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TV Review: ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 2
Tom Sturridge as Dream in episode 210 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 2 receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

Released on Netflix on July 24th, ‘The Sandman’s second season –– and the show itself –– wraps up with five final episodes (plus a stand-alone, adapting ‘Death: The High Cost of Living, which premieres on July 31st) focused on the moody, doomy character of Dream (Tom Sturridge, ‘On the Road’) as here he reckons with the fallout from his actions in the first part of the season.

Overseen by showrunner and executive producer Allan Heinberg (‘Wonder Woman’) the cast for the new season also includes Kirby (‘The Good Place’), Mason Alexander Park (‘National Anthem’), Esmé Creed-Miles (‘Hanna’), Adrian Lester (‘Mary Queen of Scots’) and Stephen Fry (‘Gosford Park’).

Related Article: ‘The Sandman’ Season 2: More Narrative Drive from the Lord of Dreams

Initial Thoughts

Mark Hamill as Merv Pumpkinhead in episode 210 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

And so we reach the end (for now, it remains valuable IP) of the road for the TV incarnation of ‘The Sandman’. With the second volume of the second season now on our screens, it’s time to find out if the series sticks the landing.

Script and Direction

Esme Creed-Miles as Delirium in episode 210 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

Perhaps the biggest issue with the new run of episodes (something that could be levelled at the show as a whole) is one of pacing. There are endless (no pun intended) scenes of characters having weighty, doom-landed conversations in different fantastical locales.

There are certainly big, dramatic moments that occur in this second part of the season, but we can’t reveal what they are (if you’ve read the source material, you’ll know), but the build up to it and the fallout are less dramatically satisfying as they might be.

The series continues to look impressive, with some beautifully realized settings –– and director Jamie Childs has a real eye for an well-crafted shot.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Jack Gleeson as Puck, Freddie Fox as Loki in episode 208 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

Tom Sturridge once more anchors the show as the stoic Dream, and he manages to make the character watchable and compelling.

There is memorable work from the rest of the Endless family, and the Fates (played by Nina Wadia, Souad Faress and Dinita Gohil) make for entertaining adversaries as they seek to see Dream answer for killing his own son.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Souad Faress as Crone, Nina Wadia as The Mother, Razane Jammal as Lyta Hall, Dinita Gohil as The Maiden in episode 211 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

While it is frustrating for the ‘Sandman’ adaptation to end with many stories left to consider –– the creative team’s claim that this was always the planned end point doesn’t totally fly, feeling more like PR spin following the fallout of creator Neil Gaiman’s misconduct and abuse allegations –– at least we got as much as we did.

Premium streaming TV was certainly a better choice of landing spot for this sprawling, complex tale than trying to squeeze chunks of it into a movie. And there remains much to recommended this show, however limited.
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What’s the plot of ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 2?

After a fateful reunion with his family, Dream of the Endless (Tom Sturridge) must face one impossible decision after another as he attempts to save himself, his kingdom, and the waking world from the epic fallout of his past misdeeds.

To make amends, Dream must confront longtime friends and foes, gods, monsters, and mortals. But the path to forgiveness is full of unexpected twists and turns, and true absolution may cost Dream everything.

Who stars in ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 2?
- Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams
- Kirby as Death
- Adrian Lester as Destiny
- Esmé Creed-Miles as Delirium
- Barry Sloane as The Prodigal
- Mason Alexander Park as Desire
- Ruairi O’Connor as Orpheus
- Freddie Fox as Loki
- Ann Skelly as Nuala
- Jack Gleeson as Puck
- Stephen Fry as Gilbert
Stephen Fry as Gilbert in episode 209 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

Movies and TV Shows Based on Vertigo Comics:
- ‘Tank Girl’ (1995)
- ‘Constantine’ (2005)
- ‘A History of Violence’ (2005)
- ‘V for Vendetta’ (2005)
- ‘Stardust’ (2007)
- ‘The Losers’ (2010)
- ‘Constantine’ (2014)
- ‘Lucifer’ (2016)
- ‘Preacher’ (2016)
- ‘The Kitchen’ (2019)
Buy Vertigo Comics Movies and TV on Amazon
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July 27, 2025
TV Review: ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 1
Tom Sturridge as Dream in episode 203 of ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Netflix © 2025.

‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 1 receives 7 out of 10 stars.

Released on Netflix on July 3rd, ‘The Sandman’ returns with the first batch of episodes from its second season, focusing once again on the machinations of stoic, powerful mythological figure Dream (Tom Sturridge, ‘On the Road’).

Overseen by showrunner and executive producer Allan Heinberg (‘Wonder Woman’) the cast for the new season also includes Kirby (‘The Good Place’), Mason Alexander Park (‘National Anthem’), Esmé Creed-Miles (‘Hanna’) and Adrian Lester (‘Mary, Queen of Scots’).

Related Article: Steve Coogan, Douglas Booth and More Added to ‘The Sandman’ Season 2

Initial Thoughts

Kirby as Death in episode 205 of ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

It is almost impossible to discuss this new season of ‘The Sandman’ without addressing the Neil Gaiman elephant in the room. The original creator and writer of the classic graphic novel series from where the Netflix show draws its source material is facing some serious misconduct allegations, and that goes some way to explain why his presence has been all but vanished in the promotion for the second season.

All of which is to say that we’re in a case of separating the art from the artist, and not dismissing the hard work that the creative team, crew and cast have put into the new show. ‘Sandman’ is a show that fans have been eagerly awaiting, and while it’s somewhat frustrating that Netflix has opted to dole it out in chunks (much as with ‘Stranger Things’ or ‘Cobra Kai’), this first “Volume” represents a satisfying story.

Script and Direction

Mason Alexander Park as Desire in episode 205 of ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

The writers’ room, overseen by showrunner Allan Heinberg, is here adapting more of the beloved ‘Sandman’ stories, albeit with their own twist.

We get to meet more members of the Endless family, including Destiny and Destruction (AKA “The Prodigal”) who all have their own ways of dealing with being anthropomorphic representations of abstract ideas.

There is also pleasure to be found in the choices of stories this time around –– the likes of Thor, Loki and other Norse gods appear, as do Oberon and Titania, summoned to watch a production of the Shakespeare play in which they feature.

This season features even more of a narrative drive than the first, tying together the various narratives in interesting, thoughtful fashion.

Director Jamie Childs handled three episodes of Season 1 and returns to take over all of the second, bringing the same stylish visions to life.

While there are moments that the effects don’t always quite live up to the imagination of the team, the show in general is still impressive.

Cast and Performances

Tom Sturridge as Dream in episode 205 of ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Netflix © 2025.

Tom Sturridge remains the focal point of the show even the story sometimes wanders off without him. His Dream is a stoic, haunted character, and while he’s not always the most charismatic (by design), he’s still compelling.

Around him, the other members of the Endless “family” have their own appeal, especially Mason Alexander Park as the preening, selfish Desire and Esmé Creed-Miles as the whimsical, sometimes psychotic Delirium.

When the Endless are assembled, it’s always more entertaining watching their familiar dynamic –– my only problem? Needed more Death, since Kirby is the best of the bunch (and we’re promised an adaptation of one of the character’s best storylines, ‘Death: The High Cost of Living’ as a standalone episode later in the season).

Elsewhere, new characters that make an impact include Dream’s son, Orpheus (Ruairi O’Connor), who plays an important part later in the season, and Ann Skelly, who impresses as Nuala, a member of Oberon and Titania’s royal court, who ends up making a big change in her life.

Ann Skelly as Nuala in episode 203 of ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

There is also a welcome return for some of the supporting characters from Season 1, including Merv Pumpkinhead (voiced by Mark Hamill), Matthew the Raven (with the vocal tones of Patton Oswalt), and Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, the librarian who serves as Dream’s main assistant. Plus Hob Gadling, granted immortality, and who meets Dream every hundred years or so, has a solid scene early in the new season, with Ferdinand Kingsley bringing him to cocky, funny life.

Final Thoughts

Barry Sloane as Destruction in episode 206 of ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

Since this and Volume 2 (due on July 24th) represent the last ‘Sandman’ output we’ll be seeing for the foreseeable future, it’s at least reassuring that these are effective, well-crafted takes on the stories.

Is it a perfect version? No, but it has enough verve and magic about to cast a spell.
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What’s the plot of ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 1?

After a fateful reunion with his family, Dream of the Endless (Tom Sturridge) must face one impossible decision after another as he attempts to save himself, his kingdom, and the waking world from the epic fallout of his past misdeeds.

To make amends, Dream must confront longtime friends and foes, gods, monsters, and mortals. But the path to forgiveness is full of unexpected twists and turns, and true absolution may cost Dream everything.

Who stars in ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Volume 1?
- Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams
- Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, the Lord of Hell
- Kirby as Death
- Adrian Lester as Destiny
- Esmé Creed-Miles as Delirium
- Barry Sloane as The Prodigal
- Mason Alexander Park as Desire
- Ruairi O’Connor as Orpheus
- Freddie Fox as Loki
- Clive Russell as Odin
- Ann Skelly as Nuala
- Jack Gleeson as Puck
Jenna Coleman as Lady Johanna in episode 206 of ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2025.

Movies and TV Shows Based on Vertigo Comics:
- ‘Tank Girl’ (1995)
- ‘Constantine’ (2005)
- ‘A History of Violence’ (2005)
- ‘V for Vendetta’ (2005)
- ‘Stardust’ (2007)
- ‘The Losers’ (2010)
- ‘Constantine’ (2014)
- ‘Lucifer’ (2016)
- ‘Preacher’ (2016)
- ‘The Kitchen’ (2019)
Buy Vertigo Comics Movies and TV on Amazon
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July 3, 2025
Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Adds Steve Coogan and More
(Left) Steve Coogan to play Barnabas in season 2 of ‘The Sandman’. Photo: Thomas Laisne. (Right) Douglas Booth to play Cluracan in ‘The Sandman’ season 2. Photo: Simon Annand.

Preview:
- Steve Coogan, Jack Gleeson and more are joining ‘The Sandman’.
- Adrian Lester and others are already aboard.
- The Neil Gaiman adaptation is returning for a second season at Netflix.
Given the expansive (and clearly expensive) scope of ‘The Sandman’s first season of Netflix, there was naturally wondering –– and worrying –– over whether a second would even be ordered.

Fortunately, fans and more general audiences turned out in droves for that initial run of stories adaptation from the sprawling, iconic graphic novel series originated by Neil Gaiman from a heady stew of myths, legends, folklore and original ideas.

With shooting long under way on Season 2, now we know who will be joining the cast, including Steve Coogan, Jack Gleeson, Indya Moore and others.
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What’s the story of ‘The Sandman’?

Tom Sturridge as Dream in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2021.

In Season 1, the Sandman, aka Dream (Tom Sturridge) — the powerful cosmic being who controls all our dreams — was unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for over a century. Once he escapes, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.

In Season 2, the King of Dreams will come face-to-face — and go toe-to-toe — with the formidable rulers of Hell, Asgard, Faerie, and the realms beyond.

Related Article: TV Review: ‘The Sandman’

Who are the newest additions to ‘The Sandman’ Season 2?

(Left) Ruairi O’Connor to play Orpheus in ‘The Sandman’ Season 2. (Center Left) Freddie Fox to play Loki ‘The Sandman’ Season 2. (Center Right) Clive Russell to play Odin in ‘The Sandman’ Season 2. Photo: Sally Mais. (Right) Laurence O’Fuarain to play Thor in ‘The Sandman’ Season 2. Photo: Joseph Sinclair.

Here’s the most recent cast:

Ruairi O’Connor is Orpheus, the poet, musician, and oracle, is the only child of Dream and the muse, Calliope (last seen in ‘The Sandman,’ Episode 111). Orpheus is an idealistic, romantic, young man – and very much his father’s son – until tragedy strikes and reveals to him the true nature of love.

Freddie Fox (he/him) is Loki, the god of chaos. Loki is a charming, seductive shapeshifter. The smartest and most dangerous person in any room, Loki is utterly irresistible and never to be trusted.

Clive Russell is Odin, the father of Thor, and blood-brother to Loki. He is a longtime ally of Dream’s, but finds himself driven to desperate extremes in his efforts to stave off Ragnarök.

Laurence O’Fuarain is Thor, the storm god. With his hammer Mjollnir, Thor is brusque, rude, and driven entirely by his appetites –– for food and drink, for battle, and for sex.

Ann Skelly is Nuala and Douglas Booth is Cluracan, royal emissaries from the court of Faerie. Nuala and Cluracan are siblings who are opposites in every way. Nuala is responsible, empathetic, and principled. Cluracan is an impulsive rogue who lives for pleasure. They disagree about everything, except their devotion to one another.

(Left) Ann Skelly to play Nuala in ‘The Sandman’ Season 2. Photo: Misan Harriman. (Center) Jack Gleeson to play Puck in ‘The Sandman’ Season 2. Photo: Yellow Belly. (Right) Indya Moore to play Wanda in ‘The Sandman’ Season 2.

Jack Gleeson is Puck, a malevolent hobgoblin who serves as the royal jester to King Auberon of Faerie. Puck is fascinated by mortals and enjoys nothing more than making sport of them for his own amusement. He’s also the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Puck in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

Indya Moore is Wanda, a professional driver and security agent for an exclusive travel firm. Wanda proves herself to be an indispensable guide on an Endless road trip to the waking world.

Steve Coogan is the voice of Barnabas, the canine companion of the Endless’ prodigal brother. Barnabas is loyal and loving, but an outspoken cynic. He’s man’s best friend and man’s sharpest critic.

We’ll also meet other members of Dream’s Endless family, including Adrian Lester as Destiny, Esmé Creed-Miles as Delirium, and Barry Sloane as The Prodigal.

Who is returning from Season 1?

(L to R) Tom Sturridge as Morpheus / Dream and Kirby as Death in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

Alongside Sturridge, returning cast includes other Endless such as Kirby as Death, Mason Alexander Park as Desire and Donna Preston as Despair.

We can also expect to see (or hear) Patton Oswalt, Vivienne Acheampong, Gwendoline Christie, Jenna Coleman, Ferdinand Kingsley, Stephen Fry, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Vanesu Samunyai, and Razane Jammal.

When will ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 land on Netflix?

The streaming service has yet to announce when Season 2 might arrive, though we can’t imagine it’ll be before 2025.

Comic book creator Neil Gaiman from Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’ at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.

Other Neil Gaiman Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Babylon 5‘ (1994 – 1998)
- ‘Neverwhere‘ (1996)
- ‘MirrorMask‘ (2005)
- ‘Doctor Who‘ (2005 – 2021)
- ‘Stardust‘ (2007)
- ‘Beowulf‘ (2007)
- ‘Coraline‘ (2009)
- ‘Lucifer‘ (2016 – 2021)
- ‘American Gods‘ (2017 – 2021)
- ‘How to Talk to Girls at Parties‘ (2018)
- ‘Good Omens‘ (2019 – 2023)
Buy Neil Gaiman Movies on Amazon
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July 3, 2024
Trailer for ‘Reacher’ Season 2
Preview:
- ‘Reacher’ Season 2 has launched its first trailer.
- The new season finds Reacher aiding some old colleagues.
- Prime Video will launch Season 2 in December.
Since punching his way out of the pages of Lee Child’s books, the character of Jack Reacher has been brought to screens by Tom Cruise in the two movies based on the tough-as-nails soldier-turned-rough-justice-happy drifter who helps the hopeless (and is frequently called into solve trickier, more dangerous issues to do with his old gig) and, more recently, the height-appropriate Alan Ritchson, who took on the role for the Prime Video series that debuted last year.

The small-screen version is back for a second season and a new mystery that draws from Reacher’s past as part of military investigations. What can we expect? Well, lots of punching, some flashbacks and Reacher dishing out what he does best.

And we’re getting our first look at footage from the new show –– which is back on screens in December –– via the first trailer.

What’s the story of ‘Reacher’ Season 2?

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

Based on ‘Bad Luck and Trouble’, the 11th book in Child’s global best-selling series, ‘Reacher’s new season begins when veteran military police investigator Jack Reacher (Ritchson) receives a coded message that the members of his former U.S. Army unit, the 110th MP Special Investigations, are being mysteriously and brutally murdered one by one.

Pulled from his drifter lifestyle, Reacher reunites with three of his former teammates turned chosen family to investigate, including Frances Neagley (Maria Sten); Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan), a forensic accountant for whom Reacher has long had a soft spot; and fast-talking, switchblade-wielding family man David O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos).

Together, they begin to connect the dots in a mystery where the stakes get higher at every turn, and that brings about questions of who has betrayed them — and who will die next. Using his inimitable blend of smarts and size, Reacher will stop at nothing to uncover the truth and protect the members of his unit. If there’s one thing Reacher and his team know for certain, it’s that you do not mess with the Special Investigators. This season, get ready for Reacher and the 110th to hit back hard…

Who else is in ‘Reacher’ Season 2?

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

The cast for this new season also includes Ferdinand Kingsley as A.M., a mercenary that homeland security refers to as a “ghost;” Robert Patrick as Shane Langston, head of security for a private defense contractor with a questionable track record; and Domenick Lombardozzi as tough NYPD detective Guy Russo.

Related Article: ‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson is Joining ‘Fast X’

When and where can I watch ‘Reacher’ Season 2?

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

The eight-episode second season will roll out weekly, with the first three episodes premiering on December 15th December, and subsequent episodes dropping every Friday through January 19th, 2024.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

A scene from Prime Video’s ‘Reacher’ season 2.

Movies Similar to ‘Reacher:’
- ‘Bullitt‘ (1968)
- ‘Dirty Harry‘ (1971)
- ‘The French Connection‘ (1971)
- ‘The Long Goodbye‘ (1973)
- ‘Die Hard‘ (1988)
- ‘Cop Land‘ (1997)
- ‘L.A. Confidential‘ (1997)
- ‘The Departed‘ (2006)
- ‘Gone Baby Gone‘ (2007)
- ‘Taken‘ (2009)
- ‘The Town‘ (2010)
- ‘Jack Reacher‘ (2012)
- ‘Taken 2‘ (2012)
- ‘Taken 3‘ (2015)
- ‘Jack Reacher: Never Go Back‘ (2016)
- ‘21 Bridges‘ (2019)
- ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun‘ (2023)
- ‘Fast X‘ (2023)
Buy Alan Ritchson Movies On Amazon
November 7, 2023
TV Review: ‘Silo’
Rebecca Ferguson in ‘Silo,’ premiering May 5, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Premiering with its first two episodes on May 5th, ‘Silo’ represents Apple TV+ moving into the sort of dystopian territory covered extensively in movies and TV series, but also managing to say something new about human foibles and the lies that can build up within authority.

What’s the story of ‘Silo’?

‘Silo’ tells of the last ten thousand people on earth, their mile-deep home protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside. However, no one knows when or why the silo was built and any who try to find out face fatal consequences –– if you do end up challenging the authority, you’re sent outside to clean the lens of the one camera sending footage of the outdoors… Which as far as anyone knows is a death sentence in the most agonizing fashion. Rebecca Ferguson stars as Juliette, an engineer, who seeks answers about a loved one’s murder and tumbles onto a mystery that goes far deeper than she could have ever imagined, leading her to discover that if the lies don’t kill you, the truth will.

Adapted from Hugh Howey’s book ‘Wool’ (originally self-published online by the author, who cannily held on to the rights to the early stories), ‘Silo’ has ‘Justified’s Graham Yost as its showrunner and Morten Tyldum and David Semel among its directors.

Tim Robbins in ‘Silo,’ premiering May 5, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Who else appears in ‘Silo’?

The ensemble cast starring alongside Ferguson includes Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, David Oyelowo, Rashida Jones, Ferdinand Kingsley and Tim Robbins.

Should you dive into ‘Silo’?

Like most of its Apple TV+ stablemates, ‘Silo’ is the product of a company willing to spend an expansive budget to bring it to life: the world that these characters live in is an immersive one, a concrete realm of curving stairways and chunky, basic chambers. It’s all low-tech brought to life into an incredibly high-tech fashion –– the giant sets aided by CGI.

But great production design is nothing without compelling people and an interesting story, and fortunately ‘Silo’ boasts both. Yost and his team have embraced the complicated political mystery and danger of Howey’s story, resulting in a thorny, twisty mystery that will keep you guessing.

As for the cast, this is an eclectic line-up that offers something to keep hold of while the story weaves around them. Ferguson in particular is beguiling as the intense Juliette, who would much rather be nurturing the giant generator that keeps the lights (and everything else) on in the Silo than step up to be the new sheriff. But inspired by the suspicious death of Kingsley’s tech-obsessed George Wilkins, she reluctantly agrees, digging up yet more secrets, including some that impact her own troubled past.

Given such meaty material, Ferguson shines, exploring Juliette’s layers even as she explores the various levels of her home. Kingsley, meanwhile, brings emotional heft to a relatively smaller role. And there is a host of other reliable talent offering memorable work.

(L to R) Rashida Jones and David Oyelowo in ‘Silo,’ premiering May 5, 2023 on Apple TV+.

The structure of the show is also interesting, kicking off primarily with the story of the current Sheriff (Oyelowo) and his wife (Jones) who learn some disturbing information that challenges what they believed to be true about their subterranean world. Soon, these previously model citizens are looking for more answers, and that ends up dooming then. The narrative then shifts mostly to Juliette’s story as the new sheriff and the various forces at play in support of her and against her.

Will Patton is the experienced, careworn deputy not looking for advancement but thrust into a much more responsible role as his department and the mysterious, Judicial Department, which runs its own secret police force and becomes ever more powerful as the story develops. And slithering around it all, the IT autocrat Bernard played by Robbins with chilly, sociopathic intensity like something out of a George Orwell story.

What really works about the show is the successful blend of tones and genres that Yost and his writers have pulled off here –– along with the dystopian tale and conspiracy mystery thriller, there’s police procedural sleuthing, showdowns that evoke Westerns and philosophical debate.

(L to R) David Oyelowo, Geraldine James and Will Patton in ‘Silo,’ premiering May 5, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Related Article: First Trailer for Apple TV+ Sci-fi Adaptation ‘Silo’

Tricky Tropes

If there’s anything to complain about with the new series, it’s that the actual story proper takes a while to get moving (though it does all coalesce successfully towards the end) that might put off viewers unable to binge the whole season in Apple’s current plan of launching with two episodes and then drip-feeding an episode a week through June 30th. Yet it’s certainly worth sticking with.

This is also not a show to recommend if you’re after a cheery, lightweight series. There is gallows humor within, but this has an expectedly dour tone, dealing as it does with dark conspiracies, desperate humans, murder and state sanctioned executions-by-exile.

Some will no doubt roll their eyes at the extensive use of invented terms to define how this society speaks and thinks –– there’s lots of talk of the “founders”, the “before-times”, “the Pact”, the “down-deep” and the “up-top”. If your patience runs thin for such sci-fi language, ‘Silo’ might not be the show for you. But it’s all handled without drawing too much attention to itself.

The real focus of the show is the broken, fascinating characters poking into the darker corners of their world. And in that, ‘Silo’ most certainly succeeds. It might not end up drawing the buzz of something along the lines of fellow Apple TV+ S-word series ‘Severance’, but it’s more than worth your time if you’re willing to dive deep.

‘Silo’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

Common in ‘Silo,’ premiering May 5, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Movies Similar to ‘Silo:’
- ‘Bull Durham‘ (1988)
- ‘Mystic River‘ (2003)
- ‘I Love You, Man‘ (2009)
- ‘The Social Network‘ (2010)
- ‘Jack Reacher‘ (2012)
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation‘ (2015)
- ‘Selma‘ (2015)
- ‘Run All Night‘ (2015)
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout‘ (2018)
- ‘The Greatest Showman‘ (2017)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 2‘ (2017)
- ‘Doctor Sleep‘ (2019)
- ‘Dune‘ (2021)
Buy Rebecca Ferguson Movies on Amazon
May 4, 2023
Trailer for Apple TV+ Series ‘Silo’
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‘Silo’ represents what is rapidly becoming some Apple TV+ trademarks. Like many other streaming services, it has grabbed the rights to a bestselling book series (in this case, Hugh Howey’s dystopian ‘Wool’ novels), cast it with an impressive ensemble, thrown a lot of money into the budget to guarantee it looks good, and, following the likes of ‘Slow Horses’, ‘Severance’, ‘Shrinking’, ‘Servant’, ‘Shantaram’ and more, has another show starting with S (at this rate, we’re wondering if ‘Ted Lasso’s third season will see the series’ name changed to ‘Sledge Lasso’ just to keep that going.)

But it’s certainly a high profile new show for the service, with a solid sci-fi pedigree and the cast to match.

Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette in Apple TV+’s ‘Silo.’

What happens in ‘Silo’?

‘Silo’ is the story of the last ten thousand people on earth, their mile-deep home protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside. They’re constantly told how dangerous it would be to leave the protective sanctuary of the Silo, but there are some disturbing issues afoot.

No one, for example, knows when or why the silo was built and any who try to find out face fatal consequences. Which doesn’t really help when the authorities are trying to convince people that it’s a safe place to life.

Rebecca Ferguson stars as Juliette, an engineer, who seeks answers about a loved one’s murder and tumbles onto a mystery that goes far deeper than she could have ever imagined, leading her to discover that if the lies don’t kill you, the truth will.

Tim Robbins as Bernard in Apple TV+’s ‘Silo.’

Who made the new show ‘Silo’?

Behind the scenes for this one are Emmy-nominated writer Graham Yost (who has worked on shows such as ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘Justified’) running the show and director Morten Tyldum (behind the movie ‘The Imitation Game’ and previous Apple series ‘Defending Jacob’), who oversees the first three episodes.

Alongside Ferguson, the cast also includes Common, Ferdinand Kingsley, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, David Oyelowo, Rashida Jones, James Palmer, Will Merrick, Henry Garrett, Iain Glen, Shane McRae, Nick Judge and Tim Robbins.

Originally self-published by Howey, the ‘Wool’ books have become something of a sensation. An adaptation has been in the works for a while now –– it was in development at 20th Century Fox back when it was still called 20th Century Fox, with Ridley Scott and Steven Zaillian producing. ‘I Care a Lot’s J Blakeson wrote several drafts of the script before ‘Captain Marvel’s Nicole Perlman was brought in.

Yet if we’re honest, television feels like a more natural home for the story, especially given the fact that there are sequel and prequel trilogies available as source material, so if the show is a success, expect plenty of future seasons.

The first two episodes of ‘Silo’ land on Apple TV+ on May 5th, with new episodes dropping weekly.

Common as Sims in Apple TV+’s ‘Silo.’

Rashida Jones as Allison in Apple TV+’s ‘Silo.’

(L to R) Rashida Jones as Allison and David Oyelowo as Holston in Apple TV+’s ‘Silo.’

(L to R) Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette and Chinaza Uche as Paul Billings in Apple TV+’s ‘Silo.’

Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette in Apple TV+’s ‘Silo.’

Movies Similar to ‘Silo:’
- ‘Bull Durham‘ (1988)
- ‘Mystic River‘ (2003)
- ‘I Love You, Man‘ (2009)
- ‘The Social Network‘ (2010)
- ‘Jack Reacher‘ (2012)
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation‘ (2015)
- ‘Selma‘ (2015)
- ‘Run All Night‘ (2015)
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout‘ (2018)
- ‘The Greatest Showman‘ (2017)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 2‘ (2017)
- ‘Doctor Sleep‘ (2019)
- ‘Dune‘ (2021)
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March 6, 2023
Ben Kingsley Starring in ‘Violent Cases’

Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi in 1982’s ‘Gandhi.’

Neil Gaiman is keeping it in the family. The Kingsley family, that is.

After seeing Ferdinand Kingsley show up in episode 6 of Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’ series, another Kingsley – Oscar winner Ben – is on board to star in an adaptation of Gaiman and Dave McKean’s 1987 graphic novel ‘Violent Cases’, the first collaboration between the writer and the artist.

Unlike ‘Sandman’, though Gaiman is not as directly involved. Instead, as Variety reports, Mike Carey – who adapted his own novel ‘The Girl with All the Gifts’ for the big screen – is on script duty, while Colm McCarthy directs and Camille Gatin is the producer. The latter two also worked on ‘Gifts’, which followed a girl in a dystopian society ravaged by an infection that turns people into mindless, flesh-craving creatures. She’s part of a program working with hybrid infected kids, who retain some ability to control their minds.

The story for this one is a journey into the mind of Gaiman, as a famous author recounts fragmented childhood memories and visits to an osteopath who once worked for Al Capone, weaving a dark and twisting tale about stories, our memory, violence and the ways we can’t escape our past. Prime Gaiman, then: a story about storytelling, offering unusual angles that deliver universal truths.

“I’m delighted to be working with this fantastic team on ‘Violent Cases,’ which for me is about the power and importance of storytelling, about how we negotiate the shadows cast by the father figures in our lives and above all about the right of our inner child to be heard,” says Kingsley.

Comic book creator Neil Gaiman from Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’ at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.

“‘Violent Cases’ is a wild, hallucinatory, yet thought provoking and emotional comic, says Carey. “It’s so exciting to build a film from this incredible, genre-defining work.”

And he adds: “As an aspiring writer back in the late 80s reading ‘Violent Cases’ was a revelation and a joy for me. Its darkness and playfulness defined a new approach to storytelling. Thirty-five years on, it’s still unique, and bringing it across into a new medium feels like discovering it again for the first time. Neil Gaiman redefined serialized comics with ‘The Sandman,’ but ‘Violent Cases’ was his and Dave McKean’s early masterpiece. It’s thrilling to be introducing it to a new audience and taking its visual lyricism into a new medium.”

Another Kingsley, Edmund, will be among the producers via Lakesville Productions.

It’s certainly a boon time for Gaiman’s work hitting screens: ‘The Sandman’ was a big hit for Netflix, with fans demanding a second season. Elsewhere, a new season of angels and demons satire ‘Good Omens’ is headed our way via Prime Video, with ‘Anansi Boys’ following that, both with the author very much involved.

As for the much-maligned ‘American Gods’, that has been cancelled by Starz. Well, they can’t all be winners…

Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery in 2013’s ‘Iron Man 3.’

October 7, 2022
TV Review: ‘The Sandman’

Tom Sturridge as Dream in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2021.

Arriving on Netflix August 5th, ‘The Sandman’ is the culmination of years of efforts to bring Neil Gaiman’s classic graphic novel series to screens.

Filmmakers including Joseph Gordon-Levitt (‘Inception’), Roger Avery (‘Pulp Fiction’) and Eric Heisserer (‘Arrival’) have all tried to crack the code and bring Gaiman’s story to theaters. But in all the years of trying, no one has gotten close to making it happen. And Gaiman has gone on record as saying that one or two of the scripts he’s written (not by those listed above) are among the worst he’s ever read, let alone adaptations of his work.

You can imagine, then, the pressure on the team looking to bring it to Netflix. Fortunately, Gaiman is fully involved this time, and while he isn’t running the show as he did with Prime Video’s ‘Good Omens’, he’s had a lot of say in what ends up on screen, including co-writing the first episode with fellow executive producers David Goyer and Allan Heinberg (the latter of whom took the lion’s share of the work).

And, with the longer time permitted by a season of television and the hefty budget/credibility provided by Netflix, it’s a relief to say that the show really works – for the most part, at least.

(L to R) Tom Sturridge as Morpheus / Dream and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

The focus of the comics’ series (co-created by artists Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg) is the titular Sandman, called Dream, but also known as Morpheus, among other titles. He is one of the seven Endless, a family of anthropomorphic godlike beings. The other Endless are Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium (formerly Delight), and Destruction (also called ‘The Prodigal’).

Adapting the first couple of volumes of the comics, the show kicks off with Dream (played by Tom Sturridge) unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for over a century by magician Roderick Burgess (Charles Dance) through the use of an incantation.

Once Dream is able to finally free himself, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.

That’s a very basic summary, especially for the sprawling source material, which has generated reams of stories and spin-offs. The show doesn’t try to squeeze everything into these initial 10 episodes, but there is plenty to see, including a trip to Hell, a convention of serial killers, a beautiful visit with one of Death’s siblings and one terrible night for the customers in a diner.

Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

Like the comics before it, the series functions as almost a set of short stories, linked by the overarching characters of Dream, his family and various attendants/creations/humans. There’s an episodic feel to many installments, which means that if you’re not a fan of one, the next is likely to offer something you’ll enjoy instead.

Early on, the story is burdened by the need to set itself up, to introduce the world to newcomers (and not frustrate those who have feverishly consumed the comic across the years) and offer a briefing on Dream’s tough situation.

It helps that you have the likes of Charles Dance in the early going, bringing gravitas and grit to roles that could so easily be cartoonish, and if Sturridge takes a little while to warm up to playing such a tricky character as Dream, he does find his stride.

Dream could be a massive cliché, the sort of whispering goth guy who looks like a young Robert Smith (of The Cure). In Sturridge and the writers/directors’ hands, he’s a complicated, conflicted creation, rocked by his entrapment and thrown off balance by the changes to his dreaming realm upon his return.

Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

His quest to reacquire his magical tools – a bag of sand, a helm that looks like gas mask affixed to a spine and a ruby with terrifying powers – is sometimes the least interesting story, feeling like watching someone play a video game and collect items while battling level bosses, but it’s still filled with enough of Gaiman and co.’s creativity and creatures to make it watchable.

One particularly disappointing aspect is the fourth episode, ‘A Hope in Hell’. Despite boasting ‘Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, it ends up a ridiculous, poorly executed (several big effects shots look like a 1990s TV drama) battle of wills where the outcome is never in doubt.

That, however, is entirely balanced out by the sixth episode, ‘The Sound of Her Wings’, which features one of ‘Sandman’s most iconic and beloved characters, Dream’s older sister Death.

Eschewing the usual cloaked skeleton or otherwise imposing figure, Gaiman instead imagines her as an impish young woman, with a cheery face and a kind word to guide humans from the land of the living to “the sunless lands” once they die. Brought to life on screen by ‘The Good Place’s Kirby Howell-Baptiste, she’s a show highlight, a charming and effusive counterpoint to Dream’s gloomy, wet-eyed meandering.

(L to R) Tom Sturridge as Morpheus / Dream and Stephen Fry as Fiddler’s Green / Gilbert in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

Yet even he gets some real moments to shine in that same episode, with the other half of the running time given over to the story of Dream’s encounters with Hob Gadling (Ferdinand Kingsley), whom he first meets in 1389. The subject of a bet between Death and Dream, Hob gets his wish to become immortal and meets Dream every hundred years in the same tavern.

We watch Hob’s fate rise and fall and Kingsley imbues him with real, deep emotion, crafting a character who watches the world change around him, sometimes using that to his advantage, other times suffering for it. It’s a magnificent performance and elevates the show around it.

Other elements to recommend include Matthew the Raven, who aids Dream in his missions. A winning combination of superb digital effects and real birds, Matthew also benefits from a charming voice performance by Patton Oswalt.

David Thewlis, meanwhile, brings pathos and cold sociopathy all at once to John Dee, whose ownership of Dream’s ruby goes very, very wrong. Thewlis is, in fact, like Kingsley, one of the actors whose performance is superior to the source material.

David Thewlis as Dr. John Dee in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

‘The Sandman’ may never please every fan in exactly the way they hope – this is an adaptation, don’t forget – but it’s faithful where needed, spirited and fantastical. It also doesn’t shave away the more brutal ruminations on the darker side of humanity.

Faithful fans have waited many years to see the series realized; this might be as close to correct as it’s possible to get in the visual medium.

‘The Sandman’ receives 4 out of 5 stars.

(L to R) Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death and Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

August 8, 2022