#tv tonight: episode 1 of #TheSandman https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ). Yes, a bit late to the party, but we were finishing Amazon Prime series before moving on to Netflix for a bit.
I only half remember the graphic novels, it's been more than a decade since I read them last, but this *felt* right and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season (except I may skip the bit I never liked to re-read, I think that's the 24/7 episode).
The change to Lucienne took me back a bit because that character design was one that stuck in my mind, but having got to the end of the episode I'm more left wondering what bird she is because he always had something of the vulture and she had a very bird-like tilt to the head.
I thought Alex was nicely done, starting out likeable and turning out to be so very damaged by his upbringing.
And Jessame(sp?) was great, it was such a shame :(
#tv tonight: ep 2 & 3 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ).
Did these two as a double feature as ep 2 was so short. Short but mostly quite sweet – I loved the whole bit with the gargoyles and Cain & Abel. It's a dark motif for the comic relief but it was absolutely pitch perfect, I don't remember enjoying them as much in the comics.
And loved the Fates – I much prefer "1 question 1 answer" to "oh whoops you used your questions!"
And episode 3 was also great. (Yes, I'm enjoying the show, can you tell?).
Took a few moments to get over "wait, that's Clara isn't it?" but Joanna Constantine is her own foul mouthed creature who I was thoroughly sold on after those few moments. Again with the darkly comic moments, like the exorcism.
Lots of stuff in this one that was thematic statements for the whole edifice, even tho I only half remember the overall arc.
#tv yesterday: episode 4 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ).
Which is the one where Morpheus goes to hell. The duel scene was really well done, with the transformations happening in dreamscape not the "real" world of hell. Tho you have to wonder what the demon was thinking choosing that contest format!
And the stuff with John was also well done, unsettling, creepy and with a sense of inescapability about it.
not #tv earlier: I skipped episode 5 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ), as I always skip that bit of the graphic novel it's based on. I read it once and that's enough, it's very well done, but deeply unsettling.
@JigsawPieces watched it and said I should watch the last bit, to get the culmination of the John arc. Which was also the pay off for Lucifer's comment last episode about tools being traps & a step into a bigger story.
#tv tonight: ep 6 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ).
That was awesome :D It's the one that introduces Death, which is one of my favourite issues of the graphic novel, & they paired it with one of my other favourite characters, Hob Gadling.
Death was spot on, she doesn't look like she did in the comic (tho she's wearing the same outfit), but she's perfect. And I've always liked that Death has a sense of fun & Dream does not.
And I liked the portrayal of the burgeoning friendship between Dream & Hob. And how Hob is always so enthusiastic about how much of the world there is still to see, even when it's all gone so wrong for him.
It also paired really well with the Death bit, because you see that Dream isn't just a mopey pretentious goth-boy because he's been captured etc. No, he's always been like that, and perhaps now he sees the need to change.
#tv tonight: episode 7 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ).
And now we start on a new chapter of the story. As it's been so long since I read the graphic novels I'm in a weird position of knowing bits of what will happen and other stuff feels totally new, and I can't tell if that's because it is or because I've forgotten.
But it does mean I get little moments of 'ooooh, it's /that/ bit', like with the "collector" convention.
I have, however, mostly forgotten what happens with Rose although I remember things not going well for Lyta overall (but not why).
The appearance of Gilbert filled me with glee, and that's a beautiful piece of casting as Stephen Fry himself often comes across as a sort of archetype of a particular sort of Englishman.
#tv tonight: episode 8 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ).
In which we spend a lot of time in other people's dreams and find out what's going on with Jed (who does rather end up out of the frying pan and into the fire).
Also thematic statements for the whole story – Dream and his refusal to admit that change can happen let alone is necessary, even whilst the evidence for it stares him in the face.
#tv tonight: episode 9 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ).
Aka the "cereal" convention one. Getting the tone of this episode right must've taken some doing – dark but funny, and Gilbert's dawning realisation of exactly what's going on is well done. As is his subsequent realisation of what Morpheus is going to do.
Speaking of Morpheus, cracks in the dreaming and cracks in his facade. Change comes, whether he approves or not.
#tv tonight: episode 10 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ).
The season finale! I think they did a really good job at wrapping it up in a way that would feel satisfying if it hadn't gotten a season 2, but at the same time with enough hooks for the conflicts coming up. Of course it helps it's based on an already existing story so they know where they're going.
And speaking of that, more character growth than I was expecting for Morpheus given where I think I remember it going. I did like the (new to the TV series?) remaking of Golb in the way she'd wished. For all it was a dark story it ended with hope for the future for so many of the characters.
Also liked the little bit of the dynamic between Dream & Desire, and the drawing of those battle lines.
#tv tonight: ep 11 of #TheSandman ( https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81150303 ).
Post-season bonus, with two of the standalone bits.
I remembered the Dream of a Thousand Cats from the graphic novels, and it was every bit as disturbingly delightful as I'd hoped. Particularly the crunch at the end!
And our cat, Ellie, sat and watched at least the start of it ... I suspect it was just the kitten meowing she was reacting to but ...
I'd remembered Calliope as just disturbing and I suspect I skimmed over it in the books, but it felt a lot more an integral part of the story here. Both in a thematic sense and in showing how Morpheus both has and cannot change.
It also made Morpheus feel that bit more timeless & non-human, and dangerous.
And a non-spoilery thought to finish.
I thought this first season of #TheSandman was really well done. It felt like the books I half remember while being updated to the modern day. If you've not watched it, I'd recommend it … there's nothing else I can think of that's quite like it, and it's a good story, told well with depth behind it.
Margaret
Tan Cheung
Kristin C.