“The Sandman”, rated TV-MA, is a 2022 series released on Netflix directed by Louise Hooper based on Neil Gaiman’s comic book series. The series gained lots of attention, ending up number one on Netflix Top ten. 

The series takes you on a journey of a mystical being named Morpheus also known as Dream. Dream is one of the seven endless which are immortale powerful beings that surpass gods and make sure the fundamental forces of the universe are in order. Dream is played by English actor Tom Sturridge who has also been featured in Likes Minds, On the Road, and Sweetbitter. The first season of the series had 11 episodes that range from 40 to 60 minutes long. 

The series’ first episode you see Dream trapped in what they call the waking world which is the human realm. He was stripped of his main three tools of power which are his sand, helm, and ruby. He was imprisoned for 72 years by generations of men that wanted him to give them immortality. When he finally frees himself he’s determined to find his tools so he can rebuild his kingdom that slowly deteriorated while he was gone. While he goes to all these different people and places he not only goes on a journey of regaining power but he also shifts his morals and thoughts. Once he regains his tools and power he finds himself bored and soul searching. 

These first six episodes are thrilling to watch. You begin to understand Dream and see that he doesn’t just care for himself and he does care for the humans. I was never bored and couldn’t stop myself from clicking on the next episode. Actor Tom Sturridge was the perfect fit for Dream’s character. He played the gloomy but caring parts of his role well so that you have to love Dream, no matter how harsh he is being. 

In episode seven the series takes a turn to focus on a certain girl named Rose Walker, played by Vanesu Danai Palesa Shoniwa-Samunyai also known as Kyo Ra. Rose Walker was Kyo’s debut role. Rose is a vortex which allows her to walk through others’ dreams and enter Morpheus’ realm. Episodes seven through ten focus on Rose’s adventure to find her brother and choose between herself or her loved ones’ world. 

The second part of the film is interesting but not as exciting to watch. The series jumps right into Rose’s life without any good transition. In these sections you learn more about how the dreaming works and how nightmares and dreams can be created or destroyed. These episodes are slower and I found myself not as eager to keep watching, but towards the end of Rose’s adventure there are some good plot twists that kick the excitement back up. 

Episode 11 tracks by itself and shows two different story lines, one a goddess that is imprisoned by a mortal to be used for her inspiring ideas. She calls upon Dream to free her and he does. The other story is of a cat who is on a mission to try and help other cats realize that they are supposed to rule over the humans.  

The season finale was boring and confusing and could possibly be trying to set up season two but I don’t see how it correlates. In one of the last scenes, Calliope, (played by Melissanthi Mahut) the goddess Dream, frees to come to his realm so they may talk about their son and grieve him properly. This could lead into a new mystery for season two which would make some sense. But what I can’t seem to understand is the cats and why they were involved. They just confused me and I didn’t understand their full purpose. I guess they could tie it into a dream and him having to save the balance of the mortal realm again, but I think the cats were unneeded. 

The series is exciting and has three big plot twists, but it can be hard to follow at times. I don’t think season one as a whole makes sense together. I feel as though it’s broken into three different parts. The first part is episodes one through six. These are very good and thrilling to watch. I was on the end of my seat and couldn’t stop watching. You watch Dreams become stronger and a better character. They picked a very good actor to display the clash of feelings that dream feels through these episodes. The second part is episodes seven through 10. This next adventure confused me at first and quite frankly I was bored. I felt like the series took a sharp turn like I was in a whole new season but I wasn’t. To me episode 11 made no sense. It starts with cats that have never been seen before who want to take the world back from humans. They somehow shift into this hopeless writer who wrote one hit and has no more ideas. 

I would recommend this series for fantasy lovers who love to have their mind twisted. You have to be active at all times to understand what is happening. It’s an enjoyable mind game film that looks as though it will have a second season.