The Sandman has returned to Netflix, and the second season of the ambitious dark fantasy has plunged both critics and audiences into a state of divided opinion. While the series launched with a “Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes, the initial wave of reviews reveals a stark split, with many praising the show’s stunning visuals and lead performance while finding fault with its narrative pacing and structure.
Tom Sturridge’s return as Dream of the Endless remains a celebrated high point, but is it enough to unify the season’s reception? Here’s what critics are saying.
A “Visual Feast” with Narrative Flaws
A common thread among even the most critical reviews is the sheer beauty of the series. Kaiya Shunyata of RogerEbert.com admits that even when episodes “drag,” they are each an “undeniable visual feast.” This sentiment is echoed by Sean Boelman of FandomWire, who praised the show’s “epic production values” in his 8/10 review. Bob Strauss from TheWrap went a step further, calling Season 2 “mesmerizing in the best way, a dark dream that satisfies so thoroughly you loathe to call it nightmarish.”
However, this visual splendor isn’t enough to overcome narrative concerns for some critics. The primary complaints center on the show’s pacing and episodic structure. Melanie McFarland from Salon.com described the season as dragging “like an inescapable, non-refreshing REM state.” Similarly, Pat Stacey of the Irish Independent gave it a 2/5 rating, citing its “ponderously paced, full of portentous waffle” nature.
Ben Travers of IndieWire, in a scathing D+ review, argued that the season “tells largely self-contained stories without sound episodic structure,” while Nick Hilton of the Independent UK felt it was “too elusive to be emotive, too fast-paced to be introspective.”
By the Numbers: How Season 2 Stacks Up on Rotten Tomatoes
The divided critical opinion is reflected in the show’s Rotten Tomatoes scores, which show a noticeable dip compared to its acclaimed first season.
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The Sandman Season 2: Holds a 74% Tomatometer score from critics and a 70% Audience Score.
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The Sandman Season 1: Sits significantly higher with an 88% Tomatometer score and an 81% Audience Score.
While the Season 2 scores are based on a smaller, initial sample of reviews, the drop suggests that the follow-up may not be capturing the magic of the original for everyone.
The Verdict: A Bold but Flawed Dream
Ultimately, the reception for The Sandman Season 2 is as complex and multifaceted as the series itself. Those who fell in love with the first season’s breathtaking visuals and Tom Sturridge’s captivating performance will find plenty to admire here. Tom Percival of Metro.co.uk captured this feeling, declaring the season “every bit as beguiling, bold and brilliant as the first.”
However, viewers sensitive to pacing issues or those seeking a tightly woven, serialized plot may find themselves agreeing with the more critical assessments. The consensus seems to be that while Season 2 is a dream to look at, its storytelling can sometimes feel like a slow, meandering nightmare.
The Sandman Season 2 Vol 1 is now available to stream on Netflix.
