The tenth episode of The Sandman, “Lost Hearts,” is a satisfying conclusion to the first season. It focuses on families of all kinds. (With their various dysfunctions, though some have more than most.) It also explores the connection between dreams and humanity. And it proves that even an Endless king can change. More than anything else, though, it leaves us wanting more.
All in the Family
Families are complicated. As it turns out, this applies even to Endless ones. I suppose it can be true especially of Endless ones, actually. Think about how easily family can drive you up a wall over Thanksgiving dinner and then extrapolate that for an eternity. No wonder Lucifer needed therapy.
Of course, when it comes to the Endless, simple sibling rivalry isn’t quite so simple. As we discover in The Sandman finale, as Dream discovers that it was his own sibling, Desire, who created a coma baby with Unity. For nefarious purposes, as Dream (correctly) surmises. But also, thinking too hard about the logistics of Desire impregnating a coma patient leads to ethically murky – or even downright disturbing – territory. To say the least.
That issue aside, Dream’s long imprisonment had consequences he hadn’t fully realized until this episode. Unity had been fated to be the dream vortex – and would have thus died long ago. However, since she’d been trapped in a coma, her fate passed on to her great-grandaughter, Rose. Thankfully, Lucienne and Unity figured this out, just in time. Before Dream could kill a member of his family – violating the Endless’s one cardinal rule. Unity took back the power of the vortex and sacrificed her own life, dying so that Rose could live.
It is a sacrifice she makes willingly. Much to Rose’s regret, since this means she’s losing the family she had only just found. Thankfully for both Rose and Jed, they have their found family in the friends she made along the way. (And they’ll no doubt need their support, since I still contend Rose and Jed need massive amounts of therapy after everything.) Including Lyta, who gives birth to a baby boy in the finale. The specter of Dream’s threat hanging over her head.
Is there any wonder she was encouraging Rose to take Dream’s life before he could take her baby?
Lessons Learned
The dream vortex may have been neutralized without Rose needing to die, but that still leaves the question of what the purpose of the vortex is in the first place. Fiddler’s Green (Stephen Fry) has a theory. A human at the center of the Dreaming is a reminder that they all exist to serve humanity. Which is great in theory, but it doesn’t change the fact that the vortex itself is a threat to the Dreaming. And, thus, to humanity itself.
Dream’s clear regret at the thought of having to kill Rose to save two realities hasn’t fully changed her opinion on the King of Dreams. Fair enough, I suppose. She has been through enough, and I might hold a bit of a grudge after it all, too. But that doesn’t mean that Dream himself hasn’t changed. In fact, in the finale, we see how much he’s changed over the course of the season. And others in the Dreaming recognize the same.
Over the past nine episodes, we’ve seen Dream’s capacity for mercy. Most notably with characters like John, with whom he was merciful when he had every right not to be. But his mercy isn’t given entirely freely, as the Corinthian and the rest of the Collectors discover. Recognizing the flaw in his Nightmare, he unmakes the Corinthian – though possibly not for forever. And then he shows the Collectors who they really are, letting them experience the pain they have inflicted upon others.
However, he does recognize the error of his ways when it comes to his harsh judgment of Gault. Granting her wish, he brings her back as the Dream she wishes to be. Recognizing that others can change as much as he did throughout his long imprisonment and after. As much as the Dreaming itself did.
He also asks for Lucienne’s help watching over the Dreaming while he works. Not only in appreciation for her centuries-long efforts but because he realizes he no longer has to handle everything alone. And not a moment too soon, as Lucifer is now plotting against him.
What’s Next?
Given the popularity of The Sandman on Netflix, a second season seems likely. (Though not guaranteed. I remember Julie and the Phantoms, Netflix. And, yes, I’m still bitter.) I hope the announcement of the second season pickup comes quickly. After all, there’s so many stories left to tell from the source material. Not just in regards to Lucifer’s plotting – although it’s never a good idea to cross the King of Hell. There’s the often-mentioned Prodigal Endless. The fate of Lyta’s dream baby. And I’d love to see both Death (my favorite Endless so far – is that weird?) and Hob return.
Mostly, I just want whatever the second season (being written now) has to give. So here’s hoping the renewal announcement comes soon.
The Sandman is streaming now on Netflix.
