The Sandman 1x6 Reaction | The Sound of Her Wings

[@hellospringlake]

First half being all about accepting death, second half being all about accepting life. Sandman is fanstastic!

[@wtimmins]

The Sound of Her Wings is probably my favorite of all Sandman stories. Makes me tear up every time.

[@StarkRG]

To me it is second only to the story of Gadling. So, really, this is probably my favourite episode.

[@paulcurlin2789]

I am in that same boat with you. Death's view on things just brings tears and makes me hope that that is the way it will really work out in our world 🙂 The Gadling story line is also a great piece of humor and insight if you listen to all of the other bar patrons in the background

[@wtimmins]

@@paulcurlin2789 'the more things change...' heh

[@joemacavinta9736]

I used the monologue about the Sound of Her Wings at my father's funeral. It was seriously one of the best written prose about Death.

[@wtimmins]

@@joemacavinta9736 That makes me tear up yet again. All the love.

[@fluffy_walrus]

Truly one of the best pieces of television this year. I adored the casting for Death and Hob, both actors crushed their roles here

[@funnylilgalreacts]

They nailed it! I loved this episode so much!

[@briantaulbee5744]

And Mason A Parks as Desire?!? HOLY SHIT!

[@Lia-uf1ir]

@@briantaulbee5744 They are brilliantly cast as Desire! And The Threshold of Desire is a beautiful soundtrack and very fitting for them! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pojLpWmna6h-mbs

[@mhan00]

All the idiots who were complaining about the casting of Death when the actress was first announced because it was a woman of color instead of a goth white girl . . . SMH. The actress showed she was PERFECT for the role. After watching the show, I can’t imagine anyone else playing the part.

[@borjankosarac3645]

Fun fact: Hob Gadling is played by Ferdinand Kingsley, the son of acclaimed British actor Sir Ben Kingsley. He really nails the role here, really selling that zeal for living and learning forever even when things get bad.

[@AlbertaGeek]

I did not know he is Ben Kingsley's son! That _is_ a fun fact!

[@ianbrewster8934]

WOW did not know that

[@funnylilgalreacts]

I have no idea how I didn’t pick that up! Now, knowing that it’s a big fat “duh!”.

[@borjankosarac3645]

@@funnylilgalreacts In fairness, I only learned it when I looked at who was playing who and my eye was drawn to the surname; I didn't even expect it to be the case, but knowing it is you really can see the resemblance don't you think? It's really great that they're casting so well for this series, including characters who don't necessarily play a huge role in the greater plot but are crucial for their individual stories. Beyond just season 1, assuming they get a renewal, some of the stories later would be great to see brought to life with fitting performers.

[@ImDerpyDuck]

I can't NOT see Ben Kingsley now lol

[@AnnekeOosterink]

Death really was the big sister who pushed her little brother to another boy and said, "here, play together now, you'll be friends in no time." :P

[@funnylilgalreacts]

Oh my God I love this

[@LordGrokken]

A little bit from the Author, the Papers in front of Hob at the inn... those were because he's now a history teacher. He was grading papers. He's basically a 700 year old history teacher.

[@funnylilgalreacts]

He knows best right? I love that!

[@wtimmins]

Mason Alexander Park literally tweeted Neil Gaiman wondering if Desire would appear in Sandman season and whether casting was still open. Neil said yes and dropped a line to the casting director. Neil Gaiman has an amazing social media game and 'tweeted your way into a role' makes me so happy. ;)

[@StarkRG]

If gods existed, Neil Gaiman would be their favourite author.

[@nathanadler8316]

To be more specific, in one panel Neil Gaiman congratulated Mason because they'd done one specific thing - they hadn't just asked if the role was being cast, but also asked for the contact info for the casting director. This told Neil that the inquiry wasn't just a fan asking, but someone serious about trying out for the role. Neil then spent the next hour or two checking out Mason's social media, then contacted the casting director to tell them to keep an eye out for Mason's application.

[@rnkelly36]

The best line is "When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave.."

[@jonasfermefors]

There is a reason why The Sandman comics have an unsurpassed status in the comic world, but it is amazing how well they have translated it into a TV-series. This episode is my favorite because I love both the original stories and the meshing of The Sound Of Her Wings with Men of Good Fortune was a stroke of genius that apparently came from the writers room.

[@ldkinbote]

This is my favorite episode of all the great episodes. I couldn't describe it any other way in my head afterwards other than "sadly beautiful."

[@ijornhribrudkrvir]

I love the character of Hob so much. I've always said I would take immortality in a second if offered, and people always go "no no, you would hate it" and the tortured immortal thing has been done to death- it makes me so happy to see an immortal human character with the outlook I feel like I would have. The opportunity to watch the world grow and change would be an incredible gift!

[@Magmakojote]

you'd really have to keep some distance (emotionally) to other humans, especially having family is tough as seen in this episode. An immortal friend is probably the best that could happen to you though :D

[@ijornhribrudkrvir]

@@Magmakojote true, but everyone loses people in life. I've lost many pets, but I'll never turn down an opportunity to love another cat. You would get to meet and know and love so many people. And yeah, lose them too. But I would still think its worth it. And coping with grief is something you can learn. Might have you coming out with a somewhat blunt acceptance of death for sure But yeah an immortal friend would definitely be nice haha

[@jonasfermefors]

If nothing else I think my curiosity to know what will happen would make me choose life even in hardship.

[@StarkRG]

@@Magmakojote Nah, I don't think so. We have very meaningful relationships with our pets and the most common ones usually only live for about a quarter of our lifespan (give or take). I'm not suggesting you would start to think of humans as pets, but more that the pain of losing them in the end should not make you avoid having those relationships in the first place. For a great exploration of the concept of a guy who doesn't hate living forever, despite the occasional hardships, check out the movie The Man From Earth (2007).

[@anyahati]

I am of the same mind when it comes to immortality - if it was offered, I'd take it in a heartbeat, and no one ever seems to understand why. It's so funny when people point to how most immortal characters are portrayed in media as examples for why immortality would suck, but they conveniently seem to forget that all of those characters have been written and portrayed by very mortal people who have never experienced immortality, so it's not like they portray some absolute truth on the matter.

[@saiyasha848]

The sound of her Wings is such a beautiful vignette in the comics and they really, _really_ did it justice. It was a really good way to show how death is not fair or unfair it comes to all, sometimes sooner then we want but it doesn't have to be cold and dark

[@0okamino]

I’m so happy they put it together with _Men of Good Fortune._ I hadn’t even considered it in all the time since I first read those issues in their original separate order, but they really work wonderfully as companion pieces.

[@Veged4]

Originally Men of Good Fortune was meant to be next issue after The Sound of Her Wings. That is why in the end of Sound... is text "Next: Previous engagements" suggesting Dream's appointment with Hob. I don't remember why order was changed.

[@scottstevens7639]

Been waiting for Angela to get to this episode. The best of the series IMHO. The first half reminded me so much of a criminally ignored television series from about a decade ago called “Dead Like Me”. It lasted 2 seasons, plus a follow up movie. The premise was a teenage girl dying in a ridiculous accident and becoming a grim reaper in her afterlife. She and a small group of other reapers would be tasked with taking the souls of people seconds before death - essentially what Death was doing in this episode. The premise was similar but the tone was more in the vein of dark comedy.

[@grifftastic2745]

Since you asked, Will agreed to write two plays for Dream. In the comics we get to experience both. Hopefully the show lasts long enough to do them both.

[@makon89]

"A Midsummer Night's Dream"? ☺

[@ScorpionViper1001]

Sandman gets another season, I'm sure they'll adapt "Midsummers Night's Dream" since it's right after the bonus episode. The other one is a bit more iffy, being near the end, but I'm holding out hope.

[@m.e.3862]

I cracked up when Shakespeare was described as a crap playwright who paled in comparison to his drinking partner, Christopher "Kit" Marlowe because my renaissance drama prof pretty much thought the same thing 😁

[@paulp9274]

@@m.e.3862 Shakespeare was the Michael Bay of Elizabethan England. He was popular with audiences, but loathed by critics at the time.

[@m.e.3862]

@@paulp9274 haha! One of my favorite classes with that prof was when she went on a rant about how much she hated that Shakespeare was used in popular media like Star Trek The Next Generation as highbrow and intellectual. It drove her nuts! 🤣

[@j9lorna]

The most surprising part of this reaction is that you're in your 40's. You must have a painting in an attic somewhere! As a 40 something in a similar situation I was shocked 😲

[@scoundrell]

Maybe a real-life Hob Gadling? 😊

[@j9lorna]

@@scoundrell wouldn't surprise me

[@zbeebs]

As someone who already knew who Death was from the start, I hadn't really realized how expertly they revealed who she was without explicitly stating "I am Death", until I watched your reaction. Just makes me appreciate the writing in this series even more.

[@se7632]

I saw someone with the perfect quote. That this representation of Death is like a soccer mother. Coming to take you out of the game while assuring you that you did the best with the time you had.

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

That's beautiful.

[@TehFrenchy29]

By intention, according to Gaiman himself: "Death is so adorable in The Sandman because I wanted to create the kind of Death that I would like to meet when my life is over," he said. "And I thought I would like a Death who is practical, a Death who is sensible, and a Death who is, above all, kind." Not literally "nice soccer mom" of course, but very much aiming for that kind of persona.

[@kschneyer]

Okay, now I’m crying again.

[@mjz_ausmz8019]

Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, an occult detective. Coleman plays two versions of the character: the present-day descendant based on John Constantine and her identical eighteenth-century ancestor, Lady Johanna Constantine.

[@reverance_pavane]

I believe she is actually the same character, thanks to the "small service" she does for Dream, which granted her the immortality she originally sought here. This allowed her to replace her more famous ancestor in the earlier episode (satisfying both the rights issues regarding Hellblazer and Gaiman's desire to detach the show from the mainstream DC universe). As Gaiman has repeatedly said about her appearance in episode 3, she is not simply a gender-flipped John and was always a character from the comics. This was her original appearance in the comics (where sadly she did not achieve immortality and died aged 99).

[@mjz_ausmz8019]

@@reverance_pavane not so in the comics it was John that Morpheus delt with to get his sand back. The task he speaks of if for Lady Johanna is for the same character he and Hobb encounter in the tavern.

[@voiceofraisin3778]

@@reverance_pavane Different people. 2022 Constantine has no idea who dream is. They werent allowed to use blonde Scouse Constantine because of rights issues with the TV series and a potential new movie They werent allowed to use dark American constantine because of Keanu movie rights issues Reusing Jenna Coleman cut out a casting problem and allowed them to at least use A constantine

[@bsimester2010]

@@reverance_pavane It was mentioned in both episode 2 and 3 that Morpheus has dealt with more than 1 Constantine. In fact Lady Johanna in the comic did work for Morpheus after their first meeting in the bar (1789 with Hob) a few years later in 1794. Considering dream mentioned this to Hob in 1889, hopefully we will see this next season.

[@Saphthings]

This episode is a work of art, I had reservations about the changes to Death prior, but this actress hit it out of the park! She was perfect. Wouldn't risk changing a thing.

[@rain6957]

She is far and away one of my favorite characters in anything. When I first read the comics her stories, the line about putting the chairs on the table and locking up, and the playful banter she has with Franklin touched me in ways very little media has. Gaiman just does beautiful things with death.

[@rain6957]

Also Desire's actor is non-binary and while the character transcends gender and a variety of pronouns are correct for them, it is not accurate to refer to Desire as a man or male

[@SunlessNick]

Death: "In the end, each of us stands alone." Literally everyone who's ever died: "But we didn't. You were there."

[@Souliest1]

What I find the funniest in this episode is that in 1989 the inn was bought for new flats, and in 2021 the building is condemned but they never actually got to the "new flats" part of the process. How very bureaucratic! I loved your reaction. This is one of my favorite episode of TV in recent years, maybe ever. So emotional and introspective. As always in Sandman, the casting is perfect. Death, Gadling, Constantine, everyone is great. Some bits you may have missed: Will Shaxberd was speaking to Christopher Marlowe, another influential writer of the time, who wrote Doctor Faustus, where a character trades his soul for power. There is also a third important writer: in 1389, one of the men in the inn is Geoffrey Chaucer, the one made fun of because of "filthy tales in rhymes about pilgrims". Lastly, in 1389 and 1989, the people in the inn complain about the same things, and make the same jokes! The more things change...

[@Orwulf]

wow, an incredibly insightful comment! thank you!! i missed almost all of that!

[@wendyheatherwood]

I like to think Hob had a hand in the building still being there. The developers might own the site, but a determined enough individual who knows how to play politics could easily keep it tied up in legal issues and challenges for a decade or three.

[@Souliest1]

@@wendyheatherwood Ha! That's not my head canon, but I love it!

[@Ylyrra]

@@wendyheatherwood More likely just a commentary on the insanity that is the UK property development circus. Just round the corner from me there's a hotel that has been derelict for 30 years, and had permission to be turned into flats that were due to be built in 2017. Still hasn't been done. The developer has filed for bankruptcy, to avoid being sued over it, but won't sell the land to anyone else to develop, and just this week it's mysteriously caught fire when a compulsory purchase order was looking like it might happen. Even in a country with a huge demand for housing and new builds going up everywhere, there's still multiple cases like this in every city.

[@Drummer4President]

In reality, if a building that old was still standing, wouldn’t it be a listed building or on the heritage list and therefore be protected from being demolished?

[@parzivalkni110]

A note on Desire: The character of Desire is all genders (basically non-binary), and the actor is also non-binary so both the character and actor use they/them pronouns. Just for future reference. As for Death, Neil Gaiman wrote Death as the death he hopes to see when he dies. A comforting presence their to help you move on to whatever is next. Also, for the Will Shakespeare thing it is basically Dream acting as basically a muse. Lots of great artists get their ideas from their dreams, and the more great ideas in the world the more powerful peoples dreams are.

[@CedricBassman]

Desire has no Gender tho. Like, seriously. I'm not trying to be one of these guys, but Desire is a Concept and therefor Genderless.

[@Lannisen]

@@CedricBassman they're all concept, but they still have genders. Dream is a he, Death is she, so why can't Desire be all of them?

[@pimtooler6370]

@@CedricBassman You're not technically wrong, but that applies to basically all of the endless. Which reinforces the fact that gender is performative. So even if Death or Dream or the others are technically genderless, you should refer to them by their preferred pronoun, and just so happens according to Neil Gaiman, desire is non-binary and goes by they/them in the series.

[@funnylilgalreacts]

I do address this in the next episode. Pronouns are important especially for identity.

[@CedricBassman]

@@pimtooler6370 Alright, you got me there. I stand corrected.

[@ImAlsoMerobiba]

I went from crying from being sad to tearing up because I was so happy. This was such an amazing episode.

this was easily one of the most beautiful and wrenching stories in the Sandman saga, and they translated it so faithfully to film. My hat is off to this crew.

[@PhilHolmes70]

Such a great screen adaptation of two issues that really grabbed me as a teenager back in the 80s. Adapting the ending to cover him missing the 1989 meeting was really well done, and gives a better ending in my opinion. Just one of the best single episodes of TV in the past few years.

[@wombat5334]

Yep, one of my favourite episodes. Her scenes with the dying people always gets me - especially the little bubs and SIDS.. I've broken down every time I've seen it. Hob and the whole immortality thing is just awesome :) I image it would be a person he really looks forward to meeting - the only one who understands what is going on!

[@hannahtavana]

I think the majority of the people who have watched this episode have cried with it, including myself, it’s sooo well written and produced

[@invaderliz]

Though I love Souxie-Souix from Souxie and the Banshees as Death in the comics, the casting for Death was great. She really embodies the character.

[@tomboepplewatercolorsdesig1258]

I’m glad to see your reaction to this episode. This is one of my favorites, I used to have a t-shirt with death from the sandman on it and the lettering read “ You get what anyone gets, you get a lifetime”. Perfect casting, I like this personification of death. I loved the Hob’s storyline. I reflect on the changes since I have been born..I grew up with 3 channels on tv and now we have so many options and streaming services. Things we couldn’t imagine and now it’s part of our everyday lives. These episodes definitely fuels our dreams and imaginations!

[@colinmelton3815]

I just want to say this ep broke me hard. i still cant cry, even just during a reaction. The baby broke me, i have kids, then the end when he says i owe my friend an apology, happy tears. best TV I have seen in years

[@stanleysmith2221]

Beautiful heartbreaking episode, the actress playing Death outstanding, Loved seeing Dream gain more empathy

[@new-dystopia]

For me this episode was the most like the comic book in flavor, tone, and storytelling. I want more like this.

[@0okamino]

Funny and appropriate thing about that is _The Sound of Her Wings_ is the issue that Gaiman says is the story in which he really discovered the way in which he wanted to write the rest of the series.

[@BoboftheOldeWays]

This might be one of the best episodes of any television show ever made.

[@Cam-yu8wy]

Easily my favorite episode. Which is saying something in a show this good. 😊 And I'll certainly agree that the casting for Hob and Death in this episode is just perfect

[@djg34djg]

Sandman and hob remind me of when peacemaker told Adebayo "you're my BFF". Both were amazing.

[@funnylilgalreacts]

I totally forgot about that scene! And yeah, it made me cry just as much! Beautiful moments

[@DaveyPB]

I think from your comments that maybe you interpreted Lady Johanna Constantine to be the same person as the current day Constantine that we met in an earlier episode. It’s the same actress, but I don’t think it’s the same person…I believe it’s her ancestor. I think I read somewhere that the Director even said as much. You may also remember that in the earlier episode that Constantine didn’t recognise Dream when they met, which would gel with her being a different person.

[@0okamino]

Yes, Lady Johanna is an ancestor. She is actually the one taken from the comics, while modern Johanna is another version of John Constantine. After all, it’s fairly common for someone to be named after an ancestor, and certainly not unheard of for there to be a strong resemblance in the family.

[@funnylilgalreacts]

It’s funny that I’ve seen people infer that a lot of people thought it was the same Johanna. I immediately realized it wasn’t the same one. But it was nice to have A Johanna back, even if it wasn’t the one I adore the most.

[@nathanadler8316]

@@funnylilgalreacts When Neil Gaiman first started The Sandman, it was a DC Comics property so he had to find ways to integrate it into the DC universe. In the comics, for example when he's hunting for his bag of sand he encounters Martian Manhunter and a couple of other members of the Justice League before narrowing it down to John Constantine (Johanna in this adaptation). As the comic grew more successful, DC Comics made the decision to create a new mature imprint called Vertigo, which while technically still part of the DC universe, mostly was allowed to create it's own stories - eg Hellblazer (main character being John Constantine), Lucifer (featuring, well you know who) and many more. And of course Sandman was not only moved over to teh Vertigo imprint, but of course its first ever title. Neil Gaiman literally single-handedly changed comic book publishing history forever with The Sandman.

[@lucidiously]

@@nathanadler8316 I think it's unfair to only credit Neil Gaiman for the creation of Vertigo. The Sandman wasn't the only first title, Hellblazer, Shade, Animal Man, Doom Patrol and Swamp Thing are all titles running at the time that were moved to the Vertigo imprint. Most of the credit should go to Karen Berger, editor at DC, for bringing the writers in and creating Vertigo. She was also the one to put Neil Gaiman onto the path of writing The Sandman.

[@ShadowyFox_86]

@@nathanadler8316 Gaiman has also said he added in so many tie ins because he was a big DC fan and just wanted to run wild with what the higher ups would let him.

[@jts8053]

One of Dream's titles (and my favorite) is "The Prince of Stories." Lucien's library contains every story ever written and every story that has not. The specifics of the Shakespeare deal are covered later but going into that would be spoiling. 😀 There are seven Endless, From youngest to oldest are: Delirium, the twins (Despair and Desire), Dream, Death, Destruction, and Destiny. Suffice to say not all the siblings get along as well as Death and Dream.

[@Taliesyn42]

Close. Destruction is younger than Dream, not older. With the exception of the twins, the order they appear in the galleries is the order in which they came into existence.

[@michaelpeters364]

Neil took the "the Prince of Stories" from the Velvet Underground song, "I'm Set Free", written by Lou Reed... Neil was a huge fan of Lou's(and got to interview him - - maybe Neil's last work of journalism in the early '90s). It's not an especially important line in the song, but it clearly stuck with Neil.

[@charlie53echo]

I love a show that makes me insist "THIS is my favorite episode." Only to be followed next episode with "No, THIS is my favorite!" I cry through the first half of this one every time.

[@adamcarlson2192]

This is possibly my favorite stand-alone episode of anything, ever. It's SO good.

[@PaulArk]

In my opinion, these were the two most beautiful, thought-provoking, and contemplative stories of the entire Sandman comic run. That the show runners were able to connect the two into a single seamless episode, ping-ponging me from teary-eyed during the Death story to joyous grin during the Hob Gadling story is testament to their storytelling skill, and makes Episode 6 the best episode of television I have ever seen. Absolutely brilliant. BTW, the Lady Johanna of 1789 is the modern day Johanna's ancestor, whom Morpheus references when he seeks our the descendant earlier in the season. In the comics, Lady Johanna is introduced as the ancestor of the male John Constantine. That they used the same actress to play both was clever, but can confuse people into thinking she is the same character somehow made immortal. Also, one deviation between the show and the comics was that Dream was imprisoned much longer in the show than in the comics, so that he missed his most recent appointment with Hob in 1989. That allowed the script writers to give a line to Death asking Dream about his "experiment", but also create an episode on the beauty of humanity and importance of human contact/interaction, spurring Dream to seek out Hob, this connecting the two stories into a single episode (insanely creative and clever writing!). In one of the past timelines, Hob mentioned that he has squirreled away money all over the world in case he needed to leave a life behind (presumably following earlier attempts to burn him as a witch). It was with the wealth that he was able to purchase or build The New Inn, and gave him the excuse to spend time in the pub everyday in hopes that Dream would finally show up. I think this touch actually is an impressive improvement to and enhancement of the comic version, and adds so much more emotional weight when Hob comments on Dream's tardiness (what's 33 years late to a pair of immortals?!?) and Dream's response that it is impolite too keep one's friends waiting. Brilliant.

[@Orwulf]

this episode is just phenomenal, one of my favourite episodes of any live action show ive seen ever.

[@siegeperilous]

Yeah, Gaiman’s good at turning tropes you expect on their ear - Gaiman caused quite a stir when he introduced his version of Death. Not a Grim Reaper but kind face.

[@funnylilgalreacts]

It reminded me of the three brothers story from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. How Death was met as a friend at the end. Kind of interesting that that’s how this episode ended but with Dream and Hob.

[@nathanadler8316]

@@funnylilgalreacts The number of ways JK Rowling borrowed from Gaiman, Tolkien and many others are innumerable. It's far from unique to JKR though. Once Gaiman was asked how much JKR had borrowed from his character Tim Hunter in The Books Of Magic (also a boy wizard, etc) Gaiman very graciously replied that both he and JKR equally owed a debt to T H White, author of The Once And Future King. In White's retelling of the Arthurian legends, in the first book Wart (aka Arthur) as a youth is schooled in the arts of wizardry by Merlin.

[@elbruces]

@@nathanadler8316 Problem is, anybody who picks up any issue of the Books of Magic will go "oh, that's Harry Potter."

[@nathanadler8316]

@@elbruces I did say Gaiman was gracious in his response ;)

[@BoboftheOldeWays]

@@nathanadler8316 One of my biggest beefs with JKR is that Harry Potter has probably permanently killed any chance of a Books Of Magic adaptation. People will take one look at Timothy Hunter and think he’s a Harry Potter clone.

[@blackpaw29]

Damn it, now I'm crying again too. So sad and beautiful, peaceful too. Lots of mixed emotions.

[@ianbrewster8934]

This episode and the last are arguably the best two stories in the season....both are so deep...

[@HelloThere.GeneralKenobi]

We should all be so happy and thankful if we get to leave this world and initially see a kind and warm face like hers. After meeting up with Hob, I hope for both of them, that they sat and talked for longer than the abbreviated meet ups we have seen. Imagine them sitting for maybe a week or so catching up for the time Dream was gone and even reminiscing about what has happened from the beginning of their introduction. I watched this reaction series before and when this episode popped back up I had to watch it again. I scrolled a bit through and when I didn't find I commented before I was sad that I didn't share what I felt then what I still feel now. Take care, Angela!!

[@alexkuball2593]

Also, her reaction to death and the rest of the episode was great. It was nice to cry with someone

[@Luciphell]

Masterclass in taking the audience on a trip through sadness and wholesomeness.

[@lemonherb1]

This definitely is my favourite episode of the show so far. That said, it seems less likely Netflix will renew the show for a second season It's possible that Neil Gaiman may look to another streaming service to continue, assuming they would be willing to spend $15M per episode. That said, I'd recommend checking out the animated short DC Showcase: Death. It's a side story that doesn't spoil anything from the comics, but is one worth watching if you liked how the concept of Death is used in Sandman. Think of it as an additional bonus to stick around this world a bit longer after you finish the series.

[@toshomni9478]

Honest Trailers had it right when they called the relationship between Hob and Dream the ideal male friendship since they only have to meet every hundred years and barely talk to each other even when they do. Don't watch that if you are trying to avoid spoilers, by the way. Great reaction.

[@FuzzyBunnyofInle]

Everyone recognizes Death because not only is she there when we're taken, She was there when we're born. She has dominion over the transition in & out of life.

[@stvbrsn]

“He’s not my friend, he’s my brother. And he’s an idiot.” “I’m just feeding the birds” Verbatim from the comic, and it’s only the first of many times I had a tear in my eye this episode.

[@UncleMilo]

I like the little the little details - including that Will is talking with Christopher Marlowe about Faustus.

[@borjankosarac3645]

On your pre-episode comments, note that John was probably messed up from having the Ruby influence him as a baby; his mother let him use it every birthday to grant wishes and he inherited it later on. It probably affected him to some degree and made him suffer from arrested development of a sort; his mindset is very childlike in that he sees the world in the simplest terms and “lies are bad, so I’ll made the world right by removing them”… not saying everyone in his position WOULD end up the same, but we can’t say he would have been what he was if the Ruby wasn’t in his life, and that’s why Dream pities him. Just so we’re clear, Desire is non-binary and so is their actor. The comics used “it” as a pronoun because using singular “they/them” for NB people wasn’t established, linguistically. Neil Gaiman says it’s among the thing he’d write different today, but he’s not ashamed of what he did (and he was progressive for his time).

[@0okamino]

I think it’s some degree of combination of his upbringing by Ethel, and the misuse of the ruby, with both factors reciprocally exacerbating each other.

[@borjankosarac3645]

@@0okamino I agree, too; I just don't like the suggestion that he was either purely a victim OR just born bad, as it robs him of the pathos the character has. It's not for nothing that Ethel apologises for being a "shit mum" because in her mind she failed to raise her son into a person of moral character, and she's not wrong; like Roderick Burgess, she ultimately relied too much on magical trinkets dishonestly obtained, and while it's understandable a single mother in the 1920s would struggle (nobody with sense can dispute this), her poor choices along the way were a big aspect in how John Dee/Burgess turned out as he did. Really, considering that John was only born because his father entrapped Dream while seeking Death - and this eventually drew Ethel to Burgess - it speaks to how his fate was pretty much tied to the ruby without any choice on his part. It's a sad state of affairs for Ethel, for John, and for all his victims; none of it would have come to pass if Roderick's obsession with the son he lost (which wasn't even born from truly understanding Randall given what Alex said, just his ideal of the perfect firstborn) hadn't led to him seeking power that mortals aren't supposed to have. We do see in this episode that to some degree, Death can influence mortality, but I doubt she just hands this out to everyone; I believe she just wanted her little brother to make a friend. And she discusses both her initial difficulty with the burden of her job before realising how important it is she do it.

[@ShadowyFox_86]

We also have to remember that Desire embodies all the genders. Gaiman has said they're one of only two characters you could canonically call any gender and it would still make sense.

[@borjankosarac3645]

@@ShadowyFox_86 Fair enough; my impression from the comics was some degree of gender-fluidity, anyway - including possibly identifying differently at different times, which Comics!Desire showed by shifting between various states of masculine and feminine.

[@lukemcniven4131]

I feel the same, i wasn't sold on the show fully until ep5 in the diner, then i was fully onboard. Only to have it one-upped the very next episode. I want to recommend this show but i honestly don't know how its just so weird but it gets me... Also i am shocked you are in your 40's, you sure you haven't made a deal with death yourself? Im loving your reactions to this and the expanse, you dive deep and really react. Some channels barely make a few comments. Love it, thanks for all the work (yes, that goes for Xander too). Till next time!

[@carlossoto222]

Despite the heavy natured material involving Death at the beginning, overall I found this to be a much needed lighter episode after "24/7". And in all honesty, it's just a beautiful episode that balances the finality of death, as well as what can happen when the person with the right mindset is gifted immortality. My favorite of the whole series!!!

[@meander8458]

This was an absolutely beautiful episode, from characters to the narrative, the music. These two stories - ‘The Sound of Her Wings’ and ‘Men of Good Fortune’ - are in different places in the original comics, and I think the choice to juxtapose them was fantastic. Also, Desire is played by Mason Alexander Park, and they are brilliant. You’ll see a bit more of them.

[@sveinoleaase759]

Been reading him since forever. This is fucking amazing. His stories are virtouse. This show does him favor. Rare, very rare.

[@leekb5187]

This has to be my favourite episode of the series. So glad you enjoyed it, and I was here to rewatch it. You always do great reactions. 👍🏼

[@Mofriese]

Was my favorite episode for sure. So full of emotions.

[@samfisher6606]

This has been my favorite episode of TV so far this year

[@Gnomojo]

It’s fun watching you fawn over characters. You’re very good at hiding it but your eyes don’t lie lol.

[@nyghtmoon]

This was a beautiful episode from one of the best comics. The calm before the storm as it were. Now the roller coaster begins and be prepared for comic lore dumps galore.

[@thoso1973]

One of the best episodes of any series I've watched this year. Just outstanding really.

[@lulabeanz791]

I cry every time I watch this ep without fail. And I cry at people’s reactions too.

[@matthewelliman8173]

It is my favourite episode also. Painful and beautiful.

[@JakobStrasser]

By far my favorite episode. Just hearing the violin makes me cry.

[@YNergy]

These are my 2 favorite story arcs from the entire Sandman series (I read the comics a LONG time ago) and they handled it masterfully, IMO. I loved your reactions (I teared up reading the comics AND seeing the show)!

[@ispbrotherwolf]

I know it is a hard episode, but look at the love, peace and tranquility. Death is a door, it is not an enemy 🤗🥰 Love from Sweden❤

[@dumpsterdawg]

"He only smiles when he's up to no good" Damn it.....Just figured out why I got in so much trouble as a kid🙄 Great reaction🙂🙃👍

[@davidkeye9334]

I've been excited for you to react to this episode. So powerful and beautiful.

[@paultwyman7985]

Watching your reactions always brightens my day! Thank you funnylilrayofsunshinegal! 😊

[@PensadorLouco]

I really like your reacts and reviews. This was a perfect episode.

[@jkoehler82]

When I do finally fade from this world, I will look into her eyes and say "Thank you, I had hoped it would be you." Its an amazing thing that Death is the personification of life and kindness.

[@darthcygnus7692]

For me this is the best episode! So beautiful, in many ways...

[@NuttersIncorporated]

Death wouldn’t take Hob until he’s ready to go. She made him immortal partly so that Dream would have more of a connection to humanity. She wouldn’t take that connection away just when it’s working the best it ever has. In the comics, Dream gets out in time to make his meeting with Hob. Hob says he wasn’t sure if Dream would come and Dream says, “Really? I’ve always heard it’s impolite to keep one’s friends waiting.” I don’t know if he would have gone if he hadn’t been captured by Roderick Burgess. His time in the fishbowl forced him to reflect and grow as a person. Lady Johanna Constantine is the relative of modern-day Johanna Constantine and the person she’s named after. Desire (they/them pronouns) wants a lot of things. They are a younger sibling who wants acknowledgment and respect from their older brother, they want mischief and fun and they want their twin to have a good time. Desire really does want to have a good relationship with Dream. However, even though they used to get along really well, they rub each other the wrong way. In the past, Dream has blamed Desire in the past for things that weren’t their fault so - if Dream is going to blame them anyway - they feel like they should actually cause him some problems for once.

[@jefferymojo3761]

The Shakespeare scene was a reference to historians belief that William Shakespeare had another writer who helped him but was never credited. Of course will never know. An that baby scene was tough referencing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The writer said that "Death" (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) took the longest to cast cause he was looking for "magic" to show his perception of Death. When they put Tom Sturridgebut (Dream) and her together it blow everyone away.

[@reverance_pavane]

This was always going to be my favourite episode of this season, just because it combines two of my favourite stories from the comics.

[@michaelash8552]

Little fun trivia, if you listen closely the the background conversations in the Tavern where Dream and Hob meet, they are virtually the same each century. Changes from the comic. The modern day stuff is all contemporary so in the comics that was 1989, so Dream escape Burgess just in time to make his meeting with Hob In the comics the Constantine that helps Dream recover his sand is John Constantine, but since they couldn't use that character they just got the actress Jenna Coleman to play two different members of the Constantine family, Lady Johanna Constantine and her descendant also named Johanna Constantine.

[@jetklaatu9831]

Best episode of the series in my opinion, easy to follow and really interesting concept to watch and see how the characters change.

[@mkohlhorst]

This episode was my second favorite of the entire season. With the last episode being number one for me. Glad you're enjoying the show.

[@thorleif8872]

The scene at the lake hit me harder than the scene with the baby. Sams voice, his desperation to help his wife one last time....the actor did an awesome job for such a small role. But the entire episode was so good, my absolute favorite of the season

[@connorhalo]

Hob is one of my all-time favorite characters in literature. I really connected with him in my 20s and his zest for life and determination through struggles has been a real inspiration. Death is indeed a mugs game.

[@Nomis3586]

This is one of the best episodes ever created!

[@Rejeckted]

This brilliant episode is my favorite out of all of them

[@GrumpyOldGuyPlaysGames]

I am a huge fan of the comic, and the writer/creator of it is absolutely my favorite author of all time. If you want to get into some amazingly literature, you could do worse than investigating Neil Gaiman and his writing. Something that a lot of people miss when it comes to Robert "Hob" Gadling is that he's not alone in his immortality. Not only does death say that there are a considerable number of immortals running around the world, we've already met one aside from Hob. Back during episode three ("Dream a Little Dream of Me"), Joanna Constantine runs into a old homeless woman named Mad Hettie who tries to warn Joanna that Morpheus has escaped his cage and is now looking for Joanna. Joanna scoffs, to which Hettie responds, "He's no fairy story. He's back, and he wants his sand. I know. I'm 208 years old, and I know." In the comics we eventually meet six or seven immortal humans by the time the series ended.

[@moleman1976]

This was my favorite episode of anything I've watched this year, followed closely by episode 11. I was so apprehensive about this show; even knowing Gaiman was so heavily involved, I just thought trying to adapt this series was an impossible task. I have rarely been so happy to be wrong, as it has knocked it out of the park for the first season! Loved your reaction, especially when it dawned on you who Dream's sister was!

[@TenebrousFilms]

Two of the most popular stories in one episode, to bridge two darker stories. (And then a pair of short stories on top!) In the comic, you do 'hear' the mother; from what I've seen, *everyone* is glad they don't in this version. Most people miss Chaucer in the first pub scene, but most get Shakespeare in the third. Even Lushing Lou was based on a real person.

[@khrysnv9080]

I think this is my favorite, or in my top 2 of best episodes... Great reaction btw 😁

[@emrecer]

Bless your heart.

[@neilshackleton89]

The comics version of Death sold sooooo many ankhs back in the day.

[@Ashamanic]

Lushing Lou was a real person, who had more or less the same backstory about abuse by a relative, and also used the phrase “a drain of pale” I’d expect that the slang she uses was also time period accurate.

[@Drake844221]

This episode combines two of my favorite stories from the Sandman comics. It's just such a beautiful pair that go together very well (though I would have never thought of putting them together like this, myself). Either way, even when I first read the comics, Hob was my favorite character. Just the way that he loves life no matter what, and the fact that he never loses sight of how much good there is still to come. Honestly, if I had someone like Dream make a deal like that with me, I'd take it and just enjoy the ride. Honestly, though, it just kind of leaves me thinking of the lyrics from one of Flogging Molly's songs: Life Is Good. The chorus goes "Life is good. Life is fine. Life is everything we loathe, it's so unkind. They say that death is cruel, ah but death unwinds. It comes unnaturally to all us here alive." What I love about Death from these stories is that she isn't cruel or unkind. She does her best to be kind, and to be good to those who it is her job to take to the sunless lands. It's never anything personal on her part, and she's not the one who causes the death, she's just the one who goes around, collecting those who's time it is to go. Gaiman has said that he wrote her as the kind of death that he'd like to meet when it was his time. Just a friendly face to help take him on to the next place, and I love that.

[@TimeLady128]

For anyone not familiar with the comics, the bit about Johanna Constantine having done a task for Dream, will be very important later on. I completely missed this when I first watched the episode, but now I am crying whenever I see it. I am looking forward to how they will show that task and who they will cast for those scenes. It is just a big row of dominoes and I will cry at the end when they have fallen.

[@kschneyer]

I enjoyed your reaction very much. Well done!

[@MartinBryan]

Truly loved your reaction!

[@TheMajestyD]

Such a great episode, one of my favorites definitely.

[@PhilMasters]

Dream's deal with Shakespeare was fairly simple; he unlocked Shakespeare's ability to tell great stories - let him become the great playwright - and Shakespeare just had to become that playwright. (There were also some specific details, which come out in later issues of the comic, but that's the important bit.) Dream is, among other things, responsible for all stories, and Shakespeare ensured that the great stories would survive. Two other people in that pub also caught Dream's attention; Geoffrey, in 1389, is Geoffrey Chaucer, and it's a fair bet that Dream gave him at least a touch of encouragement along the way, and Will's friend Kit is Christopher Marlowe, who was already making something of himself, but who sadly was down for a visit from Dream's sister a few years later.

[@ShadowyFox_86]

I love seeing the moment of realization dawn on people who Dream's sibling is in this episode. And Gaiman explained that Hob is now a history teacher.

[@jthomann71]

There's definitely an episodic through line to the comics. Dream's evolution continues till the end, but there are constant surprises and special standalone issues that are tangentially related to Dream even if he only barely appears in the story. The entire series is about the power of stories, both long form and short. That's coming through very well in the TV show.

[@SunlessNick]

In the comic, these were two separate issues with three or four others between them - but they work together really well. You're right about Hob - he will reappear a few times.