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
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  1. DmitryW79
    Aug 6, 2022
    0
    an interesting story wrapped in terrible new packages. They killed the whole show.
  2. Overlord777
    Aug 5, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boring and pretentious, probably will get cancelled after one season. Zero resemblance to the source material… Expand
  3. CosmoA
    Aug 21, 2022
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have not read the comic, I went into this only experiencing the show as is. As a show based in the real world it ignores a lot of real world problems and history.

    We have an unproportioned number of gay relationships and the way people of history treat people of colour is very incorrect. This causes the world to be very forced to be something that it is not. They have many talented black actors which some of which are my favourite characters, but I am also against race and gender swapping in storytelling. I feel it is a cheap way to fill in a "diversity quota" Which is very annoying because they have created such good black characters.

    Now there is an issue with the past. In the past it was very normal to be racist and this was only explored very slightly in the film; with the immortal man once being slave trader. So, there was obvious race issues going on, yet the whole show ignored it. I find this very bad story telling. Ignoring major social issues in the past and to prop up how far society as a whole has come is very disrespectful. These things make a more believable world and enrich the story so much further, yet it was completely ignored like it never happened.

    People of colour as a whole in a western society has had a very rocky start and people of all races band together to try and stop this and all that progress is ignored in this world. instead, it's a push to show people all that never existed?

    Then there is a large portion of people who are just non straight. As a bi man myself I felt very uncomfortable with the false narrative that this the world I live in. I am not saying there is no gay people, but when pretty much the majority of relationships in the show were gay, it is just so out of touch with reality. Especially with the beginning of a black man and a white man not only being interracially together but also being gay in the first half of the 1900s. That being accepted by everyone around them was so weird to see.

    Then the show also has a lot of gender swapped characters. Like i said before any race or gender swapping is terrible for pretty much everyone. Build strong characters for those actors and instead of trying to fill the roles with others.

    Now the story of the show is 2 main plot points. Which could have easily been broken up into 2 seasons and build up a lot more. There is a lot of major plot scenarios solved very quickly or left out for large parts of the season to come back later on with no real reason. The show is a bit messy and the passing is all over the place.

    If you have nothing else to watch, then I would still say watch it. But if you have a list of things you are waiting to watch, just ignore this show. I would assume a second season could be a possibility but a third is unlikely. I don't see this show going any further than it already has.    … Expand
  4. Drael6464
    Aug 21, 2022
    5
    Gorgeous CGI, captivating setting, mostly uninteresting stories with unrelatable characters. Fails to involve the audience.
  5. Prisme
    Aug 25, 2022
    5
    It started out great and peaked at ep6. From 7 to 10 it began to check a lot of uninteresting boxes, acting went down and I just stopped caring where the story went. The "boss fight" at the end is ridiculously boring... Rose Walker's storyline just seemed pointless compared to everyone else's. .
  6. GamingNinja
    Aug 29, 2022
    3
    had some great parts then it became unwatcheble with everyone being different ethnicity and gay (literally). and no dont play the racist/homophobic card. these things just simply break immersion.
  7. danszthedude
    Oct 31, 2022
    4
    It's okay. Not too bad, but man everybody is gay in this one
  8. ElBilly
    Sep 1, 2022
    5
    It's quite good when it sticks to the storytelling, but fails when it forces to much "wokeness" just because.
  9. Harviwan
    Jan 17, 2023
    0
    Too many issues with this show to write a detailed review. Storytelling is all over the place, dialogue is wooden, direction is uninspired, and the show as a whole doesn't hold the audience's interest. It is a shame really, this was on the "Hope It's Good List".
  10. mickrussom
    Aug 16, 2022
    0
    garbage. how far iq has dropped in a mere 20 years. between the capecrap/cape**** and garbage like this its sad to see this could even qualify as 'entertainment'
  11. MichaelPraytor
    Aug 20, 2022
    0
    They made DCs John Constantine a woman, gay, and gave her an interracial relationship to boot. Anyone saying it's faithful to the comics has never read the comics, and the writing is motivated by woke politics. Wanted to enjoy this but it is impossible.
  12. vgmkyle
    Aug 22, 2022
    0
    Where do I begin! Phony, fake, irredeemable, stupid, woke - I guess these are the adjectives I would use. AND I don't think anyone is surprised. I'll just keep writing off this unoriginal crap low until this dumb woke bs concludes and we get the original version of the story that people actually want to see.
  13. FrenchPresident
    Aug 16, 2022
    2
    I feel like i rewatched "game of throne" last season again, The first 3 episodes are Amazing 10/10, then.. it's getting worst & worst each episodes... I gave up episode 9. It's such a shame to have such a nice start and to waste it like that. My others biggest problem is the quotas. There is 80% Lgbt couple and 80% Black/Asian actors, like ok it's cool but dont push it to hard. Its gettingI feel like i rewatched "game of throne" last season again, The first 3 episodes are Amazing 10/10, then.. it's getting worst & worst each episodes... I gave up episode 9. It's such a shame to have such a nice start and to waste it like that. My others biggest problem is the quotas. There is 80% Lgbt couple and 80% Black/Asian actors, like ok it's cool but dont push it to hard. Its getting cringe..… Expand
  14. OIP44
    Aug 17, 2022
    0
    too much lgbt agitation, very toxic ..............................................
  15. the12thman
    Aug 19, 2022
    3
    I wanted to enjoy this show, but the woke propaganda is too much to handle. Literally everyone is gay. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when it's done in such a pandering manor I can't watch. God damn shame, could've been great.
  16. Malohu
    Aug 16, 2022
    0
    Another great series ruined with sjw garbage. How about we go back to staying true to the source material and selecting the cast based on acting ability instead of tryin to fill quotas.
  17. KamenRiderDark
    Aug 11, 2022
    0
    Check out the Audible production for the REAL experience!
    I got all of 5 minutes into the first episode to realize this wasn't for me at all. Pair that with my awareness of the woke nonsense thrown into this production and it's just a hard pass.
    If you are legitimately interested in the Sandman story and want to truly experience the masterpiece that it is, listen to the star studded full    Check out the Audible production for the REAL experience!
    I got all of 5 minutes into the first episode to realize this wasn't for me at all. Pair that with my awareness of the woke nonsense thrown into this production and it's just a hard pass.
    If you are legitimately interested in the Sandman story and want to truly experience the masterpiece that it is, listen to the star studded full cast audible reading of the graphic novel and I promise you will NOT be disappointed.
    Don't waste your time on this series. Get the audiobook, turn off your tv, close your eyes and get swept away!    … Expand
  18. Dyeus
    Aug 6, 2022
    5
    Start was promising and Morpheus was portrayed properly but the aimless meandering and subpar acting by side characters make it hard to get through. They needed to cast better actors that can pull you into Fantasy. Joanna Constantine remains unexplored and feels childish most of the time.
    Dialogue is average at best and clunky at worst. Nothing that is said stands out.
  19. Trunkis
    Aug 11, 2022
    0
    Why can't Netflix just stick to the source material? They could have had a superb show but completely ruined it! Another problem that I really couldn't get over is the fact that they had to make it "woke". The characters were clearly described and Netflix simply ignored that to appease the "woke" crowd. I think it's time for Netflix to wake up and realize why they're losing so many subscribers.
  20. daniel_
    Aug 15, 2022
    0
    In the end it´s a very lame story and very lame acting. But I enjoyed seeing Stephen Fry again. And one remark: using a distorted picture the whole time is no artistic style, it´s just annoying.
  21. turdlemckay
    Aug 13, 2022
    2
    I quit watching so it might get better but I'm not a fan of the style the casting or the cgi.
  22. Nobilis1984
    Aug 21, 2022
    0
    It would be a good show that would also look passable.
    No, it’s not. You have to sprinkle the woke stuff again and mismanage characters from the comic to do justice to a small group.
    That’s when the white old professor turns into a black lesbian woman.
    Why Netflix? Stop this ****
    Just stick to the template of the comic book, and it’s all right.
  23. Mikepakione
    Aug 12, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Too much woke trash ruins this season, dream deez nuts. Cylkdjdhdydte5e536w626eysudusuausiaiaos white is bad … Expand
  24. raporgi
    Aug 10, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Looks like Metacritic is deleting reviews! Story is boring, weak and pretentious. What works in a compressed form like comics does not work in live action. Characters just stand around and talk. That's all they do. It's all exposition and constant yapping. The source material itself is weak and appeals to the childish or people who dont want to read or think too hard. Its campy and even cringe at times. They changed Preludes and Nocturnes for pacing issues and Dolls house just ends a with an @$$ pull deus ex machina to sort things out. Neil Gaiman is extremely overrated. There I said it.… Expand
  25. Cutloso
    Aug 11, 2022
    0
    There are so many things wrong with this series, but the biggest one is that it is profoundly boring.

    The people behind The Sandman found a way to make cosmic struggles only marginally more amusing than watching paint dry. The other obvious problem is the lack of fidelity with the source material. Fans of Gaiman's original graphic works are not going to be happy with the changes    There are so many things wrong with this series, but the biggest one is that it is profoundly boring.

    The people behind The Sandman found a way to make cosmic struggles only marginally more amusing than watching paint dry.

    The other obvious problem is the lack of fidelity with the source material.

    Fans of Gaiman's original graphic works are not going to be happy with the changes that have been made in this interpretation because they have been provided many significant reasons to be displeased.

    It's actually difficult to believe Gaiman is as comfortable with this reimagining of his work as he claims.

    Regarding the other contents... The costume and set design are intricate and very beautiful.

    Alas, it is not good enough to carry the story.

    Put another way, if this were being assessed the way you judge a painting, you'd like it a lot more.

    The acting is challenging to review because the quality is very inconsistent.

    Without naming names, some members of the cast were clearly not selected based on their acting abilities.

    In the end, this is a tragic misstep, made with an intellectual property that had enormous potential.

    Tragically, it will only be remembered as another example of writers refusing to respect the much loved stories and fans they seek to exploit for profit.

    Why studios continue to adopt this approach when it inevitably fails remains a mystery to me.    … Expand
  26. Clutcher
    Aug 11, 2022
    0
    The sandman fails to deliver a good comic adaption. Netflix, as always, tries to push their w0k3 agenda on everyone, changing characters etc.
    This show was so damn terrible, I can't believe it. Save your time and watch something else or read the comic books. Hope Netflix one day will understand, that their agenda is wrong and annoying.
    No acting can save this show. It is sad to see    The sandman fails to deliver a good comic adaption. Netflix, as always, tries to push their w0k3 agenda on everyone, changing characters etc.
    This show was so damn terrible, I can't believe it. Save your time and watch something else or read the comic books. Hope Netflix one day will understand, that their agenda is wrong and annoying.
    No acting can save this show. It is sad to see another comic adaption ruined.    … Expand
  27. Ipoitalo
    Aug 9, 2022
    4
    Again a great Idea and potential for a great TV show... Ruined with genderbending... Raceswap and unnecessary diversity....its meh at best
  28. Maleficento
    Aug 11, 2022
    0
    Sandman is one of the most iconic comic book series ever made.
    This Netflix live action implementation has great production, props, music, ambiance......but has generally poor actors and actresses and has been completely distorted to accomodate woke concepts.
    The Constantine comic book series is another iconic one. The stories connect a few times. Constantine, John, is a self-centered,    Sandman is one of the most iconic comic book series ever made.
    This Netflix live action implementation has great production, props, music, ambiance......but has generally poor actors and actresses and has been completely distorted to accomodate woke concepts.
    The Constantine comic book series is another iconic one. The stories connect a few times. Constantine, John, is a self-centered, unethical and at times amoral anti-hero. He strives to do good through mostly evil ways. The character hints at bissexuality.
    Is this enough to the people writing the script? Nope.
    Enter JOHANNA Constantine. Yes, a woman. A lesbian one, at that. And very ethical and moral too. Dabbles with demons, but she's a good girl. After all, women can't be evil except when forced to be so by men, the scourge of the Earth....
    If aliens got to Earth and watched this they would be certain of two things regarding sexuality: half of the population is not heterosexual - and the other half would be bisexual if allowed to do so.
    Don't get me wrong, I advocate live and let live. But there is no country in the world with that proportion of non heterosexuals.
    Then there is the historical revisioning.
    During the XIV to XVI centuries black people in the UK (and Europe in general) did not occupy positions of importance, nor were them among the well-to-do or even rich.
    Portraying them so is a disservice to kids - and to black people, as their plight in European lands is at least severely diminished, if not erased.    … Expand
  29. ElMasheen
    Aug 9, 2022
    0
    Too woke to be good. los primero 3 espisodios son tragables pero es too woke. lame.
  30. Cuquer
    Aug 11, 2022
    0
    Like the worst of series, The Sandman draws you in in the first couple of episodes, then draws out characters in a tedious and lengthy manner before evolving into a children's TV series. By the eighth episode I was skipping through each episode for any sign of improvement. Sadly there was none!
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

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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.
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  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.
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  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.
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