The Corinthian (Netflix)

This article is about The Corinthian from the Netflix adaptation. You may be looking for The Corinthian from the comic series.

The Corinthian is the main antagonist of the first season in The Sandman.

He is an escaped nightmare who wishes to taste all that the world has in store.

History[]

Escaping The Dreaming[]

The Corinthian escaped The Dreaming and proceeded to wreak havoc on the waking world, killing many mortals in the process. However, he was tracked down by Dream, who scolded him for killing mortals for pleasure. The Corinthian questioned why they should confine their talents to humanity's sleeping mind when they were unstoppable in the waking realm. He pleaded with Dream to spare him, though Dream could not allow his insubordination to go unchecked and approached with the Dreamstone to return Corinthian to the Dreaming. However, he was summoned away before he could fulfill his duty. After learning that Dream was captured by Roderick Burgess, Corinthian paid him a visit and informed the Magus exactly who he had captured and the protocols he should instate to ensure that Dream never escaped. Unfortunately, about 100 years later, Dream managed to escape.^[1]

Meeting Ethel Cripps[]

Netflix The Sandman 102 Imperfect Hosts 07 The Corinthian — The Corinthian goes after Ethel

The Corinthian tracked down Ethel Cripps after learning that she fled Burgess' estate with Dream's sand pouch, helm, and ruby. With Ethel's help, he intended to remain free, asking if Ethel kept Dream's tools, which she claimed she didn't. He simply came to help Ethel and show her how to make Dream go away permanently. However, she insisted that she didn't have them, even as Corinthian made mention of her son John. When she left Roderick, Ethel traded the sand and helm for her life in America. As for the ruby, her son took it from her, only for the ruby to then take him. When Ethel repeated that she didn't know the whereabouts of the ruby, The Corinthian grabbed a knife from his pocket and threatened to cut her eyes out. But when he approached, she unveiled the Amulet of Protection around her neck, which shredded Corinthian into pieces. The Corinthian was sent back to The Dreaming, where Lucienne informed him that Dream was away for the moment but that he would be back soon, but the Corinthian returned to the waking world before Dream could find him.^[2]

The Corinthian waited outside the hospital for John Dee, who exited following his mother Ethel's death. He offered John his jacket and insisted that the only thing that mattered was John getting to where he was going.^[3]

Searching for Rose[]

Netflix The Sandman 107 The Dolls House 12 The Corinthian Nimrod — The Corinthian confronting the other collectors

The Corinthian went searching for Rose after learning she was the vortex. He arrived at her apartment to learn that she was away. He claimed that he came to offer Rose a job, but Carl revealed that she might be gone for about a week, though he invited Corinthian inside, where they had sex. Afterward, Carl asked Corinthian about the job offer for Rose. He simply explained that he wanted Rose to come and work for him. With Rose at his side, he could put his old boss out of business. He then got an alert on his phone notifying him that The Corinthian had struck again at a nearby diner despite it not being his work. Realizing that someone was trying to get his attention, The Corinthian hunted down Nimrod, The Good Doctor and Fun Land. Visibly nervous, they explained that they would like for him to be their guest of honor at their annual gathering of "collectors." The Corinthian accepted their offer and reserved a guest spot for the Vortex as well.^[4]

Finding Jed[]

Netflix The Sandman 108 Playing House 02 Jed The Corinthian — The Corinthian and Jed

Upon learning that Rose was in London, The Corinthian traveled there, where he interviewed her great-grandmother, Unity. From her, he learned that Rose was in Florida. There, he discovered she was in contact with Dream and his raven, Matthew. And so, The Corinthian approached her friend Hal instead and learned that Rose was searching for her brother, who had been put into the foster system. After killing Ms. Rubio, Jed's foster agent, Corinthian proceeded to read Jed's case file and learn his location. Corinthian made his way over to the Farrell's house, where he killed Barnaby and Clarice Farrell before finding Jed and taking him on the road.^[5]

Netflix The Sandman 109 Collectors 04 The Corinthian Philip — The Corinthian killing Philip

The Corinthian and Jed arrived at the serial killer convention in Georgia, from where they called Rose to alert her of Jed's location. After reconvening with Nimrod and The Good Doctor, and warning Fun Land to stay away from Jed, The Corinthian instructed Jed to stay in the room while he headed down to attend the convention, where he was a bit of a celebrity among the other "collectors." But it was one man in particular who appeared to catch his attention, who claimed to be "The Boogieman." However, Corinthian informed Nimrod and The Good Doctor that the man before them was not the Boogieman, who drowned three years ago in Louisiana. They were faced with an imposter, who the three of them decided to lure into a secluded area and kill together until being interrupted by Jed, who Corinthian pursued. Jed sought out Fun Land for help, but after Jed reunited with Rose, Fun Land chased after them both until being killed by The Corinthian.^[6]

Bringing down the walls[]

Netflix The Sandman 110 Lost Hearts 07 Dream The Corinthian — Dream vs The Corinthian

The Corinthian assured Rose and Jed that he meant them no harm and was only acting in their best interest; he was trying to protect them from Morpheus, who was going to kill her the moment she fell asleep and began to bring the walls down in The Dreaming. The Corinthian hoped to protect her from such a fate and help make her the center of the Dreaming, thus leaving Morpheus powerless. The Corinthian then headed downstairs to give his keynote address to the "collectors." He sought for them to see themselves how he saw them, instructing the collectors to close their eyes and dream. Then Morpheus arrived, disappointed in The Corinthian, who refused to go back to the Dreaming and stabbed Dream in his hand before explaining that he had Rose getting stronger every second as Dream got weaker, taking her place at the center of the Dreaming and bringing the walls down between the sleepers' minds, allowing them to dream the same dream, one inspired by The Corinthian, who then went into The Dreaming to encourage Rose to take over, but instead, she brought the walls back up, empowering Dream, who turned Corinthian into sand, leaving nothing behind but a fragile, small skull.^[7]

Physical Appearance[]

The Corinthian is well-dressed and usually wears white clothing. He often wears shades to hide his lack of eyes, which were replaced with two rows of small teeth.

Powers and Abilities[]

The Corinthian is a nightmare, so he is physiologically immortal, even if his body is destroyed he will eventually regenerate, one of his characteristic powers as a nightmare is to reflect the darkness of a person.