A Dream Show (Literally)

Usually, I have no problem binge-watching one of my favorite K-drama or anime shows, but there’s nothing wrong with branching out every now and then. Recently, I took a gander at a television show outside my normal scope of interest and I can’t deny that I was impressed. It’s called The Sandman and it was added to the Netflix platform this month.

Honestly, I have to say that even watching the trailer for it had me hooked. I was almost immediately invested partly because it featured a villain I am particularly fond of: Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, Dracula Untold). I figured if this guy is playing a villain, then it has to be interesting! Of course, that’s not the only reason I was captivated by this show. I loved the different elements added to the story, such as the references to Greek mythology, which may seem like they are vastly overused in films and television shows.

This could be because when these myths are added to any story, it mostly involves the popular names of Zeus, Hercules, Hades, Athena, and so on. However, our main man, the Sandman, or Dream as he is mostly called in the series, is none other than Morpheus. Perhaps it’s just me, but I haven’t seen many movies or television series centered around the Greek god of dreams. It’s a welcome change! Not only that, but this show definitely gave the viewers plenty to think about.

The first episode begins with Dream being captured by our villain which is already a mind-trip in itself. I mean, the embodiment of dreams, was locked up in a cellar! How crazy is that?! Another thought that came to mind is just how much we don’t realize the effects and influence dreams have on our everyday lives. In a way, dreams are what keep us going, but that’s a topic for another time.

What I really admired is that everything is told from Dream’s perspective! He had intense struggles and moments of doubt, not that much unlike us. I especially loved the camaraderie between him and his “big sister” Death. It was fascinating and a little endearing to see that even Dream needed a pep talk! I’ve heard there’s a rumor of another season and I’m actually looking forward to it, I can’t wait to see where this story goes!