The Sandman season 2, Vol. 2 is packed with potential, changes, and nostalgia, and is well aware that expectations are high as the show comes to an end. While season 1 of the series and the first half of season 2 unfolded through more episodic adventures that pushed Tom Sturridge’s Dream of the Endless closer to becoming something human, Vol. 2 tells a more compact, focused story. The show doesn’t try to hide the fact that it’s sad to go, and wants us to be sad along with it, but simultaneously acknowledges that a story is worth telling, no matter how it ends.

The Sandman season 2, Vol. 1 left fans on an uncertain note, with Dream reckoning with his past and determined to delay the darkness he knew lay in his future. The Sandman moves with purpose, hurtling toward its inevitable conclusion. It’s less about the relentless pursuit of destiny than the exciting potential that things will evolve, whether we like it or not. The weight of the season’s conclusion is heavy, but there’s still adventure to be found within the self-reflective final chapters of what will be remembered as a standout addition to the fantasy genre.

The Sandman Is Ready To Say Goodbye, But The Series Wants You To Remember It

The Series’ Parting Words Will Hit Home For Fantasy Fans

All good things must come to an end, and even if the King of Dreams isn’t ready to say goodbye, Netflix’s fantasy series tries to send us off with a bit of hope in the midst of all the farewells. Unsurprisingly, The Sandman gets off to a slow start, wrapping up extraneous plot points to get to the meat of season 2’s second installment, and waiting to reveal how all the threads will tie together neatly. However, the series justifies the moments when it takes its time by sitting with the emotional weight of the narrative’s conclusion, which proves to be ambitious.

Grieving is a central point in Vol. 2, as Morpheus doesn’t just fear the potential punishment from the Furies; he also secretly craves it, wishing to be punished for his role in his son’s death and suffering. The parent-child dynamics that were foreshadowed in Vol. 1 come into their own in Vol. 2. We’re reminded that Dream isn’t just a father, he’s also a son, and there’s always a reason to be gentle with people who want to be better. This want is entwined with the act of being human, which The Sandman has a deep admiration for.

If The Sandman season 2, Vol. 1 was something of an apology tour for Dream, Vol. 2 is a nostalgia tour, with familiar faces from season 1 coming together to herald the end of the story. As always, The Sandman doesn’t draw a hard line between heroes and villains; good and bad. Like the Endless themselves, everything in the story simply is, but that doesn’t mean things can’t evolve. The beauty of storytelling and daring to dream, according to The Sandman, is that the possibilities never disappear, even after the curtain’s closed.

I was thrilled to see Boyd Holbrook return as The Corinthian in Vol. 2. Though he was a terrifying antagonist in season 1, he was a lesson gone wrong, rather than a true villain. Holbrook is just as charming this time around, but as The Sandman points out, because the Dream who brought him back is different, his nightmares must be as well. His chemistry with Jenna Coleman and the unexpected team-up between The Corinthian and Johanna Constantine is a surprising highlight of this half of the season.

Holbrook and Coleman are only a few of the many actors who lend their talents to The Sandman, making the series feel vivid and important, even when the plotlines are outlandish. These performances, alongside the always beautifully composed visual world, are a testament to the time and love that have been poured into the series. Narratively, The Sandman wonders about the purpose of stories, of dreams, and of our legacy after we’re gone. Whether or not the audience will agree, the series argues that what defines the narratives we create and consume is the fact that they end.

The Sandman Isn’t Afraid To Get Sentimental About The Stories We Tell

Audiences Will Be Satisfied With The Sandman’s Hopeful Ending

We’ll miss Dream, his realm, and the world of The Sandman, especially as the fantasy landscape on television looks bleaker every year. Though the series knows we’ll forget the story and the characters one day, it hopes to leave us with a message that will stick with us, if only in our dreams. If season 2, Vol. 1, was mostly set up, then Vol. 2 makes good on the promise of its payoff, and successfully makes the audience sorry that we won’t be seeing Dream and his allies return to our screens again.

Sometimes The Sandman overreaches in its attempts to make its sweeping proclamations about the nature of life and love, tugging on our heartstrings too hard. With its broad ensemble and ambitious premise, nuance is occasionally lost in the shuffle, but it’s easy to forgive. However, the performances anchor the series in the emotional realism that made us start watching The Sandman in the first place. The Sandman might not be completely ready to say goodbye. Thankfully, it’s willing to recognize that nothing can last forever, even the King of Dreams and his ability to inspire some of the greatest stories ever told.

All episodes of The Sandman season 2, Vol. 2 will be available to stream on Netflix on July 24th.

The Sandman Season 2, Volume 2

8/10

Release Date

2022 – 2025-00-00

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Allan Heinberg

Directors

Louise Hooper, Andrés Baiz, Hisko Hulsing, Mike Barker, Coralie Fargeat

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  Tom Sturridge

  Morpheus / Dream

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  Boyd Holbrook

  The Corinthian

Pros & Cons

• The performances anchor the emotional weight of the season’s complex themes.
• Though ambitious, The Sandman makes heartfelt and nuanced commentary on stories and their endings.

• The second volume gets off to a slow start before it focuses on the season’s message.