The Sandman

The Sandman – Calliope

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Sandman – Calliope
  • IMDb: link

The Sandman doesn’t offer a very flattering view of humanity. In “Calliope” we are introduced to the former wife (Melissanthi Mahut) of Dream (Tom Sturridge). Calliope, a muse who, like him, becomes trapped by a human for years. In this case it’s an author (Derek Jacobi) who has used the muse’s gifts to earn fame and fortune. At the end of his life, rather than releasing the muse, as was their agreement, he sells her to another young writer (Arthur Darvill) struggling to write a second book who too finds the allure of fame and fortune too much to ever let her go.

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The Sandman – Dream Vortex

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Sandman – The Doll’s House / Playing House / Collectors / Lost Hearts
  • IMDb: link / link / link / link

After imprisonment, recovering his lost items, and a standalone episode with Dream (Tom Sturridge) and his sister, the next four episodes of The Sandman center around a young woman named Rose Walker (Vanesu Samunyai) who is a Dream Vortex, a generational power dangerous enough to destroy all of the Dreaming. The episode folds back in the Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook) and ultimately reveals a decades-old plot by Desire (Mason Alexander Park) against her sibling. Rose and Dream’s interactions sway from friendly to confrontational leading to Dream helping to save her brother (Eddie Karanja) but also left with a harsh responsibility towards the Dream Vortex.

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The Sandman – The Sound of Her Wings

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Sandman – The Sound of Her Wings
  • IMDb: link

After freeing himself and collecting his stolen items, Dream (Tom Sturridge) feels listless which leads to a visit from his sister. “The Sound of Her Wings” introduces Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death in an episode which is broken into two parts, both involving Dream reconnecting with humanity. Set in the present, the first involves the mopey Dream Lord hanging out with his sister and witnessing her connection to humans dying close-up. The second involves a wager of sorts between the pair and a man (Ferdinand Kingsley) who has lived for centuries without dying who may just be the closest thing Dream has to a friend.

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The Sandman – 24/7

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Sandman – 24/7
  • IMDb: link

“24/7” sticks primarily with John (David Thewlis) for the majority of the episode as he takes the reacquired ruby for a test drive playing with the lives of those in a small dinner including a waitress (Emma Duncan), a scared girlfriend (Daisy Head), a power couple (Lourdes Faberes and James Udom), a young man (Laurie Davidson) on his way to an interview, and the fry cook (Steven Brand). Stripping away lies and forcing each character into giving into their baser desires. I have to imagine that if anyone tried to create a Spectre series, it might look something a little like this (with a bit more wrath thrown in).

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The Sandman – A Hope in Hell

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Sandman – A Hope in Hell
  • IMDb: link

“A Hope in Hell” offers two stories of dark travels. Dream’s search for his missing helm takes him to Hell and an confrontation with Lucifer (Gwendoline Christie). While I think it would have been interesting to bring in Tom Ellis and Lesley-Ann Brandt to reprise the roles they’ve made famous on Lucifer, and give them a chance to play the characters in Hell (something we haven’t seen from Netflix’s other show), ultimately I think recasting the roles was the right choice especially once we get into the battle of wills between the Lord of Dreams and the Lord of Hell. Defiant, and triumphant, Dream leaves Hell with his helm and go after his ruby.

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