Scrolling on Netflix is the current entertainment limbo, watching the previews of the multitude of shows and movies the algorithm suggests for you. You know the trailers never really display how good or bad they are, but you can’t help but take their dull description seriously in fear of wasting time. Recently one of those top shows being recommended to everyone is the Neil Gaiman adaptation, The Sandman. This show has only come out recently, August 5th this year, and though many fans of the source material (The Sandman comics) were worried about the quality, most have found it surprisingly faithful to the original plotline. This is certainly a feat considering the very nature of the comics in the first place, a dark grim fantasy requiring many creative shots and CGI to recreate the feel of the stylized comics.

As a first-time viewer with no past experience with the series, the trailer seemed confusing and truly a lot to get into, with cult leaders summoning endless beings, and a seemingly just as endless number of characters flashing by.  However, as I began the first episode, the narration leads you through the story gently, it was no rush of elements nor characters as I presumed. Instead, as I intently watched, components of the story and continuity revealed themselves in casual dialogue and held glances. This subtlety keeps new and old viewers intrigued especially when led in a new direction from the comics. 

Speaking on differences of the show, one glaring difference from the original comics is the broad cast shown in the new series. Many of the characters have been changed to further diversify the cast. This includes gender-swapped characters (such as John/Johanna Constantine), formerly white characters being played by black actors (such as Death) and more representation of gay relationships. Though most viewers rejoiced, some believe this choice ruined the story as a whole, Gaiman himself defends the cast in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, “I give zero ***** about people who don’t understand/haven’t read Sandman whining about a non-binary Desire or that Death isn’t white enough. Watch the show and make up your minds.” One interviewer asks in reference to a non-binary actor playing Desire, “Wasn’t Desire… always non-binary?” To which Gaiman responds, “Well, yes. But you’d have to have read the comics to know that. And the shouty people appear to have skipped that step.”

Although the story itself stands on its own, the budget and actors bring it to a whole other level. Tom Sturridge, the lead actor playing Morpheus brings the brooding quiet dream-lord to life as he scowls and stifles his speech. His unruly hair and draping black suit characterize him without a single word being spoken. Yet his disposition becomes more complex as does his predicament. In an interview with Newsweek, Sturridge as a fan of the comics himself states the role was daunting as he feared he wouldn’t do the role justice, stating it was, “Frightening because I am one of the people who regards this [comic book series] so highly, I care about it intensely, it’s so important to me as a piece of literature.” His love for the series certainly shows through his performance as does the cinematography manifest the fictional world into existence. One such example is a scene in the first episode showing Morpheus in a glass cage, a head-on shot with blue lighting and bright exposure making Dream the center of focus, reminiscent of such films as Gattaca and The Fifth Element in their eerie sci-fi feel.

If you’re still not convinced that you should watch this show, time and relevance are a great reasons to start your binge session now. This show has spent two weeks in the top ten shows on Netflix and continues to hold the number one placement as of August 24th and it is no surprise fans are jumping for a second season. So, while there’s a less substantial number of episodes to watch, 10 in total (1 bonus feature) each spanning around 45 minutes to an hour long, you can get a head-start before this show inevitably blows up leaving you with much more to regard. Of course, relevance only matters when the content itself is actually enjoyable, and after watching this show I for one can say this is nothing less than a masterpiece of modern cinema. If you’re looking for a compelling show that includes fantasy, drama, great representation, bewitching cinematography, and a touch of horror, there is none better than The Sandman. In conclusion, if you find yourself in a Netflix paradox, maybe give The Sandman a watch.