‘When the waking world leaves you wanting and weary, sleep brings you here to find freedom and adventure. To face your fears and fantasies...’

If you love to inhabit the world of dreams; mull over the meaning of abstract concepts like desire, despair, death and dreams; or rethink creation and the end of life; I welcome you to the dreamy world of The Sandman.

The second half of last year saw Netflix release a much-awaited television adaptation of The Sandman, Neil Gaiman`s comic book series. For those who are new to the comics genre, Gaiman is a critically acclaimed author of short fiction, novels, comic books and graphic novels including The Sandman, Stardust, American Gods, Coraline and The Graveyard Book.

Launched in 1989, The Sandman comic book series, spanning over 75 issues, was published by DC Comics. The series continued to feature artists like Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, Jill Thompson, Shawn McManus and Dave McKean till March 1996.

The Sandman is a winding, gothic and, at times, dark story of gods, demons and mankind’s dreams and desires. It tells us the story of Dream (played by Tom Sturridge), also named Lord Morpheus, who is the anthropomorphic manifestation of the lord of dreams. Dream is also the ruler of The Dreaming, a vast realm of adventures, delights and horrors that we visit when we sleep.

Dream is one of the seven immensely powerful and immortal siblings; Dream, Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, Destruction and Destiny, who, bound by rules and duties, oversee various aspects of human existence.

The series begins in 1916 when Roderick Burgess, a self-styled British occultist, aiming to trap Dream’s sibling, Death, ends up imprisoning him with a magic circle and robs him of his power tools. He wants to revive his favourite son, who was killed in wartime. Dream`s imprisonment causes an epidemic of “sleepy sickness” which lasts for over a century.

How Dream escapes, contains the havoc wreaked in both his realm and the waking world, and attempts to round up dreams and nightmares that have escaped his realm in his absence make up the first season. Both these story arcs are derived from Preludes & Nocturnes and The Doll’s House, the first two volumes of The Sandman`s ten-volume collection.

As we move towards the end of the season, we get to know more about Dream and how he adapts to the transformed world he makes his way back to. We trace his transition from an inflexible man of duty to one who is experiencing emotional growth and understanding that it is ‘impolite to keep one’s friends waiting’ and necessary to adapt to a rapidly-changing world.

Tom Sturridge is supported by an impressive ensemble of actors including Vivienne Acheampong who played Lucienne, Boyd Holbrook in the role of Corinthian alias Nightmare, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death, Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar, Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven, Ferdinand Kingsley as Hob Gadling and David Thewlis who played John Doe. There is not a shortage of well-written characters in the multi-world fantasy world of The Sandman.

Dave Thewlis in particular brings us memories of his brilliant performance of VM Varga in Fargo. It won`t come as surprise if this episode is among contention for the award for best episode of the year. The animation, score and production design make one believe that Netflix gave it the budget and resources that it needed.

Bringing a beloved novel or comic book series to screen has always been a challenge. This is perhaps because when we read something we let our imagination wander and we come up with our visuals and interpretations of the written words. When that world of ours meets with someone`s else imagination, they both do not necessarily align with each other.

The Sandman is no exception. The opinion is divided on how well the comic book has been transformed into a TV series. Some say that it is a bit too faithful to the original and that they expected better. For instance, a 24-page comic book can only host a handful of dialogues but in some cases like conversations between Dream and Death and Dream and Hob Gadling have been adapted almost word by word for the screen. A lot of fans are happy about this because this means Gaiman`s original soul and spirit are intact. Others, however, were anticipating expansion in the character development and more depth in the conversation and have been disappointed.

Secondly, many fans have voiced displeasure over the casting of characters like Death and Lucifer and introducing Lady Johanna Constantine (departing from the traditional John Constantine). At the same time, Gaiman has been defending the cast choices stating that “The Sandman fans know that The Endless are supposed to look like what the people looking at them think they look like.”

Whether you have read the original comics or not, you can simply enjoy a show with multilayered and ambiguous stories that bring out some of the best and worst of human actions and emotions. The show is not dependent on action, violence, comedy or nudity and yet it keeps you engaged and if you can stick around till the end of Season One you won`t regret the time you spend on it.

Even though it has been renewed for another season, expected somewhere in 2024, the recent news that the Warner Bros discovery boss David Zaslav has been voicing his reservations over Netflix’s payment terms is a bit concerning. Let`s hope there isn’t any delay in the current schedule.

Till then remember, the Lord is free and it is safe to keep dreaming.

The writer is a digital communication expert and consultant currently working in the public sector. He is the mastermind behind the digital platforms, Sukhan, Mani’s Cricket Myths and Over The Line.