When a gathering of the Endless reveals deep-seated grievances, Morpheus embarks on a mission to Hell.

Nearly three years after its first season debuted on Netflix, The Sandman returns for a second (and final) run of episodes, split into three releases. The first three of the six episode drop covers Season of Mists, a seven-issue run of the comics (we don’t include standalone issue #25 – The Dead Boy Detectives – as they had already had their own show).

We begin with a gathering of the Endless, the family of immortals of whom the eponymous Sandman (AKA Dream or Morpheus) is a member, which leads to him realising he needs to atone for his past actions. He visits Hell in an attempt to rescue his former love, but the reception is not what he expects, and that’s all the story I’m going to reveal here because the twists and turns are all part of the fun.

Tom Sturridge feels more comfortable as Morpheus this time round, showing a vulnerability that was previously hidden by his arrogance. And he’s supported by a wonderful cast, which includes Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer and Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne. The visuals are sumptuous, combining excellent visual effects with real-world location, and for a long-term Sandman fan like me, it constantly evokes the look of the comics.

The Season of Mists story-arc is sufficiently covered across the three episodes, with nothing of significance jettisoned. Indeed, elements of one-shot comic Tales in the Sand are also injected into the story, adding to the richness of the narrative.

Verdict: A faithful adaptation of a revered Sandman story arc that manages to please both long term comic book fans and newcomers. 9/10

Nick Joy