TV Review: ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 2

The second half of Season 2 adapts some beloved stories, but the pacing is sometimes an issue during the build-up to a dramatic change in the narrative.

Tom Sturridge as Dream in episode 210 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 2 receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

Released on Netflix on July 24th, ‘The Sandman’s second season –– and the show itself –– wraps up with five final episodes (plus a stand-alone, adapting ‘Death: The High Cost of Living, which premieres on July 31st) focused on the moody, doomy character of Dream (Tom Sturridge, ‘On the Road’) as here he reckons with the fallout from his actions in the first part of the season.

Overseen by showrunner and executive producer Allan Heinberg (‘Wonder Woman’) the cast for the new season also includes Kirby (‘The Good Place’), Mason Alexander Park (‘National Anthem’), Esmé Creed-Miles (‘Hanna’), Adrian Lester (‘Mary Queen of Scots’) and Stephen Fry ('Gosford Park').

Initial Thoughts

Mark Hamill as Merv Pumpkinhead in episode 210 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

And so we reach the end (for now, it remains valuable IP) of the road for the TV incarnation of ‘The Sandman’. With the second volume of the second season now on our screens, it’s time to find out if the series sticks the landing.

Script and Direction

Esme Creed-Miles as Delirium in episode 210 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

Perhaps the biggest issue with the new run of episodes (something that could be levelled at the show as a whole) is one of pacing. There are endless (no pun intended) scenes of characters having weighty, doom-landed conversations in different fantastical locales.

There are certainly big, dramatic moments that occur in this second part of the season, but we can’t reveal what they are (if you’ve read the source material, you’ll know), but the build up to it and the fallout are less dramatically satisfying as they might be.

The series continues to look impressive, with some beautifully realized settings –– and director Jamie Childs has a real eye for an well-crafted shot.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Jack Gleeson as Puck, Freddie Fox as Loki in episode 208 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

Tom Sturridge once more anchors the show as the stoic Dream, and he manages to make the character watchable and compelling.

There is memorable work from the rest of the Endless family, and the Fates (played by Nina Wadia, Souad Faress and Dinita Gohil) make for entertaining adversaries as they seek to see Dream answer for killing his own son.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Souad Faress as Crone, Nina Wadia as The Mother, Razane Jammal as Lyta Hall, Dinita Gohil as The Maiden in episode 211 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

While it is frustrating for the ‘Sandman’ adaptation to end with many stories left to consider –– the creative team’s claim that this was always the planned end point doesn’t totally fly, feeling more like PR spin following the fallout of creator Neil Gaiman’s misconduct and abuse allegations –– at least we got as much as we did.

Premium streaming TV was certainly a better choice of landing spot for this sprawling, complex tale than trying to squeeze chunks of it into a movie. And there remains much to recommended this show, however limited.

The Sandman

"Dream the world anew."

TV-MA2 SeasonsAugust 5th, 2022

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What’s the plot of ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 2?

After a fateful reunion with his family, Dream of the Endless (Tom Sturridge) must face one impossible decision after another as he attempts to save himself, his kingdom, and the waking world from the epic fallout of his past misdeeds.

To make amends, Dream must confront longtime friends and foes, gods, monsters, and mortals. But the path to forgiveness is full of unexpected twists and turns, and true absolution may cost Dream everything.