The release of the highly anticipated season 2 of Netflix’s The Sandman has been announced. Tune in for Part 1 on July 3rd and Part 2 on July 24th. For those who aren’t in the know, The Sandman follows the adventures of Dream of the Endless, 1 of 7 primordial god-like beings who control an existential concept. As the King of Dreams, Dream has dominion over not only fantasy but also reality itself. After all, what is reality if not dreams made manifest?
A Short Recap of The Sandman Season 1
In season 1, Dream of the Endless was locked away for over a hundred years. After he was released, he first had to reclaim the symbols of his power: his bag of sand, his helmet, and his ruby. Once he reclaimed his power, he then had to deal with the three deserts of the dreaming.
One of the deserters was the Corinthian, a Nightmare who wanted to be free to follow his own pursuits (i.e., kill people). While handling the threat of the Corinthian, Dream also had to deal with Rose Walker, a young girl who had the potential to destroy the Dreaming (and thus end all dreams).
After Dream subdued the Corinthian and found a way to resolve the Rose Walker issue, he discovered that all of his problems were the direct results of his sibling Desire’s schemes. After Dream confronts his sibling, Desire, though accepting defeat for now, threatens more actions against their brother in the future.
In the final scene of the season, Lucifer, who Dream had humiliated to get his helmet back, plots something that, in their words, would make God “Absolutely livid.” And, with that cliffhanger, we jump into the great unknown that is season 2.
Dysfunctional Family Dinner
The Dreaming awaits your return.
The Sandman: Season 2. Volume 1 – July 3rd. Volume 2 – July 24th. pic.twitter.com/ORsNJRh89p
— The Sandman (@Netflix_Sandman) April 17, 2025
As shown in the trailer, at least some part of the story has to do with the Endless gathering together for a family dinner. This is the first time that all six of them have been together in centuries. And, like most families, the Endless have their fair share of issues.
Dream and Desire are always feuding, Death and Despair end up taking their respective sides, Destiny tries to keep the peace (with marginal success), Delirium is off in her own little world, and Prodigal dipped long ago and hasn’t been seen since. Just one big, messed-up family. Who happens to have the power to break the universe? Fun.
Fans of the Graphic Novel will know what this meeting is about and what the eventual results will be. As for those who don’t know, it’s a chance to learn more about the dynamics between the Endless, while speculating about the future storyline. Personally, I’m interested in how they handle Delirium. She’s suffered so much, poor thing.
The Elephant in the Room
It would be the height of negligence not to at least mention the controversy surrounding Neil Gaiman, the author of the source material. In 2024, five women accused Mr. Gaiman of sexual assault and abuse. While the litigation surrounding these allegations is still ongoing, it is clear that they have some impact on the various adaptations of Mr. Gaiman’s works.
Following these allegations, Disney halted production of The Graveyard Book, production on season 3 of Good Omens was halted, Dark Horse Comics severed ties with Gaiman, his agent dropped him, Dead Boy Detectives was canceled, and it was announced that The Sandman would end after season 2 (in spite of its critical success).
Regardless of your feelings one way or another towards Mr. Gaiman, I would strongly suggest that you do not allow them to color your opinions of the show. All of the cast and crew worked tirelessly to create the new season, and they do not deserve harassment for something that is out of their control. Please be respectful to them and vent your feelings towards the appropriate target(s).
