The Sandman (2x7-2x8) ⁞⁞ Episode Spotlight

The Netflix series The Sandman, based on the DC comics series, debuted its second and final season this year. Season 2 found leading man Morpheus/Dream (Tom Sturridge) contending with the Kindly Ones, the vengeance goddesses, who condemn him for killing his own son Orpheus, despite it being Orpheus's request to die. Looking to avoid his own death at their hands, Dream set out to alter his fate in the second-half of the season. Episode 7 saw Dream seeking out the agents of chaos, Puck (Jack Gleeson) and Loki (Freddie Fox). He found the duo masquerading as religious leaders instituting changes within the Catholic church as part of their efforts to cause global mayhem. The two revealed their romantic partnership, noting that the union between two tricksters shouldn't work but it does for them since they each know they could never trust the other. Morpheus looked to Loki to make good on his debt to him after he had previously helped Loki gain his freedom. This annoys Loki, who does not wish to be under Morpheus's command, ready at a moment's notice for when the Kindly Ones strike. Left alone together, Loki lamented being bound to his promise to Dream, citing his own responsibilities as a god of chaos. Puck then presented him with an idea that would keep their mission intact while also giving Dream what he wants. Puck suggested that Loki make good on his promise, but not under Morpheus's timeline as a way to fulfill his debt while also causing more chaos. Morpheus announces his successor as Dream will be Daniel Hall. Despite Daniel currently being less than a year old, Morpheus knows that he will grow up to possess great power. Seeing their opportunity to cause maximum chaos, Puck springs into action with Puck masquerading as a caretaker appearing to help Daniel's mother Lyta, allowing him to take possession of the child, whom he delivers to Loki at the same time that Morpheus proclaims the future of the Dreaming is Daniel Hall. 

With their plans for chaos seemingly reaching fruition, cracks formed between the couple in Episode 8, as Puck began to grow fond of Daniel while under his care. Loki & Puck masqueraded as detectives, claiming to be on the hunt for baby Daniel to keep people off their trail. Lyta blames Morpheus and his proclamation of Daniel's future for his disappearance. This leads the Kindly Ones to reach out to her, offering help, while Morpheus seeks his own help in locating the child to free it from the tricksters. Meanwhile, Loki grew annoyed to find Puck doting on Daniel, praising his innocence, which Loki reminded him would not last forever. He lamented Puck's change in behavior, away from his usual ruthlessness and malevolence. Puck retorted that he was only that way towards people who deserved it. Puck wondered if Loki ever wanted to have children. Loki revealed that he hated children, never wanted them, and yet had six of his own. He professed that children make parents vulnerable, break their hearts, and can be used to punish you, as his father Odin did with Loki's children. Puck countered that he didn't believe Daniel would ever be like that. Loki urged him to not get attached, reminding him that Daniel was a pawn in their bigger chess game. Loki said that he would be captured and ultimately removed form the board, followed by Dream himself. This struck a chord with Puck. 

Loki emerged from his shower to find Puck and Daniel gone. He caught Puck taking the child, telling him that Daniel was just a baby, not a pawn. Puck arrived to return Daniel to his mother, only to find Dream on the doorstep, demanding Puck hand the child over to him, not his mother. Puck agreed, but only if Dream would release Loki from his unfair debt. Dream wondered why Puck would risk his wrath to help Loki. Puck told him that Loki was clever and makes him laugh. He confessed that Loki forces him to raise his game. Loki then revealed that he was disguised as Dream. He thanked Puck for his kind words and wondered if he was in love with him. Puck disputed that, only for Loki to tell him they should return home so he could change his mind. Puck wondered about Daniel. Loki then promised him that when the time was right, Daniel would be king. This satisfied Puck and the duo left together, with the child. At home later, Loki presented Puck with a drink, and admitted that Daniel was a good baby. This made Puck happy, but Loki used a story about his brother Thor as a distraction, sprinkling Puck with his own faerie dust to put him to sleep. Loki then retrieved Daniel and placed him into the fire, before returning to his mother and telling her he was dead. In reality, Loki used the fire only to remove Daniel's humanity. Upon learning this, an angry Puck broke up with him and departed back to Faerie, but not before revealing Loki's location, allowing Daniel to be found.