Absolutely! I really like that aspect of it, flat but inspired art always gets me invested in a way that graphics very rarely are used artistically enough to.
I’m still watching it, but I’d love for it to have more of a Watchmen-style risky tonal shift over Amazon or Netflix’s use of Gaiman’s properties.
What infuriates me to no end about film and, especially, series is the emotionally manipulative soundtracks. Comics take great heed on how things are presented panel to panel, edit to edit, without being able to fall back on music to ensure audiences are feeling what the creators want them to feel. It doesn’t give me people enough space to have a nuanced, personal take on whats being presented to them.
I imagine he was considering films and their runtime limitations. Not that I disagree with you. In addition to a payout, it creates a whole new legion of fans in a younger generation. At least he’s there, ensuring it doesn’t get butchered.
I have never read the comics, but I find this show good to watch. And I am by no means a teenager.
I get you, but I loved that U.S. Girls “Red Comes In Many Shades” song that played during the cafes crescendo.
Halfway through it.
While Gaiman’s funky writing sounds kind of pompous when spoken and directed almost like theatre, the compassion and magic is there. And I love that they’re sort of allow the show to be somewhat whimsical on the pacing, giving space to side stories, world building and just curiosities, which I always loved about the comics. It’s not just a story, it’s a world where we mostly, but not always, follow Dream’s plotting.
I agree. I found the show to be pandering in a sickening way and besides David T. most the acting sucks!
The guy who plays Constantine is so wooden he gave me splinters.
Constantine (a woman, in the show)? Or Corinthian? But either way, I agree with you. Other than David T and Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Death), the acting is subpar. And, like I said before, I think its lack of direction. Cause a lot of them are good actors, otherwise. And its a shame, cause theyre such good characters.
Yes, thankfully despite reading the comics on and off as a kid I am not overly attached, but watching a few episodes of the show does make me want to buy the anthology.
I have read a few of his books and quite enjoyed them but never heard about sandman. The fourth episode in the diner was nuts and exceptionally good in my opinion, I’ll keep watching.
I feel disappointed for people like you that will never be able to read the comic neutrally after seeing the show. The comic that takes place in the diner is so incredibly good and dark, and it just comes out of nowhere. The show didn’t do a terrible job, but it just doesn’t have anywhere near the impact as the comic does.
The characters have also been shuffled around some in a way to try to get around copyright and make the story more cohesive, but the actions of the guy with the gem in the diner just doesn’t make sense in the show given his motivation. The guy in the comic was an established dc villain that was escaped from Arkham asylum, and he doesn’t do what he does because he doesn’t want people to lie or whatever the justification was in the show. He does it because he is a serial killer that is sadistic and wants to hurt people. While that is a very basic and seemingly uninspired motivation it’s not the point of the comic and the character fits in very well in it.
It’s kind of interesting but I found the book on tape to actually make the dinner scene truly disturbed, when I went back and read it in the comic it felt reserved and the show even more so… motivation aside I kind if get why they wanted it to be this way in the show, if it had the same energy of the book on tape but with visuals I would have turned it off for just being too much for me.
I have never read the comic or heard the audiobook versions, but I thought the diner episode was very powerful, and quite disturbing (not enough to put me off the rest of the series however…)
Having said that, I agree with many above that there is too much exposition (it’s OK for the viewer to not understand everything that’s going on at first… Netflix) and yeah some of the acting isn’t great. BUT, personally I’m really enjoying it. I really like how archetypes are flipped in the series, especially how Death was depicted.
If you (or anyone else) is interested in the original comics, I’m open to trades for my box set:
https://www.elektronauts.com/t/wtt-us-your-mackie-1202vlz4-for-my-sandman-box-set/177625
Almost through now. I’ve surrendered to it. It glows with flaws and quirks but honestly, so does the comic from time to time. Just give in and it gives back in ten, like all good stories do.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Saddened by those who are too bothered by this or that. Neil has done several interviews about the making of this series and his enthusiasm for it makes me happy. People need to remember that lots of changes were made because of the D.C. licensing, and as much as I would have loved to see all the cross overs, it just wasn’t a possibility. It was much better than I was expecting, and am glad some others feel the same. I’m not too bothered by the hand holding here and there as it keeps audiences on board, which hopefully encourages these studios to bring other bits of literary work to the screen. I know a lot of people don’t feel the same excitement about such prospects, but thats the great thing about streaming services, you don’t have to watch it.
Heres a run down Neil did of the first season. Think it helps to clarify a lot of questions some had.
I briefly was too, but then I recalled the epic grudge match between Grant Morrison and Alan Moore and that they are both a bit dismissive toward’s Gaiman’s somewhat more mainstream appeal.
It is good when people have strong opinions about art. Hopefully not Tupac vs. Biggie levels, but serious artists deserve serious criticism and this is that.
Great vid. I think he goes an excellent job explaining some of the changes and challenges in going from print to movie.
i had read the graphic novels as a youth, but mostly as a fashion/style guide. Watching the netflix adaptation has been a pleasant surprise. Yes, there is a lot of nostalgia for me but I think it could have been a lot worse. Adaptations always require some amount of rearranging or alteration, and inclusive casting is frankly refreshing.
I do hope the CGI improves if another season is green-lit. Towards the end, it kind of looked like they were running out of budget with some of the vfx. That’s really my only qualm.
Just finished episode three.
The hand holding in the script is still killing an otherwise excellent show for me.