Netflix’s The Sandman Season 2 has wrapped up the story of Dream and his siblings, but fans of Neil Gaiman’s original comics noticed some major changes. The show had to condense a huge comic series into just two seasons, leading to big shifts in characters, storylines, and even settings. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences.
Nada’s New Look and Bigger Role
In the comics, Nada was an African queen from a savannah kingdom who rejected Dream’s love and was sent to Hell. The Netflix version changes her backstory completely. Now, she rules an Afro-steampunk city covered in snow, giving her world a fresh visual style.
The show also makes Nada more important to Dream’s story. Her relationship with him is explored deeper, showing his guilt over punishing her. In the comics, Dream broods over another lover, Thessaly, but she was cut from the show entirely.
“We wanted to make [the First People] a visual standout and defy expectations,” said producer David Goyer. “The comics had different artists with different visions, so we focused on keeping the intent the same while making it fresh.”
Wanda’s Story Gets a Major Rewrite
One of the biggest changes involves Wanda, a beloved transgender character from the comics. Originally, she was the best friend of Barbie in the A Game of You storyline, where she dies protecting her friend.
Since A Game of You was cut from the show, Wanda’s role was changed. She now works as a chauffeur for Dream and Delirium in the Brief Lives arc. While her tragic ending stays similar—her family misgenders her at her funeral—the emotional impact is different.
In the comics, Barbie changes Wanda’s gravestone herself, making it a powerful human moment. In the show, Dream uses magic to fix it, which some fans felt was less meaningful.
Missing Characters and Cut Storylines
Several comic book arcs were left out to keep the focus on Dream. The biggest cut was A Game of You, which followed Barbie and her neighbors fighting a nightmare. Since it didn’t directly involve Dream, the showrunners removed it to streamline the story.
Thessaly, a witch and Dream’s lover in the comics, was also cut. Instead, the show focused more on Nada and Dream’s past mistakes. Another missing character is Bast, the Egyptian goddess, who was supposed to appear at Dream’s banquet.
New Additions and Expanded Roles
Some characters got bigger roles than in the comics. Puck and Loki, who briefly appear in The Kindly Ones, have more screen time in the show. Their betrayal of Dream is given more depth, making their actions clearer.
Johanna Constantine and the new Corinthian also team up in the show, something that never happened in the comics. Their mission to find Daniel (the future Dream) adds a fresh dynamic.
Dream’s Story Stays Central
The comics often shift focus to side characters, but the Netflix version keeps Dream at the center. Showrunner Allan Heinberg explained that test audiences preferred following Dream over other characters.
“The audience wants a main character to invest in,” Heinberg said. “When we switched to other protagonists, people asked, ‘Why aren’t we following Dream?’”
This change meant cutting some standalone stories but made the show feel more focused.
A Faster Ending
The comics had 10 volumes, but Netflix wrapped everything up in two seasons. Major arcs like Season of Mists, Brief Lives, and The Kindly Ones were included, while others were trimmed or merged.
One deleted scene would have revealed a big comic mystery—how Delight became Delirium. It was filmed but didn’t make the final cut.
Final Thoughts
While The Sandman Season 2 made big changes, it kept the heart of Gaiman’s story. Fans may miss some comic moments, but the show’s new twists kept things exciting.
Also read: The Sandman Season 2 Episode 12 Ending: Death’s Day Off Teaches Life’s True Value
Credits: Sources include Variety, What’s on Netflix, Polygon, Screen Rant, and Winter is Coming.
