‘The Sandman’ Season 2: A Divisive Return to Netflix with Mixed Reviews

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Following a three-year absence, The Sandman came back in triumph to Netflix yesterday, beginning the second and last season’s first part. Was the wait worth it for those six initial episodes? Opinions may vary, as critics appear split on their feelings towards The Sandman Season 2, which garnered a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself struggling to stay engaged during the early episodes of The Sandman Season 2. The pacing felt sluggish and laborious, much like trying to shake off an unwanted dream that lingers long after waking up. To put it bluntly, it seemed as if the storytellers were attempting to weave a complex tapestry, but instead, they ended up filling it with heavy-handed dialogue and self-important posturing that often felt overwrought and tedious.

Experiencing the story as a dizzying spin of events and mystery, yet it lacks substance for meaningful engagement. It’s slippery to evoke emotions, and moves so swiftly that deep reflection is barely possible. The Sandman turns out to be an overly complex three-dimensional scene.

The Netflix series, titled “The Sandman“, is based on Neil Gaiman’s widely acclaimed comic book series of the same name, which was published by DC from 1989 to 1996. Despite its success, the show will conclude after two seasons, a decision that was reportedly made years ago and unrelated to the sexual assault allegations against Gaiman last year. The story follows Tom Sturridge as Lord Morpheus (Dream), who embarks on a cosmic adventure through various realms and time periods to rectify the disorder his absence created while he was incarcerated for over a century.

‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Delivers a “Richly Layered Blend” of Genres

In spite of some unfavorable critiques, it’s evident that The Sandman Season 2 has its devoted followers. For instance, Romey Norton from Film Focus Online praised it as delivering a complex mix of fantasy, horror, and mythology, with an emphasis on themes like identity, purpose, and the delicate nature of dreamland itself. Similarly, Jeff Ewing from Collider appreciated the season, albeit pointing out a few areas for improvement.

In this initial installment of The Sandman’s concluding chapter, you’ll find striking visuals, substantial growth for characters, and imaginative world creation. However, the overall experience can feel fragmented in terms of tone and tempo.

Critic Joonatan Itkonen went as far as equating the quality of The Sandman Season 2 to another renowned fantasy series, stating that “in terms of evoking the essence of experiencing the original stories, Sandman stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.” That’s quite a powerful comparison, isn’t it? Similar praise was offered by Tessa Smith from The Direct, who remarked that “Season 2 Part 1 is bursting with breathtaking visuals, exceptional production design, and standout performances, leaving fans eagerly anticipating more.

Additional episodes from Season 2 of The Sandman will follow soon, starting July 24 when the next five installments become available. The final episode is scheduled for release on July 31. Meanwhile, you can stream the first six episodes that are currently available on Netflix.

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2025-07-04 20:32