Chapter 18: Time and Night is the seventh episode of the second season of the Netflix original dark fantasy series, The Sandman.
Synopsis[]
With the future of his realm at stake, Morpheus must appeal for help to an authority even greater than the Endless.
Plot[]
Visiting Destiny's Realm, Dream speaks with his brother, remorseful of not heeding his brother's advice, and once again seeks to hear and promises to listen to it this time. Allowing Dream to look into his book, Destiny shows Dream that the pages are blank, prompting Destiny to state that actions write fate, and the Fates decide Dream's death.
Eventually, Dream visits the Kindly Ones and offers them gifts of wine, herbs, and the sacred of Hecates. However, the Kindly ones realize that Dream is not offering them gifts, but either bribes or offerings, and ask what his true motives are. Dream states that he wishes them to spare his Realm as he has his duties; however, the Kindly Ones state that unless someone of a greater power orders them, they cannot, and that it's all been written on their list. Hence, Dream must accept the fate that has been given to him.
News that the Pope has welcomed women into the priesthood has been announced, and Dream confronts the Pope along with Cardinal Visconti, who are really, Puck and Loki. After briefly chatting with the two about how they're collaborators in misdeeds, Dream calls in a favor to Loki, who tries to persuade him not to, but Dream has his responsibilities he is bound to.
Later, Loki and Puck walk the streets of Rome as Loki lambasts Dream and Puck downplays Loki's misfortune. Puck then suggests that Loki does what Dream wants before he wants it, so when it's time for Dream to ask for his favor, it'll already be done, and he'll be free.
In the Dream Realm, Mervyn, Gilbert, Nuala, Matthew, and Lucienne all discuss possibilities for defending Dream's Realm from the Kindly Ones. However, Dream intervenes and states that any plan they have is unnecessary, as he's already chosen his successor, Daniel Hall, the son of Lyta and Hector. Despite being eight months old, Dream states that he'll one day have power that exceeds his own.
Daniel was pulled out of a car by Rose as his mother and Rose then speak to Paul McGuire, who gives them a tour of Rose's new house. As that goes on, Puck proceeds to put to sleep and then take the form of Simon, the Valet, and soon coaxes Lyta to convince her to leave Daniel in the house, while she and Rose enjoy dinner outside.
Back in the Dream Realm, Nuala proposes asking Titania or Odin to fight against the upcoming forces. Still, despite his power, Dream decides to follow the law. Nuala then asks who wrote the laws that Dream is bound to, and he answers, before the beginning, there was Night, but it was without boundaries or an end.
Dream visits his father's Realm, Time, who berates his son for wasting his own precious time and asking for something he has no obligation to grant. Their conversation together prompts a discussion of a child's love for their parent and Dream's thankfulness to his father for making him, and to say goodbye. Time then states that even if he were to send Dream back in time to speak to Hades and Persphone on Orpheus' behalf, they'd reject him. Ultimately, Orpheus would still find his way into the Underworld and the present events would still happen. Dream then mentions how the pages in Destiny's book were blank, but Time states that Destiny's book has an ending, as does Dream.
Before Dream leaves, Time asks if he's seen his mother, to which Dream answered no, and Time suggests that he do that and adds to mention to her that he's been thinking about her.
Visiting his mother, Night rebukes Dream for not contacting her ahead of time and notes that her value of privacy is a trait they share. Amused, Night offers him a meal, and they discuss Delirium, who Dream states that she often visits Night because she craves his love and attention. Dream then mentions that he saw Time and relays to Night that he misses her, but Night knows that Dream wants him to reunite the two together and have them rewrite the laws of the universe. So, Night offers to create a new Dream Realm in her domain just for Dream; however, he declines, stating he has his responsibilities with his personal Realm.
Unhappy with Dream's response, Night states that Dream was always like that, noting they were all a means to an end for him. Night apologizes, stating it was not his intention to act disrespectfully, but rather to act as if he thought she'd approve of. To that, Night states that Dream turned to the notion that it's the parents' fault that their children are to blame for their faults. However, Night did not blame her, which Night was thankful for, and asked that if he saw his father again, to tell him she said hello.
Lucienne, Nuala, and Gilbert practice archery while discussing the formation of an army, as Matthew observes, until Mervyn arrives with a cart full of weapons he calls the "Unkindly Ones." Matthew then spots an unknown traveler coming their way, whom Nuala recognizes as Cluracan tells her that Titania wants her to return. Still, Nuala refuses, understanding the Queen's true intentions behind it, but Cluracan insists and forces an audience with Dream, who, surprisingly, agrees to have her return to Titania.
Afterward, Dream visits Lucienne in her room, where the two discuss how Dream met his parents and how, despite all they have, they wish to be left alone. This leads to a heart-to-heart about parenting.
Meanwhile, Rose and Lyta run into Mad Hettie outside a restaurant, where Lyta mentions that one of Mad Hettie's dogs resembles a toy her son has. Mad Hettie asks for Lyta's son's name, and she states it was Daniel, which Mad Hettie claims was the same name as the prophet who interpreted the King's Dreams in Babylon. Once Mad Hettie walks away, Rose tries to contact Mrs. Shore, who doesn't answer as Puck sprinkles Fairy Dust onto her and is about to steal Daniel.
In the Dream Realm, Nuala says her goodbyes to Lucienne, Gilbert, Matthew, and Mervyn, where Gilbert gifted her a book, and when Dream arrived, a crystal necklace. As Lucienne puts it on for her, Dream tells her that if she is ever in need, all she has to do is use the crystal to contact him, and he shall come. Although Lucienne was against having Nuala return to Titania, Dream felt it was the right decision and wanted them all to leave. However, in solidarity, they all wanted to stay. Still, Dream advised them to take shelter in other realms until the Kindly Ones perform their duties.
While Dream spoke to his associates, Rose and Lyta returned to their home, where Lyta found Daniel's dog toy. Elsewhere, Puck and Loki were seen with Daniel.
Cast[]
- Tom Sturridge as Dream
- Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne
- Patton Oswalt as Matthew
- Adrian Lester as Destiny
- Rufus Sewell as Time
- Tanya Moodie as Night
- Freddie Fox as Loki
- Jack Gleeson as Puck
- Ann Skelly as Nuala
- Douglas Booth as Cluracan
- Nina Wadia as Fate Mother
- Souad Faress as Fate Crone
- Dinita Gohil as Fate Maiden
- Razane Jammal as Lyta Hall
- Kyo Ra as Rose Walker
- Clare Higgins as Mad Hettie
- Stephen Fry as Gilbert
- Mark Hamill as Merv Pumpkinhead (Voice)
- Nicholas Anscombe as Merv Pumpkinhead (Body)
- Tedroy Newell as Paul McGuire
Co-Starring[]
- Rosie Ede as Mrs. Shore
- Ben Allen as Simon the Valet
- Keith Bartlett as The Pope
- Arturo Venegas as Cardinal Visconti
- Zahra Browne as Charlie Adler
- Richard T. Harris as News Producer
- Jason Petrise as Aaron
Trivia[]
To be added
Gallery[]
Promotional Images[]
References[]