The Sandman Season 2 Vol. 1 Is Here — But Is It Still a Dream Worth Having?
Netflix drops the first half of its long-awaited fantasy sequel — and early reviews are raising eyebrows more than anticipation.
When The Sandman dropped its first season back in 2022, it felt like Netflix had cracked a code: how to adapt one of the most beloved (and famously unfilmable) graphic novels into prestige fantasy TV that actually worked. It was moody, literary, deeply weird — in a good way. Fast forward to July 2025, and Season 2 has officially arrived… but let’s just say the Dreaming’s a little shakier this time around.
The streamer released the first six episodes — dubbed “Volume 1” — today. Volume 2, with the final five episodes, hits July 24. There’s even a bonus episode coming July 31, which sounds promising. But if you’re diving into the new batch hoping for a triumphant return, temper your expectations. Early reviews? Not exactly dreamy.
Critics aren’t pulling punches. The Guardian called it “so pretentious it ruins everything,” pointing to an overly self-serious tone and pacing that drags more than it dazzles. The Wrap and AV Club chimed in with similar energy: too much gloom, not enough movement. One even likened it to “unimaginative cosplay,” which, considering how rich and strange Gaiman’s universe is, cuts deep.
There’s also some off-screen context clouding things. The release arrives under the shadow of recent allegations against creator Neil Gaiman — a fact several outlets, including Pakistan Tribune, suggest is coloring the conversation around the show. It’s hard to separate art from artist when the artist looms as large as Morpheus himself.
Still, not all is lost. The finale of Volume 1 — involving a gut-punch of a choice by Dream about his son Orpheus — has generated some real conversation. Tudum and SuperHeroHype both break it down in detail, and it’s clear the emotional stakes are still there when the show leans into its mythological roots. It’s not empty spectacle — it’s just uneven.
And let’s be honest: fans of The Sandman are a loyal bunch. They’ve waited patiently through Netflix’s silent rollout strategy and the long production gap. They want to love this. There’s still hope that Volume 2 might stick the landing — wrap things up with the kind of poetic finality that defined the best arcs in the original comic.
For now, though, this new season feels like a lucid dream with bad signal. The vibes are there, but the clarity’s missing. Let’s see if the second half can bring it all into focus.
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