Season of Mists – As this episode of The Sandman begins, Dream (Tom Sturridge) talks about every dream being unique. They all have change in common though. Merv Pumpkinhead (Mark Hamill) says he wouldn’t have spent so much time on repairing the palace if he knew Dream was building a new one. Lucienne (Vivenne Acheampong) tells Merv to let Dream work. Dream says he’s spent too much time on the past and they will leave it behind today. The dreaming is reborn. Destiny (Adrian Lester) summons his siblings. Destiny approaches Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) to see if she’ll speak with him. Dream joins them moments later. He says it’s the first meeting since their brother said he was leaving. Death asks Dream what he’s done. Desire (Mason Alexander Park) is at an art gallery of sorts. Destiny approaches Desire to say the family must meet. Desire says they’ll be right with him. Once Desire arrives, they begin waiting for Despair (Donna Preston).
Despair tells Destiny about the man who was just caught with child pornography before she joins the others. Destiny says there is only one more, but he’s already made his feelings on the matter perfectly clear. Destiny summons the youngest. Delirium (Esme Creed-Miles) eventually joins them as well. Destiny says there are things to discuss. He tells the others that the three sisters visited his garden earlier. Their pronouncements were oracular and ambiguous. Fate Maiden (Dinita Gohil), Fate Crone (Souad Faress), and Fate Mother (Nina Wadia) approach Destiny. They say they’re there because it’s where they must be. A king will forsake his kingdom. Life and death will clash and fray. The oldest battle will begin once more. Destiny tells the others that his book explained something important will happen. There will be change and upheaval. Destiny tells them to drink the wine and talk to each other. Dream says he is rebuilding his kingdom so there is much to be done. He wants to leave, but Destiny says that can’t happen.
Desire makes Delirium’s butterflies fly into the candles nearby. Delirium gets upset. Dream says Desire always interferes, corrupts, and destroys. Dream reminds Desire that they tried to make him spill family blood. Delirium says she knows things about them that no one else knows. Dream asks Destiny what they have to discuss. Desire asks Dream about his love life and whether he’s killed any girlfriends recently. Desire suggests Dream has to remember Nada, the Queen of the First People. Desire explains Nada made the mistake of falling in love with the Dream King. In return, Dream had her sentenced to hell. When Dream gets upset, Destiny asks him to take a moment to collect himself. Death approaches Dream in private. Death insists Desire was just trying to upset him. They didn’t interrupt because Desire was right. Dream believes they know how he felt about Nada. He says Nada’s dreams were not for herself but for her people. She dreamed of a city without poverty, disease, or politics.
In her waking hours, Nada made her dreams come true. It was a feat the King of Dreams could not ignore. In a flashback, Nada speaks to Prime Minister Zewde (Jacqueline Boatswain). Nada is told it’s time for her to take a husband. Nada has met every man in the city, but she has still not found her husband. Nada talks about what she wants from a husband. She has seen the man every night in her dreams. She sees Dream pretending to be another man. Nada says it’s the man in her dreams. Nada speaks to him. Dream reveals they say Nada refuses to marry. Nada claims she’s never alone. Dream tells Death he was inspired by Nada’s devotion to her people. Dream lost himself in his duty for a time. Every day, Nada asked her guards to search the city for her. Every night, her search continued in her dreams. One night, he allowed Nada to find him. Nada says she seeks a stranger she first met in his realm.
Nada is searching for the man because she believes she loves him and he loves her. Dream says he does. Nada is surprised he’s the King of Dreams. She knows their relationship would lead to disaster. Dream knows he shouldn’t have come to her, but he couldn’t stop himself and he can’t stop himself now. He asks her to become his wife and rule by his side. Otherwise, he will not trouble her again. They begin making out.
A meteorite hits the realm of the First People. Nada (Umulisa Gahiga) kneels beside a man’s lifeless body. A fire rages in the background. Dream approaches and grasps her hand. She blames herself for the death of her people and city. She warns of darker things happening if a Mortal and Endless remain together. She jerks her hand away and urges him to forget her. Pulling her toward him, Dream asks if she would choose an eternity of suffering over an eternity of love. She insists it is her duty. He invites her to share his duties. Later, Dream tells Death that he gave Nada a choice. She argues that he gave Nada an ultimatum and when she didn’t choose him, he punished her. She believes Nada loved him and agrees that they shouldn’t have gotten mixed up with them. He says if she had chosen to be with him, he would have made her a god. Death questions if that is what Nada would have wanted. She compares his 106 years of captivity to Nada’s 10,000 years which she blames him for. He asks if she feels his actions were unjust. She says yes. Dream insists on righting his wrong. Death informs Despair, Desire, and Delirium of Dream’s departure. Destiny suggests Dream is tending to his responsibilities. Death argues that they have no right to be angry with him when they drove him away. Desire assures her that they can. Destiny announces Dream’s return to hell.
Dream tells Merv Pumpkinhead that he regretfully condemned a Mortal to hell many years ago. He says his plan is to set her free and while he is gone, Lucienne will be in charge. Lucienne questions his decision because it puts the Dream Realm at risk. He asks what kind of king he would be if he did not risk it all to correct his mistake. Merve Pumpkinhead says he would be like every other king. Lucienne and Matthew the Raven offer to go in his place but Dream refuses. Elsewhere, Cain (Sanjeev Bhaskar) tells Mazikeen (Cassie Clare) that he is delivering a message. She threatens him with a sword. Lucifer Morningstar (Gwendoline Christie) recognizes him and intervenes. Standing to his feet, Cain says Dream is coming for Nada. Mazikeen forces him to his knees. Lucifer claims Dream publicly humiliated them when he was last there and they made a vow to destroy him. Cain admits to hearing the rumors.
Matthew the Raven insists on accompanying Dream to hell. Dream refuses. Lucienne voices concern about something going awry. He explains that a plan has been put into place to ensure there isn’t a repeat of what happened the last time. Later, Hippolyta approaches Dream and tells him to get away from the baby. Dream ensures her she has nothing to fear from him. She questions why he won’t leave them. Dream explains he was conceived in his realm so he is a part of it. He’s going on a journey and may be gone for a while. She asks him to get out. Dream approaches Hob Gadling (Ferdinand Kingsley) who is with Queen Elizabeth (Kirsty Besterman). Hob realizes he’s dreaming. Dream brought him a gift. He says he’s going on a journey and may not be able to attend their next meeting. Dream won’t say whether he’ll be coming back. They share a toast. Bobby is awoken because he’s been talking in his sleep. Bobby notices the bottle of wine nearby. Lucienne and Matthew the Raven (Patton Oswalt) are worried about Dream leaving without a plan. Dream says he has a plan. Abel (Asim Chaudhry) comes in and says they’re looking for Cain (Sanjeev Bhaskar).
Lucifer Morningstar tells her people that Morpheus came to them in a futile attempt to free ones he loves from their domain. Lucifer says he will not be leaving. Lucifer says they will be waiting for the Dream Lord. Cain is held captive by fire. He falls and ends up in Dream’s world. Cain tells Dream that Lucifer and the others are waiting for him. There are millions of demons. Cain tells Dream that he should not go. Dream says preparations have been made and the Dreaming will survive. Dream walks out and leaves. In Destiny’s book, it says the Dreaming will survive even if Dream does not. Dream admits he could turn back, but they do as they must now. He welcomes himself to Hell. Dream confesses he’s afraid.
The Sandman Review
It’s hard to get too excited about The Sandman considering it’s ending early because of the allegations against Neil Gaiman. Even if that wasn’t the case, the first series was genuinely dull with a few highlights. At the very least, it looks like season two may increase the action a bit.
That may or may not make a big difference. Some aspects of the show are better than others. For instance, it looks good for the most part. The performances are hit or miss with lots fitting into the latter group. There are some really weak performances. Tom Sturridge does okay, but the character doesn’t have much personality.
That’s probably by design though. It really is what it is. The Sandman has everything going against it, including the allegations and such a long wait before the second season. It’s best watched with plenty of patience and limited expectations. The opening episode scores 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of The Sandman can be found here.
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Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.