RIOTUS

“Every dream, like every dreamer, is unique. Yet the one thing all dreams have in common is change.” 

The Sandman Season 2 could be called Sandman: Beyond Journey’s End ’cause Dream deals with Endless family drama, old loves, and older attitudes to discover the heart within the god. Make no mistakes, Dream/Morpheus has done some truly awful things—especially to those he loves—showing a fatal disregard for how others feel. He’s been unkind and petty, and centuries meant nothing to him before he lost 100 years captured and imprisoned.

Now, after reuniting with his family for the first time in ages, Dream is forced to confront the wreckage of his past. Whether deliberate or careless, his actions have left scars on the Waking World, the Dreaming, and those closest to him (including himself). To make amends, he’ll navigate a gauntlet of challenges: emotional, magical, and familial. But forgiveness isn’t a simple task. Dream’s choices this season are as unpredictable as they are consequential, and the cost of redemption may be higher than even an Endless can pay.

The First Arc: Accountability, First Love, and Hell to Pay

“There are things to discuss.“

Destiny (Adrian Lester) calls the Endless together for the first time since their brother, Destruction (Barry Sloane), disappeared. “There are things to discuss,” but no one would suspect it’ll lead to high-stakes games with Delirium (Esmé Creed-Miles)—unless you’ve read the books. Dream (Tom Sturridge), Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), Desire (Mason Alexander Park), Despair (Donna Preston), and Delirium show up, and resentments spill across the dinner table quicker than overturned tea. The Three Fates (Dinita Gohil, Nina Wadia, Souad Faress) also known as the Gray Women, have returned, and when fate meets Destiny, things are about to get complicated.

The first three-episode arc becomes a tale of accountability—something Dream has never truly faced. After 10,000 years in hell, we finally hear Nada’s story. Umulisa Gahiga takes over the role from Deborah Oyelade, and as the wise and kind ruler of the First People, Nada becomes a balanced yet incisive counterpoint to Dream. She’s a powerful mortal who’s unafraid to speak truth to gods and immortals. Which might’ve been her greatest mistake. Now, Morpheus must go through hell and back to find out if Nada’s truth is his damnation. Oh, hello, Lucifer (Gwendoline Christie).

By the time we reach Episode 3, it’s clear that The Dreaming is the place where you can be your entire self, but there’s nowhere you can force someone else to be what you want them to be. This arc also features one of the most beloved Sandman side quests, and while I love a good teaser, I’m not into spoilers. Okay, fine. It’s the Midsummer Night’s storyline from The Sandman: Dream Country, which you’ve probably already guessed from the cast list. Along the way, we meet many gods and legends, and while I won’t say too much about them, I have to mention Loki (Freddie Fox). He’s a salute to Billy Idol, and that rebellious energy lands just right (you’ll see what I mean when you get there).

The Second Arc: Family, Truth, and Delirium

“I feel like someplace nobody goes anymore.”

The second three-episode arc centers on Delirium, who was once known as Delight (and she’s still got it). Delirium comes to see her big brother, Dream, to suggest a quest. When Dream is cold to her, she tells him he’s always scary. A moment that seems to trigger the lessons he learned in the Nada arc. Could Morpheus finally be ready to reconcile more of the pains from his past? Perhaps. The family misses Destruction, and it’s time for the reunion to be complete. But when their motives clash, too many innocents get caught up in the Endless family feud. 

Esmé Creed-Miles brings Delirium to life with a gorgeous kind of mania that never veers into “manic pixie dream girl” territory, making her portrayal both whimsical and deeply relatable. Indya Moore shines as Wanda, delivering a performance so bright and sensitive that you can’t help but want more. It’s also good to meet Barry Sloane as Destruction, the sibling whose charm and warmth make him one of the most likable of the Endless. But although he and Death are the best of them, his destructive nature remains dangerous to everyone who cares for him.

What Dreams May Come

The visuals in The Sandman S2 are sometimes dreamy, sometimes decadent, and sometimes daunting, but always good—paired with just enough camp to make it mythic. Desire’s entrance at an art gallery is juicy, and pairing it with the Hozier song, “Eat Your Young” makes it more sinful. The storylines in Season 2 are like knitting yarn, spun round and round with global folklore, mythology, theism, and pop culture references. Nada’s culture and dreams seem to wink at Wakanda, an homage that made me smile. And there’s a train ride in Delirium’s realm that feels like we’re on the Snowpiercer. That interweaving imbues each arc and its subplots with the vibes of bloody, acerbic fables, where the lessons aren’t as much for us as for Dream and his family. For example, we learn the tale of his son, Orpheus (Ruairi O’Connor), and it is—and isn’t—the story we know. Brace yourself: that one is going to hurt.

Kirby is everything we’ve ever hoped for from a live-action Death. She’s sunny, wise, and far more emotionally intelligent than her siblings, making her relationship with Dream foundational to the series. But all the siblings and the cast give this legendary world a bigger sense of grandeur and stakes. Mason Alexander Park is another one who enthralls whenever they’re on screen. 

The first six episodes of The Sandman Season 2 – Part 1 are made for fans of myth and mayhem. These imperfect characters give us a lot to yell at on the screen. Our investment in what happens next, paired with the thorny plotlines, spins a satisfying mythic adventure. Now let’s see if Dream can save the Endless and the Waking realms—and finally make amends. Part 2 is waiting for us.

The Sandman Season 2 will release in two parts: Episodes 1-6 on July 3, Episodes 7-11 arrive on July 24, and a special bonus episode drops July 31, only on Netflix.

The Endless

The Endless are a family of seven immortal siblings, each representing a fundamental aspect of existence. They are central to The Sandman universe from DC Comics and Vertigo, and they play major roles in Season 2 of the Netflix series. Here are the Seven Endless, the sets they rep, and who plays them:

Destiny
Destiny is the eldest of the Endless. He’s humorless and cryptic, always carrying his big book containing everything that has ever happened and will happen. Destiny represents fate and inevitability.

portrayed by Adrian Lester

Death
Death is the second oldest sibling. She’s compassionate, wise, and kind, always helping souls transition from life to the afterlife, and is one of the most beloved characters in the series.

portrayed Kirby Howell-Baptiste

Dream (Morpheus)
Also known as Morpheus, Dream is our protagonist. He rules over the Dreaming, the realm of dreams, and is responsible for all stories told or imagined. Dream is brooding, complex, dutiful, and has behaved at the height of petty in the past.

portrayed by Tom Sturridge

Destruction (The Prodigal)

Also called “The Prodigal,” Destruction is the fourth sibling. He abandoned his realm and responsibilities, seeking a life of creation rather than demolishing everything. His absence is a significant plot point in season 2.

portrayed by Barry Sloane 

Desire

Desire is one of the twins and is the non-binary sibling, embodying the concept of carnal thirst in all its forms. Desire is manipulative, cunning, sensual, and loves to meddle in the lives of their siblings, especially when it comes to kicking Dream off his pedestal.

portrayed by Mason Alexander Park

Despair

Despair is the other twin and represents hopelessness. She is somber, deadpan, and reflects the nature of anguish itself. Although she’s gloomy, Despair has a perverse sense of humor that pops out at the most unexpected times.

Portrayed by Donna Preston

Delirium

The youngest of the Endless, Delirium was once known as Delight before transforming into her current state. She embodies anarchy, addiction, and unpredictability, often depicted as whimsical, mercurial, and eccentric.

portrayed by Esmé Creed-Miles

—xx-øø-xx—

Cast Highlights

Tom Sturridge (Dream), Vivienne Acheampong (Lucienne), Boyd Holbrook (The Corinthian), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Death), Mason Alexander Park (Desire), Donna Preston (Despair), Esmé Creed-Miles (Delirium, complete with heterochromia), Barry Sloane (Destruction), Adrian Lester (Destiny), and Patton Oswalt (Matthew the Raven). Additional standouts include: Ruairi O’Connor (Orpheus), Gwendoline Christie (Lucifer Morningstar), Freddie Fox (Loki), Clive Russell (Odin), Laurence O’Fuarain (Thor), Ann Skelly (Nuala), Douglas Booth (Cluracan), Jack Gleeson (Puck), Indya Moore (Wanda), Steve Coogan (Barnabas), Jenna Coleman (Johanna Constantine), and Boyd Holbrook (The Corinthian)