Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 Review
Director: Jamie Childs
Date Created: 2025-07-03 14:44
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The Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 Review: Directed by Jamie Childs, Netflix has finally premiered Volume 1 of the series on July 3, 2025, with six new episodes. The fantasy drama, based on the iconic graphic novel series by Neil Gaiman, features Tom Sturridge as Dream, along with Vivienne Acheampong, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Gwendoline Christie, Patton Oswalt, and others. We are here again in the Dreaming, as Dream again grapples with the consequences of his past and the weight of being one of the Endless.
The Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 begins with Dream attempting to rebuild his shattered kingdom. But the darkness is heralded by the arrival of his brother Destiny to call the family to reunite. Destiny foresees a war between the Endless—Dream, Death, Desire, Despair, and Delirium looming ahead. With emotions running high, old secrets are revealed. We learn that Dream’s own deeds had brought much agony, particularly to his former beloved Queen Nada, who’s spent 10,000 years in Hell.
The season tracks Dream on three main arcs: his quest to rescue Nada, his quest to rescue his missing brother Destruction, and a heartwarming reunion with his son Orpheus. These quests challenge Dream’s pride, heart, as well as his sense of self, and reveal Dream’s more vulnerable and reflective self than ever.
Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 Review
Let’s begin with what is done well. Visually, Netflix’s The Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 is breathtaking. The Dreaming is mysterious and mystical, Hell is terrifying, and the ancient landscapes of the Orpheus tale are just gorgeous. The costume design, the lighting, and the fantasy world in general are all so beautiful that every episode is a feast for the eyes.
The acting is also superb. Tom Sturridge provides his depth and inner resilience to the character of Dream once more. His acting elicits the pride and agony of a god-like figure trying to reform. Gwendoline Christie’s refined yet fiery farewell as Lucifer is also a highlight, as is Mason Alexander Park as Desire. Vivienne Acheampong and Kirby Howell-Baptiste add warmth and fortitude to their acting of Lucienne and Death.
And while some of the new characters are underdeveloped, I was impressed with them at times. Delirium’s quirky archness and Wanda’s shy confidence were the best things about them. These were times when I did care, even in unbalanced plot moments. One of the things that I liked was that the show never hurried. It stayed on emotional beats, and the weight of Dream’s guilt and previous errors had time to sink in. That sort of pacing won’t be for everyone, but I think it lets the story breathe.
All of that aside, Volume 1 of The Sandman Season 2 wasn’t flawless. My problem was with the storytelling. With three ginormous storylines going on all at once, the show was switching between them too rapidly. It was like I was being pulled in a whole lot of different directions before I could even get attached to any of them.
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Also, though Tom Sturridge is so great as Dream, at times, he is more of a supporting actor in his own series. At times, the new characters get more attention, and though that would be fine for a book, in a series, it made me feel like I was losing the gritty emotional centre that we had in Season 1.
Another element that didn’t quite work for me was the overuse of Dream’s guilt. Sure, he’s done some awful things and is suffering for them, but by the second or third episode, the emotional high was already starting to feel thin. I would have welcomed some change or growth in him instead of the repetition of guilt and remorse.
There were some slower eps, though, such as the one where they decided who is going to be in charge of Hell—that I wasn’t as stoked about. It was too cluttered with new characters, and it was plodding. I found myself looking at the clock during those scenes, which isn’t a good indication that a fantasy show is headed in the right direction.
The Sandman Season 2 Review: Summing Up
Even with all those flaws, I didn’t leave with a loathing of The Sandman 2. I think there’s a lot to appreciate if you go in with the right expectations. It’s a beautifully made series, full of dreamy imagery, good acting, and rich explorations of guilt, family, and redemption. The decision to divide the season into two volumes does take away somewhat from the experience. Volume 1 is really more of a setup than an actual narrative. But perhaps Volume 2, coming out later this month, will be worth it with the payoff we’re anticipating.
