to capture Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), so she can bring his son back, he instead captures Dream. Dream then spends over a century trapped inside a glass ball, until the seal around him is broken, and he can escape. He sends the guards watching him to sleep and then returns to his realm, just a hint of the powers we’ll later see from him. After a tense episode, it’s thrilling to see Dream finally free, and with his release, it also feels like the story has truly begun.
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6 Unity Saves Rose’s Life
The season’s second half focuses on Rose, a young woman searching for her brother. Rose is the great-granddaughter of Unity, who was a victim of the sleepy sickness caused by Dream’s absence. Rose is also a dream vortex, and will destroy an entire universe if she lives. Rather than let her great-granddaughter die, Unity has Rose transfer the vortex’s power to her, and dies so Rose can live on. Seeing humans stand up to the Dream Lord is a reminder of the powers of family and love, and serves as a fitting end to Rose’s season one journey.
5 Dream Un-creates the Corinthian
The Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook) is a nightmare who escaped the Dreaming and exists as a serial killer in the human world. Drawn to Rose’s power as a vortex, the Corinthian seeks out her brother and lures her to a disguised serial killer convention, where he is the guest of honor. Dream arrives at the convention and unmakes the Corinthian before he can do any more harm. Dream not only shows the strength of his powers, but also admits his own faults in creating the Corinthian poorly, finally un-creating him - and cursing his serial killer followers – to protect humanity.
4 John Dee at the Diner
John Dee (David Thewlis) is in possession of Dream’s ruby, which contains too much power for a human. In a scene at a 24-hour diner, John abuses the ruby’s power to make the diner’s patrons give in to their dark truths. Couples fight, patrons embrace, and it ends with chilling acts of murder and self-mutilation. Dream is finally able to locate the ruby and intervene, putting an end to the violence. The entire episode is tense and ominous, and uses the comic’s dark elements to great effect. In addition, a lot of the horror is based around the imagination, rather than being shown, which adds another layer to the scene. It’s part fantasy, part horror, and shows just how compelling and intense the show can be.
3 Dream Duels With Lucifer
After going to Hell to reclaim his helm from a demon, Dream must duel with Lucifer (Gwendoline Christie). Rather than a physical fight, they engage in a duel of wits in a scene that Comic Book Resources says is a favorite from the original comics. Lucifer begins by claiming to be a dire wolf, which Dream counteracts by being a hunter. They continue outdoing the other until it seems Dream is unable to come up with something stronger than Lucifer’s anti-life. He then says he is hope, and Lucifer cannot beat it. Dream wins his helm and the duel, and for all the darker themes in the show, the scene serves as a reminder that there is still hope and goodness in the world, and that it’s endlessly powerful.
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2 Dream Reunites With Hob Gadling
In a flashback to 1389, Dream and Death visit an inn, where they meet Hob Gadling (Ferdinand Kingsley), who wants to live forever. Death grants him the wish, and Dream agrees to meet Hob in a hundred years. Every century, they continue meeting, and Hob shares all the ups and downs of his life while still desiring to live. In 1889, Hob says that Dream meets him out of friendship, and Dream responds angrily. Due to Dream’s imprisonment, Hob drinks alone in 1989, and doesn’t see Dream again until the present. Dream enters the new inn and finds Hob there, and finally acknowledges their friendship. Dream has struggled with understanding humanity, and embracing the humanistic sides of his nature. By seeing the goodness in Hob and in friendship, it feels, as Rick Stevenson says, like “the world has been saved.”
1 Dream’s Conversation With Death
The whole episode is a beautiful adaptation of a beloved original Sandman issue. Dream, feeling lost and empty after rebuilding his realm, follows his sister Death for a day. He is there with her as she guides souls to the afterlife, including an elderly violinist and a newlywed young man. She treats everyone with gentle kindness, and tells Dream about how the beauty and wonder of humans keep her duties from becoming dark. Not all humans are horrible like the ones who imprisoned him, and Death helps him to realize it. Both actors are phenomenal throughout the episode, and bring the scene’s heart to life. It’s the season’s best episode, and shows a hopeful, positive side to humanity and the world.
