Netflix’s Sandman Releases Death Bonus Episode Inspired by Gaiman, del Toro

Netflix's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman concluded with a bonus episode titled "Death: The High Cost of Living," which provided a fitting farewell by focusing on Death, Dream's sister, during her rare day off among the living. The episode, inspired by a screenplay Gaiman wrote for Guillermo del Toro, was adapted from a beloved Sandman comic and featured an aged-up version of Death and Sexton Furnival, a man contemplating suicide who finds hope through their day together. Showrunner Allan Heinberg explained that the bonus episode was a generous addition from Netflix, made possible by production constraints and the desire to create a narrative distinct from the main Dream storyline. The series' second season primarily centered on Dream's reckoning with his past and his eventual death, culminating in a funeral that symbolically passed his mantle to his successor, Daniel. While Season 1 was generally well-received, Season 2 received criticism for its pacing and focus on Dream, whose character was described as dull, adversely affecting the season's engagement. The decision to end the series after two seasons was strategic, with Heinberg emphasizing the focus on Dream's arc and the practical challenges of adapting the expansive source material.