Netflix Original Horror Fantasy Series ‘The Sandman’

When it comes to TV, Netflix has been a heavyweight for years. From their original series to their current productions, the streaming service is home to some of the most talked about shows of recent memory. That’s why we’d like to introduce you to one of the newest additions: The Sandman.  The Sandman is an adaptation of writer Neil Gaiman’s comic book series published from 1989-1996 and released in 2022 as a Netflix Original series. It follows Morpheus, Lord of Dreams, who at one point was captured by an occult organization called The Order and held prisoner for 70 years until finally being saved by his long lost family including his older foster brother Lucifer Morningstar and twin sister Death. The Sandman is not just any ordinary series though. It has been hailed by critics as “the most acclaimed comic book of all time” and is said to be one of the best TV shows on Netflix. While the series may falter a bit in its writing and storytelling at some points, it does well in bringing together a lot of the imagery from Gaiman’s comics and combining it with an excellent cast. 

Who is in the cast?

• Tom Sturridge as Lord Morpheus 
• Boyd Holbrook as the Corinthian
• Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne
• Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven, 
• David Thewlis as John Dee
• Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine
• Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar, 
• Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death, 
• Ferdinand Kingsley as Hob Gadling

Release date:

The series first aired on August 5, 2022, and in November 2022 the series gets renewed for the second season which we can expect to be released sometime in 2023 or in 2024.

What is the series about? 

The Sandman gives us a look at the world of The Dreaming, in which we follow the story of Morpheus, Lord of Dreams. He has been captured by an occult group known as the Order and has been held for 70 years until he is liberated by his estranged brother, Lucifer Morningstar. He then sets out to reclaim his realm, The Dreaming. The series is an adaptation of the books by the writer Neil Gaiman. The Sandman, which was first published in 1989 and ran for six years, is a story about dreams and one man’s survival in a universe where dreams can become nightmares. The books are described as “gothic fantasies”, adults-only with themes ranging from ghosts to magic. 

What makes this series interesting? 

The Sandman is one of the best horror TV shows on Netflix in recent years because it delivers a lot of great content. For example, we get to see how Morpheus was captured back in 1916 when he was still known as “Orpheus.” We also get to see him grow up as he meets and befriends Lucifer, who is Morpheus’ foster brother. The show films in Vancouver and despite the dark subject matter, it’s really creative and aesthetically pleasing. In terms of its cast, the series has a lot going for it. The cast is led by Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death, and Tom Sturridge as the original Orpheus. 

What are the reviews?

The series has received generally positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 87% based on 50 reviews. Most critics were impressed by the screen adaptation of the comic book series and praised it for its brilliant storytelling. It’s an amazing series in general, with a 97% rating on Metacritic. The series has received some criticism. While critics were impressed with the series and said it was one of the best horror shows on Netflix, many critics also pointed out that there were various points in which the show gets a bit too much and doesn’t quite work as well as it should.