The Sandman

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 5, 2022
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
6.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 273 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 148 out of 273
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 273
  3. Negative: 74 out of 273
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. CaptainAverage
    Aug 5, 2022
    10
    Whether you are a fan of the comics or not, you will weep for a gargoyle.

    What more do you need to know?
  2. steffmaister
    Aug 6, 2022
    10
    I was expecting something much worse! Sandman is a really difficult comic book to translator into a TV show. But I really get the feeling that it is done with love and care. Also good cast, nice settings, good script. Couldn’t hope for more
  3. Zoe666
    Aug 6, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fantastic adaption with spot on casting! From someone who was a fan of the comics when they were being published and didn't think it could possibly translate to the screen.… Expand
  4. valoiz
    Aug 5, 2022
    10
    Great atmosphere, visuals and acting. Great cast and the protagonist do a great job on portraying an eternal proud, yet gentle-somehow emotional, being. Prolly will get some hate from those people who want and at the same time don’t want copy&paste from original material. Happy to see DC can still throw good series even if the DC movie universe keep failing.
  5. VonSeux
    Aug 5, 2022
    7
    Very exciting for fans of the comics, it's a dream to see this materialised as a big budget show. However, too much green-screens and cgi and adaptation decisions that reminds you frequently this is a "Netflix" production.
  6. redhare
    Aug 6, 2022
    10
    I don't know if I'll live long enough for anything to move me as Gaiman's Sandman has? Perhaps I won't. This will have to sustain me for the length of my days but I am confident it will. The power. The magic. The splendor. Everything about it transcends our little world and makes us somehow a part of the Universe of the Endless.
  7. Milamber1675
    Aug 8, 2022
    10
    Ambiance, action, histoire, costume lieu tout est envoûtant : serie parfaite pour moi
  8. jihipor842
    Aug 8, 2022
    9
    First of all, I must specify that I have read all the comics in the series (and for some issues (like Preludes and Nocturnes) more than ten times). I am therefore already familiar with the twisted and dreamlike universe of Neil Gaiman. I was extremely excited when the television adaptation of the comic book was announced, and I was eagerly awaiting its release. My expectations wereFirst of all, I must specify that I have read all the comics in the series (and for some issues (like Preludes and Nocturnes) more than ten times). I am therefore already familiar with the twisted and dreamlike universe of Neil Gaiman. I was extremely excited when the television adaptation of the comic book was announced, and I was eagerly awaiting its release. My expectations were immense; these have been largely exceeded. The Sandman by Netflix is ​​a delight for neophytes as well as regulars of the graphic novel.
    The adaptation is prodigious. Everything is fabulous and smoothly conducted.
    My main concern was about the appearance of the protagonist who, in the comics, has a somewhat original physique. However, Tom Sturridge plays "Morpheus" wonderfully. He IS Morpheus, in his voice, his gestures, his physique. The cast is very great. I'm thinking of the "Corinthian" (Boyd Holbrook) who seems straight out of a case, or the excellent Gwendoline Christie, interpreter of the terrible "Lucifer Morningstar".
    The photography and staging are exquisite, especially the breathtaking dream realm shots, helping to set the overall mood, because that's the power of this adaptation. This bizarre, dreamlike, flirting atmosphere between the disturbing and the magnificent specific to Gaiman's productions hovers over the series. I am thinking in particular of the episode "24 hours" which alone justifies viewing the series. The soundtrack is not left out either; David Buckley won with tremendous work through his art.
    Unfortunately, and since nothing is perfect, I can't help but notice the forced and awkward inclusivity. Inclusiveness is good, but not like this. Inclusiveness is representing everyone, not just one side. Every romantic relationship is gay, and if it's straight, it's deeply dysfunctional. On the contrary, and this is the irony, the comics involve certain LGBT characters in several brilliant issues. No need to force, let the adaptation do its job.

    I highly recommend the series, whether you've read the comics or not!    … Expand
  9. eder
    Aug 6, 2022
    9
    I read the comics and as a reader I feel the adaptation was pretty solid. It was amazing most of the time with a few missteps here and there. The best thing is: most of us, fans, feared the series would suck, it does not and that is huge. Such a rich source material deserved a proper adaptation and Netflix delivered it.
  10. FernandoN
    Aug 6, 2022
    10
    The series respects the spirit of the comic while adapting itself to the media and of course new spectators . The input of Gaiman kept the series from deviating too much, but people need to understand that he grew in the 30 years since the comic was written. Ok can't write anymore the text box is buggy in mobile. After 200 characters the post button doesn't let you see what you write... OkThe series respects the spirit of the comic while adapting itself to the media and of course new spectators . The input of Gaiman kept the series from deviating too much, but people need to understand that he grew in the 30 years since the comic was written. Ok can't write anymore the text box is buggy in mobile. After 200 characters the post button doesn't let you see what you write... Ok now I'm under the button, this is terrible ui.... Anyway, not a perfect adaptation, but a perfect series.… Expand
  11. wakefuldream
    Aug 7, 2022
    10
    The people complaining of “wokeness” while at the same time whining that the writers didn’t keep to the source material have obviously missed the whole point of Sandman. Not only was Gaiman highly involved in the development but the anti-‘woke’ crowd misses the point that retelling a story in a different time, in a slightly different way, allows the spirit of Sandman story to shineThe people complaining of “wokeness” while at the same time whining that the writers didn’t keep to the source material have obviously missed the whole point of Sandman. Not only was Gaiman highly involved in the development but the anti-‘woke’ crowd misses the point that retelling a story in a different time, in a slightly different way, allows the spirit of Sandman story to shine through. I’m sure the whiners would be whining about the casting choices of the Audible edition too if they had the patience to consume the story in that medium.

    Those that desperately seem to want the “original” Sandman sans less “wokeness”, seems to ignore how progressive Sandman was at the time: it depicted “foreigners” and other sexualities and ways to live that was rarely seen at the time in the comic medium. Now Gaiman had the chance to green light further changes in that direction and humanity progresses a little further in understanding itself.

    Also, guys: you realize that the whole thing is made up right? The fact you’re more obsessed with the fake “straight white man bad” narrative than some of the actual outright departures from “canon” shows your colors are more political in nature than any real care you have for the story.    … Expand
  12. MrKaik
    Aug 7, 2022
    10
    A great adaptation of the comic book masterpiece. The best series I've watched this year.
  13. AlliDoisWatchTv
    Aug 5, 2022
    9
    really entertaining if youre open to these kinds of shows. haters are gonna hate it just has that vibe but if you liked the witcher youll def like this. Honestly this is probably netflix's best release of the year
  14. Diego507
    Aug 7, 2022
    10
    Este sitio deberia eliminar a todos esos trolls que dan 0 a cualquier show en este sitio.
    El show no es perfecto, pero quede fascinado por su historia, espero ver una segunda temporada.
  15. Thelog32
    Aug 6, 2022
    9
    The show gets off to a bit of a slow start, but then the episode titled 24/7 happens and woooo boy does it get good. The acting is superb, and the methodical pacing gives every character weight. The acting really pulls you in. I really don’t care about whether the characters in the shows I watch are gay, straight, or whatever else there is… but I really hope that only gay characters areThe show gets off to a bit of a slow start, but then the episode titled 24/7 happens and woooo boy does it get good. The acting is superb, and the methodical pacing gives every character weight. The acting really pulls you in. I really don’t care about whether the characters in the shows I watch are gay, straight, or whatever else there is… but I really hope that only gay characters are in every single show in the future. Not because I personally care, but because the whiny incel tears give me life. It just gives me the warm and Fuzzies to see bigots lose their favorite stories over the most lame and petty reasons.… Expand
  16. killer1237
    Aug 8, 2022
    7
    I had a great time with the first 6 episodes, but episodes 7 through 10 were absolutely awful, cringey, and boring. Do yourself a favor and stop watching after episode 6 and hope that the next season is similar to the first half of this one, otherwise it won't be worth a watch.
  17. skills
    Aug 9, 2022
    9
    Great adaption of the source material, I thoroughly enjoyed this and hope there will be a second season.
  18. Azirafal
    Aug 8, 2022
    8
    I liked it a lot - as a fan of the comic I think the show really nailed the adaptation part. There are some slow moments (teh first episode stands out as one such) that could make it hard for new viewers to get attached, but if they pass that hurdle - it's a great show.
    Except for those pacing problems and minor grievances (a bit of the CGI is not as good as in the rest of the series, one    I liked it a lot - as a fan of the comic I think the show really nailed the adaptation part. There are some slow moments (teh first episode stands out as one such) that could make it hard for new viewers to get attached, but if they pass that hurdle - it's a great show.
    Except for those pacing problems and minor grievances (a bit of the CGI is not as good as in the rest of the series, one or two minor plot points changed) I'd recommend it to all that like interesting worlds, creative characters and a good story. Sturridge is awezome as Morpheus, and the "controversial" parts that some "fans" are crying about are great as well (especially Death and Desire stand out, and Gwendoline Christie makes for an adequately imposing Lucifer).

    Loved the show, would recommend. Don't mind the trolls and toxic "fans" that don't know the source material and spew gibberish about how "changed" the show is compared to the comic. It's not, inclusivity was a point, and a strong one, in the comic as well.    … Expand
  19. UncleWillard
    Aug 9, 2022
    7
    I'm really enjoying it. Dream is perfectly cast. Is it a shot for shot recreation of the graphic novel, but it's very engaging. The only criticism I have is the main arc. I enjoyed the tangents far more than the main story, which was about Rose Walker (who was kind of obnoxious tbh).
  20. bertobellamy
    Aug 8, 2022
    7
    I had a lot of concerns about this adaptation. Although it has the dreary Netflix style, the first two episodes have been good overall. The story is surprising in some ways, deviating a little from the original one but still being interesting. Hope the rest of the season follows this approach.
  21. deedeedee33
    Aug 8, 2022
    8
    For those on here complaining about changes to the source material, race and gender swapping etc…Neil Gaiman wrote the series with Goyer. Your complaints are ludicrous to the point of idiocy and actually suspect. Despite the series imperfections and issues (the last 4 episodes are substantially weaker than those previous imo), I’m so glad we saw this realized.
  22. Tokenbake
    Aug 9, 2022
    10
    Seems hilarious to me people review bombing because it’s “woke” like these people never read past the first trade!! So they changed the cast around to fit modern times… The point is the story is nearly a 1/1 of the comic. Like get over yourselves. Bunch of wimpy crybabies. Show was fantastic. Just superb.
  23. KingGoonie1217
    Aug 8, 2022
    9
    Amazing adaptation of one of the best comic series of all time. Stuck to the comics much more than I thought they would be able to and I loved every minute! Bravo!
  24. zeusskf
    Aug 7, 2022
    10
    A must watch a very good serie and if you blame anything then the problem is you
  25. owenw218
    Aug 9, 2022
    10
    I went into this not knowing anything about it other than the creator is one of my wife's favorite authors. The first season was captivating and enjoyable, and I can't wait for the next season.
  26. think8
    Aug 9, 2022
    9
    It's simply great, but i give it an 9 because the series can be a little bit confusing for viewers who have not read the comics or are not familiar with the mythology such as myself, otherwise it is simply great.
  27. Beepboopbop
    Aug 9, 2022
    8
    I had a lot of concerns going into this, but enjoyed it more than expected. The lead does an excellent job of portraying Dream. Some of the other casting choices were not as successful. Still, what had always been regarded as an unfilmable work has been brought to screen largely successfully. For the more passionate fans of the source material I would recommend the Audible series whichI had a lot of concerns going into this, but enjoyed it more than expected. The lead does an excellent job of portraying Dream. Some of the other casting choices were not as successful. Still, what had always been regarded as an unfilmable work has been brought to screen largely successfully. For the more passionate fans of the source material I would recommend the Audible series which has a near perfect cast and hews much more closely to the comic series.… Expand
  28. SporadicBinger
    Aug 9, 2022
    9
    Gripping from the beginning to end. It filled me with a mixture of different emotions from start to finish. Anger, Sadness, happiness, disgust and surprise to name a few. Which in my opinion is what a TV show is meant to do. I am a fan of the show Lucifer on Netflix and find myself gravitated towards shows that portray Satan and other such beings as I find it fascinating. The portrayal ofGripping from the beginning to end. It filled me with a mixture of different emotions from start to finish. Anger, Sadness, happiness, disgust and surprise to name a few. Which in my opinion is what a TV show is meant to do. I am a fan of the show Lucifer on Netflix and find myself gravitated towards shows that portray Satan and other such beings as I find it fascinating. The portrayal of Satan/ Lucifer by Gwendoline Christie is refreshing, as I believe it depicted that from the comics very accurately. There are some great acting performances across each episode. The stand out for me was that of David Thewlis who portrayed John Dee (Doctor Destiny). He really got you understanding why he was doing what he did and even agreeing with him. Which is what I believe a good bad guy should do.… Expand
  29. jzathajenius
    Aug 9, 2022
    7
    A review from someone who has not read the source material...

    I'm halfway through the season so I feel qualified to give an opinion....yeah its good. Not amazing, but definitely watchable. An over reliance on sub par looking CG does make the show feel a bit cheap. The acting is good, Sturridge is a bit one note though, which makes it feel hard to connect with him. Dialogue is sometimes    A review from someone who has not read the source material...

    I'm halfway through the season so I feel qualified to give an opinion....yeah its good. Not amazing, but definitely watchable. An over reliance on sub par looking CG does make the show feel a bit cheap. The acting is good, Sturridge is a bit one note though, which makes it feel hard to connect with him. Dialogue is sometimes clunky and a bit cringe as well. Some storylines, like Dream and Lucifer's battle in hell were extremely silly and underwhelming. Patton Oswalt's raven sidekick feels straight out of a Disney movie. So the show definitely has its flaws.

    It feels most similar to American Gods, another show that I enjoyed but got sick of past its first season. I hope the season finishes on a strong note.

    It just feels like it should have been a big budget HBO show, but on Netflix it feels a bit rushed, a bit cheap.    … Expand
  30. gyorggy
    Aug 9, 2022
    9
    What a tv show...first i love the actors. The main character is played by a very talented, born for this role actor. Most of the evil characters are 10/10, well written and with complex motivation and background. The cgi is meh in some places but great in others. The main plot is good and it has beautiful moments. The secondary stories are very interesting. I enjoyed the show and i hopeWhat a tv show...first i love the actors. The main character is played by a very talented, born for this role actor. Most of the evil characters are 10/10, well written and with complex motivation and background. The cgi is meh in some places but great in others. The main plot is good and it has beautiful moments. The secondary stories are very interesting. I enjoyed the show and i hope they'll make a season 2… Expand
  31. Tesseract
    Aug 18, 2022
    10
    The reviews are filled with the usual subhumans crying about anyone who doesn’t look like them appearing on their little screams. If only this site had any semblance of moderation or cared at all about what these cretins smear all over the place. Oh well.

    The show itself is a 7-8 mostly out of my respect for the source material and hoping it actually hits on some of its potential down the line.
  32. Fed_Pitt
    Sep 9, 2022
    8
    Excellent comic, excellent show. They change details, but the story and the important things hasn't change
  33. veshches
    Aug 11, 2022
    9
    Wow. This is so much better than I thought it would be. They did a great job of trimming down the story to give you an entertaining narrative that captures the spirit of the comics. This may be one of the best adaptations from comics to screen I have seen. As an old time fan of the comics, I wish they had cast Death as an 80's goth girl. Nothing against the actress who was hired to portrayWow. This is so much better than I thought it would be. They did a great job of trimming down the story to give you an entertaining narrative that captures the spirit of the comics. This may be one of the best adaptations from comics to screen I have seen. As an old time fan of the comics, I wish they had cast Death as an 80's goth girl. Nothing against the actress who was hired to portray Death. If you did not read the comics I doubt you will even care about this change, However, for me, Death was such an iconic part of the original comics I think this change is a miss.… Expand
  34. monthofsundaes
    Aug 23, 2022
    10
    This title has been plagued by the anti "woke" and others pretending they know the story better than the author.
    Disgraceful trolls ll.
    Keep your mind and heart open and you will find this adventure an absolute delight.
  35. Nicholas_Elrond
    Sep 1, 2022
    8
    Really liked this show. The beginning and middle episodes are the strongest. Hope it gets a season 2.
  36. enzoenzo
    Aug 11, 2022
    8
    Honestly, it's not dark, it's more like a comedy (or so exaggerated you want to laugh). But it's great fun, in the sense you discover that a lot of clichés about our life have no base, and that dreams, nightmares, fears, etc. have a lot to say about us. It is good to live in dreams, a little bit, not all the time. Great actors, except maybe an exception for the leading one, until the twoHonestly, it's not dark, it's more like a comedy (or so exaggerated you want to laugh). But it's great fun, in the sense you discover that a lot of clichés about our life have no base, and that dreams, nightmares, fears, etc. have a lot to say about us. It is good to live in dreams, a little bit, not all the time. Great actors, except maybe an exception for the leading one, until the two last episodes of the first season, when he discovers "expression". Great great opening also to lots of cultural legends.… Expand
  37. Jagen
    Sep 28, 2022
    9
    Excellent adaptation of the original material. Acting was surprisingly a bit shaky at times, but they managed to skilfully remain true to the fantastic original whilst bringing their own twists.
  38. Anastasyah86
    Aug 14, 2022
    7
    It started marvelous and 2 series were great, especially the battle between Morpheus and Lucifer, but the last three series were super degradable and boring. And yep, too much LGBT.
  39. Karlei
    Aug 17, 2022
    10
    A fantastic adaptation, which masterfully kept the magic of the original comics. It's sad to see negative comments generated by sheer ignorance and prejudice.
  40. stevieann14
    Aug 19, 2022
    9
    I haven't read the comics, but I will now. The series does jump around from story to story (some episodes are more back-to-back than others), and the stories are beautiful. I loved the imagery and the characters were fantastic.
  41. Mcgreen_21
    Sep 23, 2022
    8
    A different kind of tv show. A alternate world where gods exist and powerful immortal beings have to deal with common human problems like loneliness, love, and self improvement.
  42. peraveen
    Aug 27, 2023
    10
    Definitely it is one of the good series from the netflix! Solid stuff from the DC comics!!
  43. Valya_N
    Jun 14, 2023
    10
    "Sandman" series.
    (no spoilers)
    If I were asked who of the people living on earth is the most versed in human souls, I would answer this without hesitation - Neil Gaiman. The Netflix series "Sandman" was produced by Warner Bros. Studios based on the eponymous comic book published by DC Comics. The series turned out to be the only successful attempt from the numerous previously made    "Sandman" series.
    (no spoilers)
    If I were asked who of the people living on earth is the most versed in human souls, I would answer this without hesitation - Neil Gaiman.
    The Netflix series "Sandman" was produced by Warner Bros. Studios based on the eponymous comic book published by DC Comics. The series turned out to be the only successful attempt from the numerous previously made adaptations of the original source. Apparently, the author Neil Gaiman himself played an important role in this, who became a co-author of the script for the series and an active participant in Production.

    The series appears to be a Dark Fantasy, but upon closer examination, one can see a diverse range of genres, from melodrama like "P.S. I Love You" to a bloody Tarantino-style thriller. It encompasses gothic darkness, moments of a fairy tale, blood-chilling horrors, family drama, cabaret scenes, black humor, and a lot of grunge-style. Neil Gaiman's plot twist is what only Neil Gaiman knows.
    All the characters in Sandman, like most of Gaiman's characters, are described in the characteristic handwriting of the author. Each character is unique, captivating the imagination and leaving a lasting impression with their portrayal. Throughout the 11 episodes, new characters appear on the screen one after another, breaking your stereotypes. They can surprise even the most seasoned viewers and fantasy genre enthusiasts. Neil Gaiman doesn't rely on clichés. Could Lady Brienne from Game of Thrones and Lucifer Lord of Hell have the same face? Maybe, you'll see that.

    The contrast between the twilight of traditional London and the flashy American style further emphasizes the confrontation between Morpheus and his former creation and the main antagonist of the series, the Corinthian. Here you can make a reference to "American Gods", which unfolds the confrontation between the ancient Gods and the glossy modern Gods in the style of American Hollywood.
    It is worth noting that the plot is imprisoned in the standards of the trends of modern serials, without which today's Western cinema industry is probably impossible. It may seem that there is too much with some of the “mandatory” elements of modern cinema, as if the creators of “The Sandman” between the lines are silently saying: “yes, yes, look, we have a lot of this.” Whether you see it or not, whether there are hints there or not, it is impossible to say for sure. You never know what can be imagined in a film about dreams.
    In the final 11th episode, centered around the character Calliope, the muse who inspires writers, we see the portrayal of a captive and coerced muse. This raises reflections on the freedom of the creative individual in the modern world, where society dictates mandatory standards. Let's leave the answer outside the brackets.

    It is worth recognizing that the creators of the series still managed to pick up the cast. And they took their time doing so; for example, the casting for the lead role lasted for 8 months. In the acting of the family of immortals: Death, Passion, Suffering and Fate, outstanding stage abilities are not noticeable, but this does not mean that the viewer will remain indifferent. Let's take an episode of Morpheus's walk with his sister Death around the city. Was it an actor's performance by Death? Perhaps what we see is an ordinary person with empathy towards others.

    In the worlds of Neil Gaiman there is always a place for deep meaning, allusions, irony, feelings and unpredictable twists. The Sandman series is no exception. This is a very exciting dive into the wilds of the human imagination, where much can resonate within yourself.
    If you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend doing so.
    Thank you for reading to the end.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28
  1. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: David Sims
    Aug 23, 2022
    75
    At its best, the show is strong fantasy entertainment that functions as a great introduction to Gaiman’s writing. But the barrier to entry is high, and the cost of jumping into such an intricate saga might be too much for some.
    Read full review
  2. Decider
    Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Aug 5, 2022
    60
    While not our cup of tea, we definitely see how appealing The Sandman would be to fans of Gaiman and his work. We’re just not sure it’s particularly accessible to those of us who are new to the story.
    Read full review
  3. The Detroit News
    Reviewed by: Tom Long
    Aug 5, 2022
    75
    “The Sandman” stands out visually. A parade of fine actors — Joely Richardson, Charles Dance, Stephen Fry — weave in and out, with David Thewlis particularly strong as an escaped mental patient. Still, the show remains comic-book thin on character and plot conveniences are everywhere. “The Sandman” dreams of being more than it is, but it’s still pretty good.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »