#goodguydream

[naevja]

I feel like Dream was portrayed quite negatively in S2 of The Sandman and I don't really understand why. Yes, he fucked up from time to time and he was proud en stubborn but he was also a kind person who cared deeply about others. So, I'm gonna share some moments that I loved in the comics that were not in the show. "Gently".

[naevja]

Dream and Rose Walker

In te comics, Rose is attacked by Fun Land. She calls Morpheus for help (something Fiddlers' Green told her to do is case she got into trouble) and he shows up and saves her. Of course he would help her, right? Why wouldn't he? EXCEPT Rose was the Vortex and had to die in order for the Dreaming and Waking world to be safe. It is not entirely clear whether Fun Land would have actually killed Rose, but he could have. If Dream had been a jerk, he could have chosen not to intervene and his Vortex-problem could have been solved. (Except if it HAD to be Dream to kill the Vortex, I'm an bit unclear on that part). After he saves Rose, he leaves her be and tells her to heal and that he does not want to trouble her. She is unconscious at this point, so he could have killed her there and then, without any resistence from her and be done with it. BUT HE DOESN'T! He gives her more time (that she can spend with her brother). It was only when the Vortex truly began to manifest itself, that Dream decided it was time to kill her (which was then stopped by Unity of course).

[naevja]

Dream and Choronzon

In the show: During the banquet, Azazel devoures Choronzon in front of Dream and he just watches. I did like this scene as it showed how merciless Azazel is and how Dream doesn't intervene in business that is not his. In the comics however Dream frees Choronzon! This gives us an entirely different view on the situation and on what kind of a being Dream really is.

[naevja]

Dream and Thessaly

I didn't particularly like the character of Thessaly in the comics, mainly because she played a big part in Dreams death, but it is too bad they didn't involve her in the show. In this panel Thessaly says to Dream that 'he cares too much about other people'. And if a meanie like Thessaly says it, it must be true.

[naevja]

Dream and Calliope

In the show, Calliope calls Dream for help after she learns that he is free, however in the comics it seems that there was no calling. Dream escaped his imprisonment and went to Calliope on his own accord (or at least, that's how I understand it?).

I LOVED the scenes with Dream and Calliope in S1 though! It was way more emotional and personal than in the comic. To me, the show also makes a bit more sense, because how could Dream know Calliope was imprisoned if she didn't call for help? But still, the fact that he shows up in the comic without being called upon, proves that he still cares about Calliope (the scene in the series proves this as well)!

[naevja]

Good Guy Dream

'Three Septembers and a January' is a comic that did not make it into The Sandman. It's about a man (Joshua Norton) who contemplates suicide, and is therefor accompanied by Despair. Despair decides to summon Dream and challenge him to redeem the man. At first, Dream refuses as he does not want to play games, but Despair coaxes him by saying that Desire and Delirium stand with her, that Dream thinks himself better than the rest of the Endless and blames him for the departure of Destruction. Despair states that Dream must keep Joshua in his realm (The Dreaming) and out of the others until Death comes for him. Dream gets to know Joshua through his dreams and gives him a new one: that he is the emperor of the US.

Years later, Joshua still believes this en becomes somewhat of a celebrity. He accepts 'taxes' (charity) from people and even gives them receipts for it. Delirium visits and accepts that even though he is delusional, it's 'his madness that keeps him sane'.

Desire tries to seduce the man with women but fails. Dream states that the emperor has dignity. Desire leaves furious with the promise to destroy their brother one day.

Joshua eventually succumbs to what seems like a heart attack and is taken by Death. Despair admits dat Dream has won the challenge.

I liked this comic as it shows more of the dynamic between the siblings, which we did not see enough of in the show. It also shows that Despair en definitely Desire had something against Dream for no real reason? Dream could have walked away but choose to give the man new purpose because he feels like he did not do enough to help Destruction. Ergo: he cares.