Sandman on Netflix

[mrwalkensir]

Blimey - even better than could have hoped for. Anybody else watching? Had to resist watching more than 3 tonight...

[cexuwaleozbu]

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar

A question for those who know the books, how many of them are there and how many potential series could there be from them?

The original series was collects as 10 volumes, the first volumes took us up to the episode "the sound of her wings" which was half made of the last bit of vol.1 and half a story from later on in vol 2. I would guess they could easily make it laat 6 seasons. Potentially 8 or 9 if they dive into the short storoes and expand them

[cexuwaleozbu]

I'm glad I know the original comics well enough that at key moments in the diner episode I was able to just look away from the screen and not think about it. There's some imagery that I don't need more realistic prortrayal of in my brain. No criticism, the violence was a valid integral part of the story and not gratuitous.

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but does anyone else feel that the Corinthian isn't very scary-looking? I am only at ep6 so this will be compensated in future episodes but so far he's no more nightmarish than the average human run-of-the-mill serial killer, and the teeth-eyes aren't evoking the nightmare quality of "omg his eyes are mouths" shock - possibly because the camera doesn't angle the focus on to them enough?

[TeddyBeans]

@cexuwaleozbu I didn't even realise his eyes were mouths so that's a thing

[cexuwaleozbu]

@TeddyBeans

@cexuwaleozbu I didn't even realise his eyes were mouths so that's a thing

Interesting! There are of course huge differences in how things can be depicted on film vs on paper!

[TeddyBeans]

I noticed the voids but honestly thought the teeth was just white eyeliner. DP didn't realise they were teeth either 🤦‍♀️ finished episode 8 now and there hasn't really been a closeup of his face without his glasses on as far as I can remember

[Beamur]

Just started watching this and strictly rationing myself to one episode at a time! DD and I are enjoying it very much. Have read lots of Neil Gaiman but not these.

[Saucery]

Visually gorgeous, am loving it. Tom Sturridge more Young Rupert Everett than Robert Smith imo. Dream always struck me as the character Neil Gaiman wanted to be / sees himself as.
Corinthian not nearly as horrid as in the graphic novels (so far).
I was a bit dubious about a female Constantine, but I have a set idea of that character that is firmly rooted in Garth Ennis era, so I’ll put up with it as no one has successfully transferred that particular Constantine to screen yet!

[AquaticSewingMachine]

DH (who had read some of the comics) and I (have not, and find Neil Gaiman a tad self-satisfied) are both really enjoying it. I like Sturridge's ethereal quality as Dream. We're up to ep 6, which I enjoyed despite being much more of a slow burner compared to the diner episode. The diner episode genuinely haunted me and took some shaking off. I felt there was a bit too much of a skip though - the diner episode finishes with the world collapsing thanks to John, Dream announces he'll start putting it right in the morning, and then we just skip to... everything back to normal?

I enjoyed Hob/Robert (his phone at the 1989 missed meet absolutely slayed me) and the slow exploration of Dream reconnecting with humanity and acknowledging that he cares for them.

I'm finding Matthew the raven pretty jarring though.

[elderberryink]

Am going to be the lone voice of dissent here and say that although I thought this series got off to really strong start, episodes 7-10 really lost me. The quality of the writing and acting felt markedly lower, particularly the casting of Rose and Lyta - I just couldn't suspend my disbelief that the world they inhabited was actually real as they were so flat?

😔

[elderberryink]

Argh, bloody hell, I posted before I'd finished or tidied it up - really wish there was an edit function on this site! Well I suppose I've said my piece. I did really enjoy the first 6 episodes and loved some of the casting choices (especially Death) but was really disappointed by the final run. DH (who hasn't read the comics) felt the same way.

Will still check in if they make a second season though!

[EndersGame]

Finished all 10 last night. Fabulous series that remained very true to the original comics from the late 80s-90s.

Really pleased they made this and hope they make another series of some of the other Sandman stories.

[cexuwaleozbu]

Up to episode 7 now and thought that was mostly done very well.

Despair is perfect. Desire I think is somewhat miscast. I guess the casting options for finding someone that every human of any sexuality will be instantly attracted to might be limited but certainly I felt no spark whatsoever.

I loved the encounter between Rose and the Fates.

Conflating two characters to simplify plotting is a frequent phenomenon in TV adaptations and for the purpose of the current season it does no harm at all to conflate Lyta with Rose's mum. However the fact that Lyta isn't still trapped in a dream world as an ongoing bit of fallout from Dream's century of imprisonment is going to have knock-on effects that will disrupt the beautiful plotting of the final season if they ever get so far aa making the whole wonderful story all the way to the end.

[mrsbitaly]

I've watched it all loved it!

[cexuwaleozbu]

I hope this isn't particularly a spoiler for episode 8 if anyone hasn't got that far - but I withdraw my previous comment about the plot changes poasibly causing problems to later seasons. That's clearly under control.

Really excited to see that the porpentine scene was done properly and with Lenny Henry voicing Martin Tenbones - that surely must mean they are going to do some more seasons as they wouldn't go to that much effort for a cameo.

[RaininginDarling]

Gah! I dislike being so out of step with everyone's enthusiasm but I'm going to be a voice of dissent here.

I really wanted to like this but we've just watched the third episode aaand its not for us. It looks beautiful, the cast to die for, the production values sky high...but the script - the cheapest thing in the whole production to get right - feels clunky, stilted and sloooow.

I find fantasy shows that lack an underpinning of humour hard to watch and here we have scene after scene of expositional two handers with no levity and very little plot development.

Three eps in and I'm not yet excited by the central character, who is pretty passive, or the world building more broadly. The overall tone feels oddly jarring too: part Dr Who audience combined with The Wire levels of swearing and occasional violence, which does makes me wonder who its target audience is. Perhaps I'm missing something by not being familiar with the source material? I'm now pinning my hopes on House Of Dragons next week. Its been hard to find something to replace the gap left by The Boys and Severance in our TV schedule 😄

[Punkypinky]

@RaininginDarling like I said to another poster I'm not sure this would be my bag at all if I didn't love the comics. Dream is a bit of an odd hero / main character really. So severe and at times harsh (condemning an ex to hell for 10 000 years for example). The whole of sandman could be said to be him slowly losing his arrogance and superiority complex.

It was worth a try. I'm looking forward to house of dragons too x

[RaininginDarling]

That's interesting @Punkypinky. I do hope Dragons lives up to the hype. That and LOTR will be very exciting to finally see! 😊

[cexuwaleozbu]

Finished episode 10 last night and mostly happy with it though I did think the last 2 episodes were a little bit weaker. Over-use of mawkish sentimental music and far too much of Dream ernestly articulating the lessons he has learned, spelling it out, rather than silently acting the hell out of his uncomfortable opportunities for character development.

Very excited to hear there's a new bonus episode just been released to give us two of the short stories from vol3 - Calleope and Dream of 1000 cats

[APurpleSquirrel]

@cexuwaleozbu

Finished episode 10 last night and mostly happy with it though I did think the last 2 episodes were a little bit weaker. Over-use of mawkish sentimental music and far too much of Dream ernestly articulating the lessons he has learned, spelling it out, rather than silently acting the hell out of his uncomfortable opportunities for character development.

Very excited to hear there's a new bonus episode just been released to give us two of the short stories from vol3 - Calleope and Dream of 1000 cats

Thanks for the heads up! We're rewatching it & hadn't realised there was an extra episode!

[Soubriquet]

I’m watching the new released episode 11 and want to cry already

[Saucery]

Well, Ep 6 was a bit of an ordeal for me. Sheesh. I remember the comic being the same, though.
Ep 5 stunning. Nice nod to David Thewlis in An Inspector Calls, I thought.

We’re spreading them out, because they are all so beautifully done and good tv is few and far between these days.

[Punkypinky]

I'm really enjoying this thread as apart from one friend at school who I'm no longer in touch with I've never chatted about Sandman with anyone. It's so interesting to hear different opinions. @Saucery those are two of my fave stories in the comics. What don't you like about them? I'm just being nosy now 😝.

[user1471453601]

I had to stop watching after the episode in hell. It reminded me so much of Old Harry's Game (Andy Hamilton on radio 4) that I kept giggling. Shame

[undermilkjug]

I don't know the comics at all, and thought I would read and tolerate this while DH watched in the same room. I didn't really watch episodes 1-3 but did watch 5 ( in a slightly horrible not able to take my mind away style) and really enjoyed episodes 6 on. I'm going to go back and watch again though good to see there is a bonus out.

[APurpleSquirrel]

DH & I watched ep 11 tonight - really good. Certainly can see why they were put as an extra ep rather than as part of the main arc.