Due to the fact that the first episode of The Sandman season 1 serves as an introduction to the story told in the rest 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 returned to the Dreaming, he found that Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong) was the only one waiting for him there. She had been looking for him the whole time. His domain was in ruins, and he didn’t have the strength to repair it, at least until he found his arsenal of weapons and armor.
Other characters introduced in this episode are the biblical brothers Cain (played by Sanjeev Bhaskar) and Abel (played by Asim Chaudhary), albeit in a comedic portrayal; the centenarian Ethel Cripps (played by Joely Richardson); her institutionalized son John (played by David Thewlis); and the Fates (played by Nina Wadia, Souad Faress and
The Sandman Season 1 Episode 2: Imperfect hosts
Helpless without his tools, Morpheus had no choice but to enlist the help of fate in finding them. However, as Lucienne had warned, the three goddesses never answered directly, and the act of invoking them proved a costly endeavor.
Morpheus came to the realization that he could regain some of his powers by using something he designed while he slept. This realization led him to the dream interpretation of the first killer and first victim, also known as Cain and Abel, the dysfunctional brothers to whom Morpheus gave a pet gargoyle named Gregory. The lightheartedness and comedic relief their interaction brought to the otherwise serious show was well appreciated.
By turning Gregory into sand, Morpheus was able to regain some of his lost abilities and then collect the gifts necessary to invoke the Fates. Although the three women gave him answers to his questions about his three tools, the answers they gave weren’t entirely clear, which made Dream’s journey even longer. However, when they told him that his punching bag was with a certain Johanna Constantine, he knew exactly where to start looking for it.
The second episode of “The Sandman” contained a different narrative, first separated from Morpheus’ story. Ethel Cripps, who may be known to some viewers as Roderick Burgess’ girlfriend from the first episode, was already over a hundred years old at the time and 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 only factor in her continued viability up to that point. She even used it to ward off Corinthian, sending him back to the Dreaming when he tried to force her to reveal the whereabouts of the ruby her son John had stolen. John had stolen the ruby from his mother’s jewelry box.
Afterwards, the audience was transported to a mental institution, where Ethel had committed her son after he stole the ruby from her. John Burgess, played by the legendary David Thewlis, is the son of Ethel and Roderick Burgess.
The Sandman Season 1 Episode 2 darkens compared to the first episode
During production, Netflix spared no expense in adapting the original work. Each episode captivates viewers with its visually stunning presentation that includes both architecture and imagery. In the first episode, Tom Sturridge didn’t have very many lines, but it was in this episode that viewers finally heard Morpheus communicate for the first time. Morpheus’ voice was rough and somber, which suited his role perfectly.
The episode was the shortest of The Sandman season 1, lasting 37 minutes. It was also the one in which the milestones of Morpheus’ journey were set. It didn’t have the same appeal as the first installment, and the plot felt a little unclear, with many of the plot points seeming nonsensical, especially to those unfamiliar with the comics. However, the episode managed to provide a satisfying conclusion.
On the other hand, the adaptation makes it clear that there will be no instant gratification when it comes to finding answers to the various mysteries present throughout the series. In the event that the series is renewed for a second or third season, it’s possible that some questions won’t be answered by then.
On August 5, 2022, The Sandman season 1 debuted on Netflix, and all episodes are available to stream in full now.