Unexpected developments take place as Netflix’s The Sandman begins to set the stage for a final showdown, while the fate of infant Daniel Hall, the successor Morpheus chose to govern Dreaming, hangs in the balance. Previously, in order to save his realm, Dream visited the Fates and learned they cannot seek retribution for his sin until someone petitions them to. Dream also met with Time and Night, parents of the Endless, in hopes of finding a way to dodge the retribution of the Furies—to no avail. Morpheus informed his associates in the Dreaming about his decision to choose Daniel Hall as his successor and assigned Loki, who owes him a favor, the duty of bringing him to the Dreaming at the right opportunity. However, Puck and Loki, now a couple, schemed to thwart Dream’s plan by abducting Daniel, with the intention of setting the Kindly Ones on him. On the other hand, Cluracan arrived at Dreaming to take his sister, Nuala, back to Faerie, on Titania’s command, and Dream agrees to let her leave—handing her a parting gift, a mystical summoning amulet.
Spoiler Alert
Will Titania’s Obsession Create Trouble for Morpheus?
As The Sandman episode 8 begins, Cluracan and Nuala arrive at the threshold of the mortal realm and Faerie. Unwilling to anger the narcissistic, pompous Queen Titania, Cluracan lends some of his glamor to Nuala, who didn’t need it so far during her stay in Dreaming and reasonably gets miffed about it. Titania greets Nuala in Faerie, but the queen’s main concern is not her well-being; instead, she wants to know whether Morpheus, once her lover, still thinks about her. Nuala had thought of asking Titania to send an army to Dream’s aid, but as Titania gets really preoccupied with the amulet Morpheus has gifted Nuala, she doesn’t get the chance to discuss the issue seriously. Titania’s self-indulgent thoughts and attraction towards the amulet might spell danger in the upcoming episodes, especially given the fact that the amulet can be used to summon Dream anywhere outside Dreaming.
Why Did Morpheus Ask For Constantine’s Help?
On the other hand, while pondering the future of Dreaming, Morpheus gives in to desperation and ends up slipping off to his sister, Despair’s domain—the Gray Realm. After catching up for a bit, as Dream mentions his successor, Daniel Hall, Despair appears surprised, as she recognizes the name. Gazing out one of her windows, the Endless sibling duo sees the present predicament of Lyta Hall. Lyta’s desperation after having her child abducted has drawn Despair to peep into her world. Morpheus learns that Loki has betrayed him, as he and Puck disguise themselves as Detectives Pinkerton and Fellowes to approach Lyta and craftily set up Morpheus as the culprit by leaving sand where Daniel was abducted. Hippolyta, who already suspected Dream to be the abductor, now starts believing that he has taken his son away.
Unable to find Daniel in Dreaming, Dream plans to visit the waking world—as the future of Dreaming, the child is of significant importance, but Lucienne asks him not to leave for the sake of his own safety, and of Dreaming, given the Endless are invulnerable as long as they are in their realm. As Morpheus doesn’t want to hole up in his domain, Lucienne advises him to at least let someone assist him so he doesn’t get in trouble in the waking world. Dream decides to take Johanna Constantine’s help, and in exchange for her assistance in investigating Daniel’s whereabouts, he provides her with the journal of her ancestor, Lady Johanna Constantine. According to Dream, the love Lady Johanna had for Orpheus is reflected in Constantine’s longing for companionship; however, she denies her feelings, as her self-loathing demeanor makes it troubling for her to admit the truth. Anyway, Johanna takes Morpheus to the Burgess mansion to initiate the investigation, ignoring his reluctance to meet Lyta, who already suspects him. In the mansion, Dream meets Alex Burgess—still afflicted by eternal sleep—and even though his lover, Paul, requests Dream to spare him from his misery, Dream isn’t willing to let go of his past grudge.
Why Did the Fates Visit Lyta?
Lyta accuses Dream of abducting Daniel, as he had previously put a claim on him. Even though Dream and Constantine clarify the situation as they are trying to find Daniel as well, Lyta warns Dream that she will end him if anything happens to Daniel. Constantine surmises that Dream is to blame for the predicament of Alex and Lyta and asks him to make peace with them. As Dream refuses, Constantine shares his belief that Dream actually wants to be punished by those who abhor him, to seek redemption for killing his own son, Orpheus. She advises him to return to Dreaming by abandoning this suicide mission if he wants her to continue the investigation any further.
Meanwhile, a troubled, distraught Lyta is visited by the Fates, who offer her help in finding her son. It should be mentioned Hippolyta is greeted by the Fates as a granddaughter, and this familial connection shouldn’t confuse comic-book readers who already know that Lyta Hall, aka Hippolyta Trevor, is actually the daughter of Diana Price, aka Wonder Woman. Given that Diana is considered to be a daughter figure of all the pantheon of old gods in Greek mythology, which includes the Furies/Fates as well, Lyta shares a distant connection with the Fates. Lyta isn’t able to decipher their cryptic message; before leaving, the Fates hint to her about Loki and Puck’s machinations.
Constantine’s words have Dream reconsider his past actions once again, and he goes to his good old mate, Hob Gadling, to seek counsel for a final time. Hob has recently lost his partner, Audrey Dalton, and Dream realizes that he has wronged this poor guy as well by punishing him with eternal life, simply as a sort of experiment on human nature. Hob takes accountability for his fate, as he himself accepted the gift of eternal life, and upon learning of Dream’s predicament, assures him that it is never too late to rectify one’s mistakes. Dream gains a sense of clarity afterwards, as he frees Alex Burgess from his confinement of Eternal Sleep in Dreaming. Alex wakes up in the mortal world and is reunited with Paul, relieved that the punishment is finally over.
Did Loki kill Daniel?
On the other hand, Puck has become quite attached to Daniel, whereas Loki, whose filial connections have only brought him pain and misery, sees the child only as a pawn in the larger game they are playing to thwart Dream’s plans. As Loki mentions, he has six children—the giant Midgard serpent Jormungandr – who will bring Ragnarok; Fenrir the Wolf; Hel – daughter who rules Underworld; the eight-legged horse Sleipnir; Vali, who was turned into a wolf by Odin and killed his own brother, Narfi. Given how much Odin has tortured Loki using his own children, he can’t be sentimental towards Daniel like Puck has suddenly become.
Fearing Loki’s intentions, Puck tries to flee with Daniel and ends up crossing paths with Dream. Puck offers to hand Daniel over to his mother in exchange for Dream freeing Loki from the obligation of the one favor he still owes him, and Morpheus agrees. However, it was Loki who took the guise of Morpheus and was testing Puck, and despite Puck’s act of betrayal, he seems glad knowing Puck also cares for him. Loki takes Puck and Daniel back to his place, promising not to use Daniel as a pawn any longer. However, on the first opportunity, Loki uses Puck’s fairy dust on him, rendering him unconscious. I am glad that the hilarious Thor and Ratatoskr story, taken straight out of comics, made it to the series as well. Bringing Daniel with him, Loki puts the child into the fire—fulfilling the prophecy the Fates made to Lyta in the process. Taking the guise of Detective Pinkerton, Loki meets with Lyta and shares the photograph of the last remains of the child to completely convince her that her son has perished.
In Dreaming, to provide Johanna much needed assistance in her investigation, Morpheus recreates Corinthian—the terrible nightmare who schemed to end his own maker in the first season. Even though Lucienne appears to be skeptical about Morpheus’ decision, Dream is positive that this new Corinthian will not make the same mistakes his past self did. As The Sandman episode 8 comes to an end, we find Corinthian is alive and ready to serve his master.
Final Thoughts
The conflict between Loki and Puck has added a necessary bit of drama in the final part, but I don’t think that Daniel is actually dead like Loki wants Lyta to believe. Puck might have already tricked him into believing so, as he too is aware it is the Norse god of chaos and mischief he is dealing with. Lyta Hall has a huge role to play in Dream’s final fate, but the character is presented so weakly in the series so far that her threat to Dream sounds ludicrous at best. Corinthian’s return surely feels exciting, given he was one of the best characters in the first season of the series. Three more episodes to go to wrap up everything, and so far the pacing has been smooth; the overall narrative development is fine-tuned to perfection as well.
