Due to the fact that the first episode of The Sandman Season 1 serves as an introduction to the plot that will be told throughout the remainder of the season, the second episode serves as a transition between the introduction and the beginning of Morpheus’ journey. Based on The Sandman #2, the second episode of the season, titled “Imperfect Hosts,” introduced new characters and established the paths they will follow throughout the season.
When Dream went back to the Dreaming, he found that Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong) was the only one there waiting for him. She had been watching for him the entire time. His domain was in ruins, and he lacked the power to fix it, at least until he located his arsenal of weapons and armour.
Other characters that were introduced in this episode include the biblical brothers Cain (played by Sanjeev Bhaskar) and Abel (played by Asim Chaudhary), albeit in a comedic representation; over a hundred-year-old Ethel Cripps (played by Joely Richardson); her institutionalised son John (played by David Thewlis); and the Fates (played by Nina Wadia, Souad Faress, and
The Sandman Season 1 Episode 2: Imperfect Hosts
Since Morpheus was helpless without his tools, he had no choice except to call upon the Fates for assistance in locating them. However, as Lucienne had warned, the three goddesses never provided a direct response, and the act of calling them turned out to be an expensive endeavour.
Morpheus came to the realisation that he could reclaim some of his powers by utilising something that he had designed while he was asleep. This realisation led him to the dream interpretation of the first murderer and the first victim, also known as Cain and Abel, the dysfunctional brothers whom Morpheus had presented with a pet gargoyle named Gregory. The lightheartedness and comedic relief that their interplay brought to the otherwise serious show was greatly appreciated.
By transforming Gregory into sand, Morpheus was able to recover some of his lost abilities and then proceed to collect the necessary gifts in order to call upon the Fates. Although the three women did provide him answers to his queries concerning his three tools, the answers they gave were not quite clear, which made Dream’s journey even longer. When they told him that his sack of sand was with some Johanna Constantine, he did, however, know exactly where to start looking for it.
The second episode of “The Sandman” contained a different narrative that was first separated from Morpheus’s story. Ethel Cripps, who some viewers may remember from the first episode as Roderick Burgess’ girlfriend, had reached the age of over a hundred by this point and was a well-known art dealer in New York.
It was discovered that she had traded Dream’s tools for the Amulet of Protection, which had been the sole factor in her continued viability up until that point. She even used it to fend off Corinthian, sending him back to the Dreaming when he tried to force her to reveal the whereabouts of the ruby that her son John had stolen. John had stolen the ruby from his mother’s jewellery box.
After that, the audience was transported to a mental institution, which is where Ethel had committed her son after he stole the ruby from her. John Burgess, who is played by the legendary David Thewlis, is the son of Ethel and Roderick Burgess.
The Sandman Season 1 Episode 2 dims in comparison to the first episode
When it comes to production, Netflix has spared no expense in adapting the original work. Each episode captivates viewers with its visually stunning presentation, which includes both architecture and images. In the first episode, Tom Sturridge did not have very many lines, but in this episode, viewers finally heard Morpheus communicate for the first time. Morpheus’s voice was raspy and gloomy, which was an excellent fit for his role.
The episode was the shortest in The Sandman Season 1, clocking in at a duration of 37 minutes. It was also the one in which the milestones of Morpheus’ trip were set. It did not have the same charisma as the first episode, and the plot felt a little unclear, with many of the plotpoints seeming nonsensical, especially for those who were not familiar with the comics. However, the episode did manage to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
On the other hand, it is clear from the adaptation that there will be no instant gratification in terms of finding answers to the several mysteries that are present throughout the series. In the event that the series is renewed for a second or third season, it is possible that some questions will not be answered until then.
On August 5, 2022, The Sandman Season 1 debuted on Netflix, and all episodes are now available to stream in their entirety.