TV Show review
Review basis: 2 seasons · through July 31, 2025
August 5, 2022 · TV-MA · Ended
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Sandman is a Netflix fantasy drama adapting Neil Gaiman's 1989-1996 comics. It follows Morpheus, the King of Dreams, after his century-long imprisonment as he rebuilds his realm, confronts family members among the Endless, and intersects with human stories across mythology and dreams. Two seasons (2022 and 2025) deliver visually striking anthology-style episodes rooted in the source material. Prominent audience-visible elements include non-binary Desire played by a non-binary actor, Black actress as Death, female Lucifer, gender-swapped Johanna Constantine, and a trans character Wanda with identity-focused scenes in Season 2. Creators publicly highlighted these as intentional inclusion and fluid-identity storytelling, drawing repeated "too woke" complaints about casting and agenda emphasis.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Sandman.
Woke representation / casting
Multiple lead roles feature race, gender, and non-binary casting (Black Death, non-binary Desire actor, female Lucifer, trans Wanda actor, gender-swapped Constantine) that creators and marketing framed as inclusive updates; highly visible and debated by audiences.
Woke political dialogue
Occasional fantasy discussions of power, freedom, and dreams touch on social ideas, but no sustained modern political lectures or partisan messaging.
Identity-driven story themes
Queer non-binary Endless and trans character arcs (Wanda's identity struggles and discrimination) form noticeable threads, especially in Season 2; comics' 1990s progressive elements carried forward and highlighted.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Some critique of hell, religion, and past power abuses; Season 2 subtly frames Dream's history through accountability lenses some viewers read as anti-macho, but remains secondary to mythic storytelling.
Woke character or canon changes
Publicly discussed gender swaps (Lucifer female, Constantine to Johanna) and race changes justified as fitting the fluid source material and modern inclusion.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Sustained online and media criticism of "woke casting," forced diversity, trans themes, and agenda over story fidelity, including direct responses from Gaiman and S2-specific "woke stupidity" pieces.
Creator track record context
Gaiman and Heinberg have clear histories of queer and diverse representation as deliberate creative choices; supporting crew largely neutral.
Production
