Film Editor Jess Parker praises the bonus episode of Netflix’s The Sandman, reflecting on how it provides the conclusion the series itself was perhaps lacking
Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman swiftly rose up the streaming charts to become an instant success. The series follows Dream (Tom Sturridge), after having been held prisoner for over a century, as he works across time and space to fix the damage caused in the wake of his entrapment. Netflix released a bonus episode on the 19th August 2022, ‘Dream of a Thousand Cats/Calliope’, a two-story collection that adapts Gaiman’s Dream Country comics.
The Sandman’s ‘Dream of a Thousand Cats’ follows The Prophet (Sandra Oh) as she tells a mass of cats, young and old, of her dream to find salvation in a world dominated by felines. Her message is backed by trauma and determination, asking of her kind, ‘why do we live as we do?’. She questions the motives behind their domestication in a world that was once their own. Led by Oh, viewers may recognise many of the voices that feature in this part: Don (David Tennant), Laura Lynn (Georgia Tennant), The Black Cat (Joe Lycett), Crow (Neil Gaiman), Golden-Haired Man (James McAvoy), and Paul (Michael Sheen).
The voice of Birmingham’s own Lycett was a brief yet welcome feature, showing a playfulness in his cat’s short appearance. The inclusion of both David Tennant and Michael Sheen in this episode appears to reference another beloved Gaiman adaptation, Good Omens (2019), with Tennant’s appearance also calling to Gaiman’s stint as a writer for Doctor Who (1963). Additionally, McAvoy may be known to long-standing fans of The Sandman from the Audible production of the text. The episode’s casting becomes a who’s-who of Gaiman-related stars, all providing recognisable and enjoyable vocal performances.
Hulsing created a stylistically dreamy landscape
The most notable element within ‘Dream of a Thousand Cats’ is its stunning animation style, brought to life by Dutch animator Hisko Hulsing, who acted as production designer and director for this bonus episode. By combining canvas oil paintings with 2D animation, Hulsing created a stylistically dreamy landscape for his cats to exist in, matching the ethereal atmosphere of The Sandman.
The Sandman’s ‘Calliope’ sees struggling writer Richard Madoc (Arthur Darvill) abusing the control that he finds himself wielding over Greek muse Calliope (Malissanthi Mahut) by exploiting the divine inspiration that she provides. Desperate to be freed, Calliope seeks help from her ex-husband: Dream. ‘Calliope’ feels more conventional within The Sandman series than ‘Dream of a Thousand Cats’, featuring Sturridge’s broody appearance and live action gothicisms once more, rather than a mystical animated cats. We see a more emotional and empathetic side to Dream as he finds common ground with his ex-wife through the shared experience of being held captive by a manipulative mortal. The chemistry between Sturridge and Mahut is tender and bitter-sweet, providing a side to the Lord of Dreams that we have not seen before.
This bonus episode has ended Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman with beauty and a sense of satisfaction
Many viewers may know Darvill for his portrayal of lovable companion Rory Williams on Doctor Who (1963), making this portrayal of the manically success-hungry Madoc even more impactful. The ambiguous nature of how he abuses Calliope invites viewers to imagine the worst, praying for Madoc’s downfall. Darvill’s performance, however, cuts through viewers’ hatred by displaying a layer of desperation about him. Having tasted the success that Calliope brings, it is hard not to empathise with how flawed the writer truly is. Darvill manages to humanise this despicable being, providing a level of depth that could very easily have been lost in the trauma that he invokes upon his
captive.
The Sandman’s ‘Dream of a Thousand Cats/Calliope’ brings a richness about the series that I felt was missing within its first 10 episodes. Through capturing the whimsy of Gaiman’s graphic novels within the uniquely stylistic first part, and providing an alternate view of the Lord of Dreams in the second part, this bonus episode has ended Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman with beauty and a sense of satisfaction. Both stories are well rounded and resolved, concluding
a series that, without it, felt like it was slightly lacking.
Rating: 4.5/5
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