Hi, Alysers! I’m sure some of you are wondering, “Is The Sandman a series worth spending time on and watching?” Well, in this article, I will give you 10 reasons to watch Sandman.
If you’re not familiar with it, then you should know that the Sandman is a DC series that came out just this year. It follows the journey of Dream / Morpheus, otherwise known as the Sandman. He is the ruler of a dimension called Dreaming, and is the embodiment of all dreams and nightmares. If that’s not interesting enough for you, then read on.
Here are your 10 reasons to watch Sandman!
10. It was number 1 on Netflix Top 10
We know that when it comes to TV shows and movies, audience feedback and reception is a good way to measure how good it is. The more that other people watch it, the more we would be convinced that it’s worth watching.
Well, Sandman was the most watched show on Netflix for the entire first week after its release, with a whopping 127.5 million hours viewed!
9. Critics hopped on the Sandman love too!
Critics and audiences don’t always agree – especially when it comes to DC shows! In fact, more often than not, DC produced series and movies tend to tank on both the audience and critics’ end. But not Sandman.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, Sandman has an approval rating of 87% among critics, with 100 reviews submitted. One top critic on the website named Randy Myers put it this way:
[The Sandman series] does justice to Gaiman’s grandiose vision… nails down the dark materials and creates a spectacular otherworldly landscape.
With that said…
8. The Sandman is a testament to Neil Gaiman’s grandeur
The comics that the Sandman series was based on were produced from 1989 to 1996 – around three whole decades ago. It was interesting, visual, and a lot of fans said that no one would be able to replicate Neil Gaiman’s vision and turn it into a movie or a TV show.
Because the Sandman comics were such a great classic, people feared it wouldn’t be handled and executed properly, especially DC’s given history. Well, we are happy to report that they were wrong, and that the series in fact captures the heart, soul, and vision of Neil Gaiman.
7. The Sandman series remained faithful to the comics
It wasn’t just that the adaptation managed to capture the intent of the Sandman comics; it was that it was faithful to the source material. One thing that a lot of fans fear is that when their comics or books get made into movies or TV shows, the script writer, producer, or director would go off from the source material and make it into something that loyal fans could not recognize.
Luckily, that’s not a problem with the Sandman. Although there were some creative changes, they were minimal, so classic fans can still recognize their favorite character and setting.
6. The actor of Sandman put on a stunning performance
Three cheers to Morpheus, aka Tom Sturridge! He really put on a great performance as Sandman, as he managed to capture the nuances of his character’s personality. There were times when he was perfectly haughty; other times he was vulnerable. Yes, he was stiff, but you could also see how he longed for connection.
Morpheus is a difficult character to portray, but Tom did it well – with flying colors, even!
5. Even the supporting cast of Sandman gave their best
We all know that it’s not enough to have the lead carry an entire show – especially when there are many different characters to consider. That’s why you would be pleased to know that all of the Sandman cast gave a great performance and really delivered their dialogue as their base characters.
One particular standout to note is David Thewlis, who played John Burgess.
4. The graphics and visuals are immersive.
Viewers really feel as if they are transported to Dreaming, and everything looks stylish, bold – dreamy.
Yes, the visuals are fairly dark, but that’s what the Sandman series is all about. This is also true to the pattern of DC adaptations.
3. All the episodes are less than an hour long.
This detail is for the ones who don’t really have a lot of time to sit down and binge on a TV series.
Don’t worry! The Sandman series does not go to the extent and level of Stranger Things, and it certainly does not rival Korean dramas in terms of time. Because of its anthology-type narrative, you would be able to follow the storyline per episode.
So, whether you end up choosing to binge the Sandman in one sitting or going through it episode by episode in your stolen moments, you should still enjoy it.
2. There’s a *surprise* 11th episode!
I know that saying that no longer makes it a ~surprise~ but anyone who would go on Netflix right now would easily see that Sandman has 11 episodes.
So, here’s the thing: There were originally ten episodes ordered by Netflix. At least, that’s what they announced. Then, all of a sudden, an 11th episode dropped from seemingly out of nowhere. People who were watching the episodes as they came out were surprised, and of course, delighted.
The 11th episode was based on two standalone releases from the comics:
- A Dream of a Thousand Cats
- Calliope
1. Even those who have not read the Sandman comics can enjoy the Sandman series
This is how you know that an adaptation has truly been successful: When it doesn’t just cater to existing fans, but is also able to make new fans.
And a quick read through their Rotten Tomatoes page will show that indeed, even those who have never read the comics actually appreciated the Sandman series.
Here is an example of such a review, by Korey Coleman:
I really enjoyed being immersed in this world of The Sandman. As someone who didn’t read the source material, I was still able to follow the story and be invested in it.
This means that truly, anyone can start watching the Sandman series and enjoy it!
That includes you!
Do you agree with these 10 reasons to watch Sandman?
Let us know in the comment section down below!
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