The Sandman: All episodes reviewed and explained

Episode Six: “The Sound of Her Wings”

Probably the most feel-good episode of the series, “The Sound of Her Wings” is split into two distinct parts: Morpheus being visited by his sister Death after concluding his quest, and a story about how he met his one and only friend, Hob Gadling.

Death and Dream

Death was perhaps the most popular character from the comic book. Contrary to what you might guess from her name, Death is the most upbeat of the Endless. This episode begins as she meets Dream sitting in a park, feeding the pigeons. He is clearly exhausted after his quest to retrieve his totems of power.

Death seems annoyed at Dream, who is despondent that he’s not happier now that his quest is over, when the job of the Endless is supposed to be to serve human beings. The interplay between Death and Dream is so fun to watch. Death couldn’t be more outgoing; she loves Mary Poppins, for instance. And yes, she throws a baguette at Dream, which is an iconic moment from the comics.

The first half of this episode is very much a story about death that will give you a different outlook on life. She chastises Dream for being so melancholy. In order to give him some perspective on his role as one of the Endless, she invites him to join her as she goes about her duties as the emissary from the sunless lands. The contrast between Death’s bubbly personality and the seriousness of her job is actually quite beautiful. She’s there to be a friendly face at the end.

I actually teared up at moments when we see Death be there for humans as they look over their dead bodies. There’s one scene where she lifts a baby from its crib, a child gone far too soon. It reminds us of the cruelty and uncertainty of life. It’s utterly heartbreaking when the mother learns that her child has died.

Every time we see Death greet someone and take them away, we see a brief shadow of her wings, followed by the sound of her taking the deceased away. This story is thought-provoking, eye-opening, and very tastefully done.

The fact that Death has seen the most traumatic of events throughout her vast existence and she still has a smile on her face says a lot about her character.

Men of Good Fortune

The second half of this episode takes us through 800 years of history. When his trip with Death is over, Dream makes his way to a pub to meet his old friend Hob Gadling, only to learn that it has closed down, thus beginning the second story of the episode. This issue in the comic is my favorite from the entire Sandman run, and I’m delighted to say that the TV show does it justice.

1389

This story takes place over multiple centuries. We begin in the year 1389 when Dream and his sister Death enter a tavern in England. While there, they meet a drunken man named Hob Gadling who is determined to cheat death and live forever. Of course, we know that’s not how mortality works.

Dream begins wondering what it would be like for a mortal man to live forever. Death offers to leave Gadling alone so Dream can see the results. All Dreams asks is that he meets Gadling in the same tavern once every 100 years so he can see how Gadling’s view on life changes.

For fans who’ve been waiting to see all the different costumes this show has to offer, you’re in luck. We now have centuries of fashion!

1489

A century later, Dream lives up to his promise and meets Hob Gadling again, in the same tavern on the same day. Hob is confused about how Dream knew that he would survive all of this time. He begins to ponder about who Dream really is; a wizard, a devil, something else?

Turns out, Dream was wrong in his assumptions that Hob would be begging for death. He loves being alive.

1589

It’s the year 1589 and Dream once again meets Hob Gadling in the same place at the same time. But this year, there’s someone else he also meets inside the tavern: William Shakespeare. Everyone seems to think his writing is terrible, but Dream sees his potential and wishes to talk to him. Indeed, if the show gets renewed for another season, this won’t be the last time we see Shakespeare!

As for Hob Gadling, he’s doing better than ever. Seems he’s made a fortune over the last century. He no longer goes by Hob Gadling, but rather Sir Robert Gadlen. To stop rumors of him living forever, he’s faked his own death on two occasions and returned as his own son. He has a son named Robyn and a wife named Elenor.

1689

A century earlier, we saw Hob living his best life. He was rich, he had a family, and seemingly everything to live for. Now, however, he couldn’t be in a lower moment. He’s a drunk again, fighting with the barmen. He admits that he lost everything, including his family. Despite all of this, he still wishes to live.

1789

By1789, Hob tells Dream that he’s been involved in the slave trade for the last 100 years, something that Dream is not impressed by. Plus, by this point there have been rumors spreading of two men who meet in the same tavern every 100 years, and Lady Johanna Constantine — an ancestor of the Johanna Constantine we met in Episode 3 — is determined to learn the secret to immortality. She greets Hob and Dream, intending to force them to give up their secrets. Dream ultimately sends her to sleep.

1889

In 1889, the duo once again meet in the same tavern. In this meeting, Hob finally starts to question Dream. He tells Dream that he knows the reason behind their meetings. He thinks it’s because Dream is lonely and wants a friend. Dream is furious at this presumption and storms out.

1989

The 1989 meeting is put on hold because Dream is imprisoned by Roderick Burgess. Of course, Hob is unaware of this, so he merely waits in the pub for Dream to arrive, which he never does.

He learns that the pub will soon be closed down to make room for flats.

The present

Finally, we go back to the present day, where Dream stands outside the closed-down pub. The good news? A new pub has been opened across the road. And that’s where he meets Hob. And this is one of the very few times we see Dream actually smile. “Men of Good Fortune” is a tale of how someone as distant and melancholy as Dream can still be thoughtful and make friends.

This is probably the most wholesome episode of the series. It’s definitely much needed after the super disturbing scenes from the previous episode. You’ll cry and you’ll smile.