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The Sandman 1x05 Full Reaction! (Patreon)

Published:
2023-08-31 12:45:01
Imported:
2026-06
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The Sandman 1x05 Full Reaction

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Ryan

Believe it or not, this episode is actually significantly toned down from the comic issue 24 Hours, which is truly one of the most relentlessly dark and scary stories I've ever experienced in any medium. Just as a taste, at one point John gives everyone back their real minds just long enough to comprehend what they've been doing before taking over again. But that's also where the show's less evil characterization of John comes in, as everything we've seen from him so far, especially his letting Rosemary live (in the comic he does kill her), makes it much harder to see coming that this is the kind of thing he was planning on doing once he got the ruby back, and all the scarier for it. And I'm especially impressed by how it all still makes sense with his new characterization by being centered around his obession with "truth" rather than just random evil. And then we get the final battle with Dream, which was originally an entire issue on its own with them fighting through all kinds of surreal landscapes. But the show runners made the wise decision to not blow their money on that and cut the fight down to its bare essentials, saving their already straining budget for things that mattered more, like the shot of John in Dream's hand, one of the most iconic images from the comic and a joy to see brought to live action so perfectly. And I imagine this ending is also a bit confusing to new viewers, as what appeared to be the main narrative thrust of the entire show is wrapped up just halfway through the first season. Well, that's because this season adapts the first two volumes of the comic, and we've now come to the end of the first. A volume that Gaiman himself has never cared for much, as he struggled to get a handle on the characters and also had to deal with DC execs forcing him to plug in connections to their universe. And even with the show making several improvements, a lot of people still find the second half to be noticeably better. So if you were already liking this, just hold on.

Thomas Corp

Jess, as soon as you said how you loved the last episode for how you got to dive into the story, I got even more excited for your reaction to this one. This ends up being my favorite episode of the season, thus far, top five of the season, if nothing else. I love how it felt like a superb modern-day Twilight Zone and had as Roger Ebert once described as “an old dramatic stand-by. You isolate a group of people in a room, you have them talk, and eventually they exchange truths about themselves and come to new understandings. William Saroyan and Eugene O’Neill have been here before, but they used saloons and drunks.” The Sandman uses David Thewlis, a diner, and the regular customers and staff of said diner. This whole thing was unsettling and dark as shit, and I LOVED IT! Only downside is that we likely won’t see David for the rest of the season. Though there will be a second season and he’s not dead, far as I could tell, so... It is an eternal debate/struggle of truth versus fantasy, dreams, hope, what have you. As you say, people do need things to hold onto. At the same time, it would be a much better world sometimes if there was less deception. As John notes, he offered the opportunity for the diner residents to live as themselves without suffering, yet sometimes, people need suffering. And as Morpheus notes, and you concurred, dreams allow us to move forward. The ultimate truth is probably somewhere in the middle of that. My own thoughts are that you strive to be truthful and kind to people, but that is easier said than done. Society as a whole seems to demand everyone be nice and reacts very harshly when one isn’t. In some cases, people reject beauty and kindness. For instance, as Lenin said about Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Number 23. And that’s Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, not the bloody walrus. He said, “I know of nothing better than the Appassionata and could listen to it every day. What astonishing, superhuman music! It always makes me proud, perhaps with a childish naiveté, to think that people can work such miracles! … But I can’t listen to music very often, it affects my nerves. I want to say sweet, silly things, and pat the little heads of people who, living in a filthy hell, can create such beauty. These days, one can’t pat anyone on the head nowadays, they might bite your hand off. Hence, you have to beat people’s little heads, beat mercilessly, although ideally, we are against doing any violence to people. Hm. What a devilishly difficult job!” Then there is the malleable and evolving nature of dreams, such as what the Lord of Darkness said. That is our beloved Tim Curry, not dear Gwendoline Christie. Though if Gwendoline were to say Tim’s line, I would LOVE IT. Tim’s Lord of Darkness said in response to one’s dreams being stolen, “All things change, Lady. The dreams of youth are the regrets of maturity.” And then there’s my favorite line David had as our most vile and wonderfully wicked V. M. Varga, “The problem is not that there is evil in the world. The problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?” Then again, perhaps what I’ve just said are the ramblings of a man who can never remember his dreams. You mention everyone needing a good night’s sleep. I honestly don’t think I’ve had one for over twenty years now. I relate heavily to how you speak of being a guarded person, and that when you are completely open and honest with someone, that speaks volumes to the level of trust and comfort you have in that person. That’s me as well. I also related to how you mentioned about struggling with anxiety. I’ve had my own dealings with that and depression which really has never ended. You ask us to comment on our hopes, wishes, fantasies of ours, and/or what keeps us going. Well, that’s the sad thing: I don’t have much left. I suppose I’ve let myself become lost to the darkness. My dreams of youth have become the regrets of maturity, though I’m not that old. I know that my family keeps me going, though that’s not exactly a hope. In terms of hopes, one that won’t go away is the hope that I meet someone, find love. And that whoever that woman would be, she’d love me for who and what I am. Of course, the way my life’s been that’s probably never going to happen. Regardless, this was a most beautiful reaction, Jess, and the lawn mower was no bother. Thank you so sincerely for this beautiful reaction, Jess, and thank you for being as wonderful as you are.

Thomas Corp
>>116456324

I’ve not read the comics, but this episode REALLY has exacerbated the already strong desire to read it. You say the source material for this story is even darker than what was presented onscreen especially has me curious about the comic.

Ryan
>>116483684

I actually teared up reading this. I've told so many people that this show is one of the best stories I've seen in the last 20+ years, and several times I've worried that I'm overselling it, but seeing a reaction like this is some big reassurance that it's not just me, and it really is that great. And I especially look forward to seeing people's takes on the next episode, where the only thing that stopped me from putting it on my list of the greatest TV episodes in history (Judgement, You Never Saw the Sunrise, Goodbye Farewell and Amen, In the Pale Moonlight, Intersections in Real Time, The Constant, Connor's Wedding, and Long Long Time) is that it's so faithfully adapted from an earlier non-TV story.

Thomas Corp
>>116483684

Yeah, I don’t think you’re overselling this show. It’s been superb. I’ve got to give more thought to the greatest episodes of television. I’m usually good at selecting my favorites per show. I’d have to think on greatest, though I would probably put this episode in both categories of one of my favorites and one of the greatest. I see you listed Long, Long Time, that, also, would go in both categories. I love that you include Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen in your own list. That’s the best series finale ever, and I don’t say that simply because it’s the finale to my favorite show.

Jenny Chalek

What motivates me? Love and affection from my cat, and secondarily, my friends and family. LOL. I am bonded to my cat.

Thomas Corp
>>116790290

That’s very sweet to hear. The bond between a cat and their owner is quite powerful as I recall from my own experience. Genuinely quite lovely to hear you have a strong bond with your own cat. Most heartwarming.

Matthew Beckford

Maybe if people stopped saying "how are you?" all the time we wouldn't have to lie so much...