The Sandman on Netflix ending explained: What will Lucifer do to Dream?

It’s time to enter the world of the Dreaming, as The Sandman has finally hit Netflix! After years of people trying to get this live-action adaptation made, the streamer bought the rights in 2019 and we’re now able to see the finished product. The new series is based on the graphic novels of the same name by Neil Gaiman, the popular fantasy author who’s also penned works like American Gods and Stardust.

This isn’t the first time a TV show based on The Sandman has premiered on Netflix. Lucifer, the dramedy starring Tom Ellis as the titular character, is loosely based on Gaiman’s comic book. Now, with the new adaptation, we get to meet a different version of the fallen angel, this time played by Game of Thrones alum Gwendoline Christie.

Spoilers ahead for The Sandman on Netflix.

Though Lucifer doesn’t have a huge role in The Sandman season 1 on Netflix, the final moments tease she could have a bigger part in a potential second season. We’re here to break down the ending of The Sandman and the most important moments you need to know!

The Sandman follows protagonist Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), otherwise known as Dream. In the back-half of the season, Dream faces a huge threat when he finds out there’s a Dream Vortex out there who could destroy the world. As it turns out, the Vortex is a 21-year-old woman named Rose Walker (Vanesu Samunyai), who doesn’t even know the powers she possesses. Dream waits on eliminating her because he thinks she can help him, but time is ticking. As Rose gains more power, the wall between the Waking World and the Dream World starts to weaken.

By the finale of The Sandman, Dream knows he must kill the Vortex to save humanity. But it doesn’t exactly go as you’d think.

Does Rose die in The Sandman on Netflix?

After Dream destroys the Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook) for going against his duties and Fiddler’s Green (Stephen Fry) returns home, all that’s left to do is stop the Dream Vortex. Rose comes to terms with what has to happen, and just as Dream is about to kill her, Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong) and Rose’s great-grandmother Unity (Sandra James-Young) appear.

As they explain, Unity was meant to be the Dream Vortex, not Rose. But because Unity was asleep for nearly 80 years while Dream was gone, the powers were passed down to Rose.

Rose is able to transfer the Dream Vortex powers to Unity, who sacrifices her life to save Rose and the rest of the world. So no, Rose doesn’t die, but Unity (as the Dream Vortex) does.

The Sandman ending explained (and what could happen in season 2)

The Sandman ends on a happy note for Dream as he feels like he has his purpose again and wants to get back to work. But there’s a threat looming that we suspect won’t be pretty. In the final moments of the last episode, we cut to Lucifer down in Hell, up to no good. A character named Azazel comes to see her, offering to go invade the Dreaming to get back at Dream. Back in episode 4, Lucifer and Dream fight in a battle for Dream to get his helmet back. Dream wins, and it seriously embarrasses Lucifer. Because of this, she has a plan of her own to seek revenge.

At the end of The Sandman, Lucifer declares that she’s about to do something “that will make God livid and bring Morpheus to his knees.” That’s how the show ends, with the demons outside all chanting her name.

So what could this mean for in a potential season 2? At this time, The Sandman season 2 has not been announced, but we’re really hoping it’s renewed! And we have a pretty good idea what could happen next for Dream and Lucifer because the show is based on comics. According to The Sandman Wiki — without giving too much away — Lucifer appears again in volume 4, “Season of Mists.” In this book, Dream travels back to Hell in order to free a character named Nada, fully aware that Lucifer might kill him.

Dream has a very interesting time in Hell in this volume, but we don’t want to spoil what happens next. To read up more on the comics, check out Fandom’s page on “Seasons of Mists,” or you can buy The Sandman graphic novels at anytime.

Be sure to stream all 10 episodes of The Sandman right now on Netflix!