The Sandman is the latest fantasy drama series released by Netflix on 5 August 2022. The series is based on Neil Gaiman’s comic book series from 1989–1996 published by DC Comics. It is developed by Gaiman, David S. Goyer and Allan Heinberg.
The series was released with 10 episodes in total, but Netflix has released a bonus episode making it an 11-part series. The show is about another world that waits for all of us when we close our eyes and sleep — a place called the Dreaming, where The Sandman, Master of Dreams (Tom Sturridge), gives shape to all of our deepest fears and fantasies.
But when Dream is unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for a century, his absence sets off a series of events that will change both the dreaming and waking worlds forever. To restore order, Dream must journey across different worlds and timelines to mend the mistakes he’s made during his vast existence, revisiting old friends and foes, and meeting new entities, both cosmic and human, along the way.
The synopsis of The Sandman Episode 11 reads:
In this two-part story collection, a Siamese cat dreaming of a new world and a writer in desperate need of inspiration cross paths with Morpheus.
-The Sandman Bonus Episode Review Contains Spoilers-
This episode is an adaptation of Dream Country, the arc that spans issues 17-20 of The Sandman comic. It includes two of the four stories from that arc – A Dream of a Thousand Cats and Calliope. In the comics, Dream Country follows The Doll’s House, the arc depicted in Episodes 7-10 of the series.
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Dream of a Thousand Cats
The first part of the story is an animation by Dutch animator Hisko Hulsing serving as director and production designer for the episode. It features an all-star voice cast including Michael Sheen, David Tennant, James McAvoy, Sandra Oh, and Neil Gaiman himself.
In the story, a couple heads to bed by leaving a kitten in its bed. Soon the brown kitten is visited by another cat who asks him to get out of the house, to see her. On the way, they meet other cats who are also on the way to see her. Who is her though?
It is revealed to be a pure-bred Blue-Point Siamese. She explains that she was also like them once, living in a house with her human owners, until they threw away and killed her mixed kittens, that she had with her tomcat lover. Sad and horrified, the cat lapsed into a dream.
In Dreaming, the cat is met by a dead crow who directs her to the cave of the Cat of Dreams. She faces many challenges but eventually, finds her way. The Cat of Dreams welcomes her, and the Siamese cat explains that she wants to understand why the humans could take her children away, and why cats live as they do. He asks her to look into his eyes.
The dream shows the Siamese the history of cats, in which they were once larger than humans and were the dominant species until human beings collectively dreamed themselves to be superior and made it the new reality. This gives the Siamese the idea that if at least a thousand cats dream of a life as rulers again, they will revert things to the natural order. So, she travels the world trying to convince other cats of her plan.
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Calliope
The cast of this short story features Melissanthi Mahut as Calliope, Arthur Darvill as Richard Madoc, Nina Wadia as Fate’s Mother, Souad Faress as Fate Crone, Dinita Gohil as Fate Maiden, Kevin Harvey as Larry, Amita Suman as Nora and Derek Jacobi as Erasmus Fry.
The second story follows a frustrated author, Richard Madoc, whose first book has been released to critical acclaim but who simply cannot write a page of the promised follow-up. He strikes a deal with an elder writer, Erasmus Fry, for Calliope, one of the Muses of Greek mythology, whom Fry had captured earlier in his life, in exchange for a bezoar.
Madoc also takes her captive and by abusing her, he gets the inspiration to have great success in writing. But Calliope is tired of being held captive for more than 60 years and calls upon the help of the triad of witches, who directs her to Morpheus. Here we learn that she has a history with the King of Dreams and they were actually married.
Going by the show timeline, Dream was also released from his prison at the same time, thus, he helps his ex-lover by making the author insane with neverending ideas. Finally freed from the author, she goes on her way, while they promise to meet up again to talk and grieve their son’s death.
Summing Up: The Sandman Bonus Episode 11
The bonus episode has certainly come as a surprise for the viewers but is highly welcomed. The series received high praises from viewers and critics alike and the new episode is adding to its success only. The animation was created by combining oil paintings with classically drawn 2D animation.
The short tale about cats might not be on par with the rest of the series but Calliope is right in the alley. Extending the world of The Sandman series and creating a base for what’s next to come in the show. Although, the bonus episodes confirm that we should be expecting the series to cover most if not all of Gaiman’s comic collections.
The Sandman is streaming on Netflix.
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