Spoiler Warning: The Sandman Season One
In 1987, DC Comics hired a successful writer with pop culture credentials (a biography on Duran Duran and a companion forThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy), based on his three graphic novels with collaborator Dave McKean he’d published the year before. This writer was Neil Gaiman.
Upon joining DC, Gaiman wrote a limited series calledBlack Orchid, and this comic impressed Karen Berger, who asked Gaiman to revive an old DC character, but with the creative license to run with it as he saw fit. And thus,The Sandmanwas born.
DC published the series from 1989 to 1996, comprising 75 issues and inspiring character spinoffs that were also successful.The Sandmanseries became one of DC’s top-selling titles and has since garnered such an impressive reputation that it is regarded as one of the all-time great comic stories ever told.
Much like other comic stories, studios desired to turn it into a live-action version. However, creators widely regarded it as “unadaptable” when being translated to the screen (there was a well-received Audible version) – big or small, it ultimately fell into “development hell.” The story changed hands through the 1990s and 2000s with hints of the most serious traction yet in the 2010s before falling apart again.
Then, in 2019, Netflix announced that it joined up with Warner Bros. to create a live-action series. Developed by David S. Goyer, Gaiman, and eventual showrunner Allan Heinberg worked together and did what hadn’t been done for over 25 years – getThe Sandmanto a release date.
Related:7 Spin-Offs That Could Make The Sandman the Next Big Fantasy Franchise
And while we don’t know, as of publication, whether Netlfix will grant the show a much-deserved second season, many viewers and critics have graced it withmostly glowing reviews.
Gaiman, for one, is hoping to see another season, and with that would come plenty of content thanks to the complete series. On an episode of the podcastThe Watchin early August, Heinberg said he had already prepped and drafted much of the second season, and he’s hopeful that enough people watch, then he’s ready to roll quickly.
With luck, here’s what we hope we might see in season two.
Is The Sandman Season 2 Happening?
As mentioned before, this really all hinges on viewership. During the first weekend, Netflix reported that viewers watched 69 million minutes – which doesn’t really tell us too much. In his interview onThe Watch, showrunner Allan Heinberg said that what Netflix wants to see is viewing through the end of the season with minimal drop-off.
The first season was exciting and engaging, but it’s a heavy show and doesn’t lend itself to the binge-watching style. (The fact thatNetflix is stubbornly sticking withfull episode drops is another gripe entirely.) If viewers dedicate their time, Netflix is sure to support it. Even Neil Gaiman wants to see more of his story brought to life.
The Comics Suggest the Obvious
While season one adapted “Preludes & Nocturnes” and “The Doll’s House” stories, there were – Gaiman approved – changes to narrative elementscompared with the source material.
Following in that pattern, it seems likely that the next two collections will be the basis for season two. Those collections, “Dream Country” and “Seasons of Mist” – without spoiling too much - introduce important recurring characters from the comics, return to the hinted partnership we got glimpses of with William Shakespeare, and even more siblings of Dream we only saw in symbols in his and Desire’s realm.
This all seems more than obvious, too, knowing that Netflix released a bonus two-part episode on August 19th that takes two stories directly from “Dream Country.” These fan favorites include “A Dream of a Thousand Cats” and “Calliope” and pack some star power, including James McAvoy, who voiced Dream in Audible’s production ofThe Sandman.
Season One Storylines Left Open
While much of season one was fairly contained, including a seemingly thematic bottle episode (“24/7”), there were elements and scenes that predict future storylines.Introducing Johanna Constantineis an obvious one to continue telling. Her character is expansive if they follow the comic stories.
Related:Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book: Unearthing Its Dark Themes Ahead of the Adaptation
Lyta and Rose offer their own stories open enough to continue with. Morpheus has laid claim to Lyta’s son, and while Rose is free of her burdens as The Vortex, she seems likely to return. Hob Gadling, the eternal experiment of Death and Dreams, proved the connection that Dream needed to humanity. Their centuries-long tale eventually showed that Dream and Hob were, in fact, friends and that bond strengthened and even softened Dream’s relationship with humanity.
Another is the storyline with Lucifer Morningstar. While Morpheus beats Lucifer in a game, Lucifer promises to one day kill Morpheus. This storyline continues in the final scene with Lucifer receiving a visit from Lord Azazel as they discuss the Dukes of Hell’s desire to invade The Dreaming.
And lastly, we know that Morpheus’s sibling Desire is determined to scheme further into his realm and The Dreaming. While we don’t truly understand Desire’s ambitions, it is enough to watch and see. Even if the show ignores parts of the comics (more on that in a moment), these storylines offer enough for Heinberg to run with.
