Dead Boy Detectives is about to put a whole new meaning to the term “unfinished business.” The series from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman universe follows Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) and Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew), two young boys who died tragically before their time—but instead of moping about it, they chose to stay behind on Earth as ghosts who investigate crimes of the supernatural kind.
Along the way, they begin to collect a motley crew of misfits and meet plenty of colorful characters, alive…or otherwise. Some notable beings include Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), a psychic medium with a brilliantly British name and a touch of demonic possession; Niko (Yuyu Kitamura), a wickedly charming anime superfan who can see through to the other side; and Jenny (Brianna Cuoco), a brash but hilariously snarky landlord and owner of the DBD building’s Tongue & Tail butcher shop. The cast gel well with good chemistry and enough quirkiness to give them distinct & decidedly colorful personalities.
While Dead Boy Detectives definitely has the paranormal whimsy and wonder that cements its place in the Sandman universe—not to mention plenty of references from other beloved properties—it also has layers lying beneath the surface, just itching for us to uncover. Much like any good murder case, nothing is ever as it seems, and the show dives into the psyches and motivations of each of the characters in ways you will not expect.
The mysterious vibe runs throughout, spiking from fun Goosebumps-esque spookiness to moments of horror, even if the heaviness of the subject matter sometimes trumps the bloody mess of it all. The special effects are TV-budget but that only adds to the charm. And that’s what makes it all the more compelling—Dead Boy Detectives gives you a ragtag team of underdogs to root for. And they’re always looking for more recruits—so why not join ‘em?
