There's something so jarring about the shift in this narrative that I can't help but be distracted by the random change in direction, mid-way through S1.
Granted, this "sequel" of sorts is still interesting & does contain genuinely creative moments throughout but since the problems that were introduced in the pilot have essentially been resolved already, I can't help but feel as though the plot is resultantly lacking any sense of perceivable threat - in comparison to the first 5 episodes; Morpheus is no longer stripped of his powers, his captors are vanquished, the dream realm has been restored & there seems to have been very little consequence to his spat with Lucifer... So the purposeful momentum which kept the pace moving forward (a frenetic search through multiverses & a fight against time - as scheming nemeses sought to claim the Sandman's talismans for themselves in a constant battle for power) has ironically... Lost its purpose. Plus, events which unfolded seem to have been fairly trivial (despite their apparent grandiosity) since hardly any ramifications seem to have been suffered in response to this supposed calamity. Therefore, as this continuation fails to directly address any of these issues (in a concise, timely manner that would theoretically justify further watching), it feels like a continuation for the sake of it, as opposed to one which is genuinely necessitated.
I say this not because I want to (alas, it genuinely pains me to be so negative) but because I can't help but feel as though that's how it is; we began this adventure, following the protagonist in his century long quest for reinstatement. Instead, he's relegated to a supporting role in his own debut series - so the story can change perspective & rather focus on a little girl... When it still feels as though there was so much left unexplored from the previous narrative - that's been brushed aside for this inferior replacement?
Granted, what we've seen of Tom Sturridge's character remains promising (I haven't read the novels so am unaware as to how he develops, but I'm sensing conflict on the horizon)... I simply don't get the impression we're seeing enough of him in his own show - in what's meant to be a debut that should hypothetically centre around his establishment.
Granted, this "sequel" of sorts is still interesting & does contain genuinely creative moments throughout but since the problems that were introduced in the pilot have essentially been resolved already, I can't help but feel as though the plot is resultantly lacking any sense of perceivable threat - in comparison to the first 5 episodes; Morpheus is no longer stripped of his powers, his captors are vanquished, the dream realm has been restored & there seems to have been very little consequence to his spat with Lucifer... So the purposeful momentum which kept the pace moving forward (a frenetic search through multiverses & a fight against time - as scheming nemeses sought to claim the Sandman's talismans for themselves in a constant battle for power) has ironically... Lost its purpose. Plus, events which unfolded seem to have been fairly trivial (despite their apparent grandiosity) since hardly any ramifications seem to have been suffered in response to this supposed calamity. Therefore, as this continuation fails to directly address any of these issues (in a concise, timely manner that would theoretically justify further watching), it feels like a continuation for the sake of it, as opposed to one which is genuinely necessitated.
I say this not because I want to (alas, it genuinely pains me to be so negative) but because I can't help but feel as though that's how it is; we began this adventure, following the protagonist in his century long quest for reinstatement. Instead, he's relegated to a supporting role in his own debut series - so the story can change perspective & rather focus on a little girl... When it still feels as though there was so much left unexplored from the previous narrative - that's been brushed aside for this inferior replacement?
Granted, what we've seen of Tom Sturridge's character remains promising (I haven't read the novels so am unaware as to how he develops, but I'm sensing conflict on the horizon)... I simply don't get the impression we're seeing enough of him in his own show - in what's meant to be a debut that should hypothetically centre around his establishment.
