'The Sandman' Season 2 Part 1 Review: Dream Deeper, Fall Harder, and Say Goodbye Too Soon
- Romey Norton
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - July 3, 2025
TV - Premium TV
After a visually stunning and narratively ambitious debut, The Sandman returns for Season 2. And while the story soars to even stranger realms and more emotional depths, it does so under the shadow of what fans now know will be its final bow. Based on Neil Gaiman’s iconic graphic novels, this Netflix adaptation once again delivers a richly layered blend of fantasy, horror, and mythology — but with a sharper focus on identity, purpose, and the fragility of the dream world itself.
What happened in 'The Sandman' Season 1?
Season 1 introduced us to Morpheus, a.k.a. Dream (played with brooding elegance by Tom Sturridge), the godlike ruler of the Dreaming, as he escaped decades-long captivity and worked to reclaim his tools and restore balance to his realm. Along the way, he is tangled with nightmares, Corinthian killers, Lucifer herself (Gwendoline Christie), and the deeply human consequences of gods meddling in mortal lives. The season ended with alliances fraying and Dream questioning not just his domain, but himself as well.
What happens in 'The Sandman' Season 2 Part 1?
Season 2 picks up where the first left off. New realms are explored (get ready for Destiny and Delirium), old rivalries deepen, and we see Morpheus wrestling with his evolution. The writing is elegant and often poetic, and visually, it remains one of the most stylistically daring shows on streaming.
But what makes this season resonate is its focus on the cost of control. Dream may be immortal, but he’s no longer unchanging, and that internal conflict breathes new life into Gaiman’s iconic character. Supporting performances — including Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s luminous Death and Mason Alexander Park’s enigmatic Desire — continue to shine, and the narrative arcs find a delicate balance between the fantastical and the deeply personal. Everyone continues to speak in a soft, slow tone, gentle for audiences, as it soothes us while watching.
As the story progresses, the key to hell is given to Dream, and while everyone and everything in Hell is in the waking world, Dream has to sort out hell. With no rightful leader, many are seeking the key. Dream is reminiscing about his lost love, and wanting to make it right after condemning her to eternity in hell for not staying with him (talk about being petty).
Then it's time to find their long-lost, beloved brother Distruction. So Dream and one of his sisters, Delirium, embark on another magical journey, experiencing love and loss along the way. But Dream’s reasons for searching for his brother are not as sweet as they are wholesome, ending with him murdering a lot of innocent people and two more siblings cutting him off.
With Dream becoming more and more alone, Part 1 of the second season ends dramatically, and without giving too many spoilers, let's just say you’ll be on the edge of your seat.
Where can I watch 'The Sandman'?
The second and final season of The Sandman will be released on Netflix in two parts. Volume 1, consisting of six episodes, will premiere on July 3, 2025, with Volume 2, featuring five episodes, arriving on July 24, 2025.
Has 'The Sandman' been cancelled?
Despite the season’s success, Netflix recently confirmed that The Sandman will not return for a third season. The cancellation follows serious allegations that emerged about series writer Neil Gaiman, which prompted both public backlash and internal re-evaluation by the platform. While Netflix has not directly cited the controversy as the reason, the timing has left many fans disheartened, especially given the show's creative high point in Season 2.
'The Sandman' Season 2 Part 1 is streaming now on Netflix
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