The Sandman, starring Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, continues its second season with a focus on the titular character’s attempts to atone and grow. After condemning his beloved queen Nada to hell 10,000 years ago, Dream must navigate the underworld, negotiate with Lucifer, and host a gathering of netherworld freaks to mend relationships with family members he has estranged over eternity.
The show’s protagonist is more of an emo worrier than a hero warrior, evading characters’ gazes while delivering platitudes laced with doom. Sturridge’s portrayal is physically fitting for the role, but his delivery often falls flat due to the character’s self-pitying monotone. Despite the show’s intriguing ideas, it gets bogged down in pretension, missing opportunities to explore its concept.
The series co-opts Greek, Norse, and Christian mythologies but fails to do justice to them. The Orpheus storyline, which involves a retelling of the myth of Eurydice in the underworld, feels like an attempt to add cool elements rather than crafting a compelling narrative. A visit to a transgender acquaintance in present-day New York attempts to deliver an admirable moral message but falls flat due to lackluster dramatic subtlety.
The Sandman’s themes of teenage disaffection and existential crises are explored, but the show’s execution is marred by pretentious dialogue and missed opportunities for genuine storytelling. With its intriguing ideas and dark fantasy setting, The Sandman has potential, but it needs to find a better balance between creativity and subtlety to truly shine.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/03/the-sandman-season-two-review-neil-gaiman-netflix