Three shows on Netflix to watch while waiting on ‘The Sandman’
Nothing good lasts forever. Not even the tenure of the massively successful The Sandman. The streamer dropped a bombshell with the comic book adaptation. And although the frustration is apparent with The Sandman pulling down the curtains with just two seasons, the anticipation is through the roof surrounding the final arc. So, while you count the hours, make the most of the remaining time with three similar shows on Netflix.
The Sandman’s second season, part two, is scheduled to hit Netflix shelves on July 24th, 2025. With Dream giving the boon of death to Orpheus, a tense confrontation awaits Morpheus and the Kindly Ones. But as Netflix gets its supernatural ducks in a row, these three shows on Netflix will transport you to the realm of dark fantasy and surreal supernatural.
For those seeking the perfect streaming alternatives for The Sandman, Netflix can summon an otherworldly watch-party if you want. But with time ticking faster than light, sit with these three. In case you’re unable to complete, there’s always time to pick things up later on when the streaming void is unavoidable.
But if your impulses crave a streaming dive that’s just as rich as The Sandman, all you need to do is sit back and grab your popcorn.
Three shows to stream on Netflix before The Sandman drops
Locke & Key (Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, and Aron Eli Coleite, 2020-2022)
The first common thread between The Sandman and Locke & Key is that both are comic book adaptations made for the modern audience. Based on Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez’s comic, Locke & Key follows the Locke family’s move into Keyhouse, their ancestral home, following Rendell Locke’s murder. As they discover mysterious keys that unlock magical doors, they must be wary of a demonic entity who’s also in pursuit of those keys.
While Locke & Key might be a fantasy series, it has incredible emotional and psychological depth just like The Sandman. The artefacts of power and magic may vary. However, in both cases, they serve as anchors for larger metaphysical concepts. The Sandman features Morpheus’s pouch and ruby. Locke & Key has magical keys with powers of different kinds, from memory erasure to teleportation.
Most interestingly, dreams, memories, and thoughts act like physical spaces in these shows, pushing the visual medium to surrealist imaginations. The more you probe, the more likeness you find. So, get streaming already!
The Witcher (Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, 2019-Present)
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher book series, this Netflix adaptation has been one of the most beloved portals into the realm of fantasy. Set against a fictional, medieval-inspired land, The Continent, The Witcher tells the legend of three main characters: Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg, and Princess Ciri. Akin to The Sandman, The Witcher explores a morally complex supernatural world where trauma, identity, and destiny shape the show.
Both series explore dynamics of power play. But instead of highlighting their use, they focus on the consequences. Geralt is an antiheroic personality who struggles with identity and duties similar to Dream. The shows go to great lengths to capture their emotional evolution. The mythological and folklore nods are inculcated deep within the themes of the show. Neither The Witcher nor The Sandman sensationalises magic. In fact, they highlight the dark sides.
The Sandman and The Witcher enjoy varying benchmarks of success in the literary and showbiz world. Even though the former ends soon, The Witcher still has a long way to go.
Lucifer (Tom Kapinos, 2019-2021)
Legend has it that in deep enough searching, even the Gods reveal themselves. But somehow Netflix got Lucifer Morningstar to touchdown Earth, and Hell has never been the same. Lucifer is an urban fantasy series that comes from a shared universe with The Sandman. The character is an alternate version of the DC Comics character Neil Gaiman co-created with Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg. The show sees the devil abandoning hell to operate a nightclub, Lux, in LA.
In the comics, Lucifer originates from The Sandman’s universe as part of the DC/Vertigo cosmology. Similar to Morpheus, the antihero protagonist struggles with responsibility and duty, where their free will comes with a cost that fate has to pay. The Sandman wrestles with changes and the burden of power while Lucifer defies destiny. Despite their cosmic roles, they challenge the order – Lucifer fights to stay out of Hell while Dream desires to break free.
At one point, you might even have existential questions. But that’s all part of the cosmic plan. There’s no rigid sense of right and wrong, and neither shows have a clear moral centre. So, if you thought Angels bring goodwill, Demons unleash wrath, and Gods are just perfect, think again.