Showrunner Allan Heinberg opens up about an emotional comic book scene from The Sandman Episode 6 and why they had to drop it from the show

“Too Much to Bear”: The Sandman Showrunner Allan Heinberg Reveals Why They Had to Cut a Pivotal Comic Scene From &#8216;The Sandman&#8217; Episode 6

One can only imagine how demanding the live-action adaptation of The Sandman was
owing to the vast source material. Today, with the best cutting-edge CGI and VFX
technology at our disposal, rendering fantastical worlds is definitely easier
and more attainable. However, the real challenge lies in recreating the
emotionally driven narratives on screen. Therefore, overcoming that mountain and
producing a beautiful rendition of the emotionally rich The Sandman episode 6,
titled The Sound of Her Wings, is absolutely commendable.



Granted, art remains an art, irrespective of its form. However, when an artwork
established for one medium is reinterpreted for another, it brings several
challenges along with it. Every medium has its advantages and limitations.
Moreover, the same story presented in different media might have distinct
impacts on consumers. So, a scene that comes across in an organic manner
visually might be extremely overbearing and possibly disturbing in an
audio-visual medium. This is precisely why the showrunners omitted a particular
scene from episode 6 of the fantasy show, even though it appears in the comics.

ALSO READ: WATCH: ‘The Sandman’ Netflix Show and Comic Parallel From Death and
Dream Scene Adopted Word-For-Word
[https://netflixjunkie.com/whats-new-on-netflix-watch-the-sandman-netflix-show-and-comic-parallel-from-death-and-dream-scene-adopted-word-for-word/]


THE SANDMAN EPISODE 6 CLIPS AN EMOTION-HEAVY SCENE

The episode The Sound of Her Wings introduces us to Dream’s elder sister, Death
of The Endless. Breaking the stereotype for the many interpretations of the grim
reaper
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-the-grim-reaper-reimagined-neil-gaiman-delves-into-the-unique-depiction-of-death-in-the-sandman/]
that came before, The Sandman [https://netflixjunkie.com/tag/the-sandman]‘s
Death, portrayed by Kirby Howell-Baptiste, is a young, jovial, and kind-hearted
celestial. She is the “friendly face” that appears before every human being as
they die and acts as their guide to the beyond.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

In the episode, Dream accompanies his sister as she interacts with the souls as
they breathe their last. Mirroring the comic book, The Endless
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-beings-in-some-ways-more-powerful-than-gods-neil-gaiman-unravels-the-lore-for-the-sandman-and-who-are-the-seven-endless/]
siblings arrive at the crib of a baby to take her away. It’s an absolutely
tragic scene as Death picks the baby up in her arms and admits this was “all
there was.”

https://youtu.be/kQWrJ2ujoiw?t=240

Actor Kirby Howell-Baptiste
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-original-kirby-howell-baptiste-on-playing-death-in-the-sandman-on-netflix-its-mostly-just-walking-talking-and/]
assumed that the gut-wrenching death of the baby might not make it to the
screen. While that scene made the cut, the comics had yet another panel
following that scene that did not. In an interview with Netflix Tudum,
showrunner Allan Heinberg illustrated
[https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-sandman-episode-6-the-sound-of-her-wings-fun-facts#:~:text=Howell%2DBaptiste%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20sure%20the%20infant%20death%20scene%20would%20make%20the%20cut.%20Heinberg%20explained%20they%20cut%20the%20mother%E2%80%99s%20scream%2C%20which%20is%20in%20the%20comic%2C%20from%20the%20show%20because%20it%20was%20%E2%80%9Ctoo%20much%20to%20bear.%E2%80%9D]
the scene was “too much to bear.”

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

It was the mother’s reaction after seeing the lifeless body of her baby lying in
the cradle. The mother’s initial shock makes her scream “No!“, drop the bottle
of milk all over the floor, and finally, the realization of what really happened
brings her down to her knees. In the Netflix show, the scene cuts out just
before the mother enters the frame.

ALSO READ: “There’s a lot of heavy lifting you need to do”: Neil Gaiman Talks
About the Most Difficult Issue to Adapt in ‘The Sandman’
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-theres-a-lot-of-heavy-lifting-you-need-to-do-neil-gaiman-talks-about-the-most-difficult-issue-to-adapt-in-the-sandman/]

We, for one, are glad for the edit. It definitely would’ve been really tough to
watch and listen to the mother scream in agony. What do you think of the
creator’s decisions? Let us know in the comments.

You can always refresh your memory by re-watching
[https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81150303] The Sandman episode 6.

 

 

 

Natasha Vijan

Comment

“Too Much to Bear”: The Sandman Showrunner Allan Heinberg Reveals Why They Had to Cut a Pivotal Comic Scene From &#8216;The Sandman&#8217; Episode 6 - Netflix Junkie

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Natasha is a writer at Netflix Junkie. Despite completing her Masters in Architecture from Hochschule Anhalt in Germany, she decided to follow her passion for storytelling.

Apart from working as an architect in the past, Natasha currently also ghostwrites for various travel and lifestyle blogs like italyfoodies.com, mypureplants.com and more. Moreover, she has also been involved as a screenplay analyst with Outstanding Screenplays London.

An avid cinephile, Natasha especially enjoys quirky dark comedies and gangster films. She can talk about films by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for days and even aspires to make her own film someday. When not at work, she can be found at at outdoor music concert or a stand-up gig. Additionally, she’s a feminist, LGBTQIA ally and a strong mental health advocate.

https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-too-much-to-bear-the-sandman-showrunner-allan-heinberg-reveals-why-they-had-to-cut-a-pivotal-comic-scene-from-the-sandman-episode-6

“Too Much to Bear”: The Sandman Showrunner Allan Heinberg Reveals Why They Had to Cut a Pivotal Comic Scene From &#8216;The Sandman&#8217; Episode 6 - netflix-junkie

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One can only imagine how demanding the live-action adaptation of The Sandman was owing to the vast source material. Today, with the best cutting-edge CGI and VFX technology at our disposal, rendering fantastical worlds is definitely easier and more attainable. However, the real challenge lies in recreating the emotionally driven narratives on screen. Therefore, overcoming that mountain and producing a beautiful rendition of the emotionally rich The Sandman episode 6, titled The Sound of Her Wings, is absolutely commendable.
<div class="flex-video widescreen youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Netflix&#039;s The Sandman - Exclusive &quot;Death&quot; Clip (2022) Tom Sturridge, Kirby Howell-Baptiste" width="1170" height="658" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zHVzc386yRI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Granted, art remains an art, irrespective of its form. However, when an artwork established for one medium is reinterpreted for another, it brings several challenges along with it. Every medium has its advantages and limitations. Moreover, the same story presented in different media might have distinct impacts on consumers. So, a scene that comes across in an organic manner visually might be extremely overbearing and possibly disturbing in an audio-visual medium. This is precisely why the showrunners omitted a particular scene from episode 6 of the fantasy show, even though it appears in the comics.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/whats-new-on-netflix-watch-the-sandman-netflix-show-and-comic-parallel-from-death-and-dream-scene-adopted-word-for-word/">WATCH: &#8216;The Sandman&#8217; Netflix Show and Comic Parallel From Death and Dream Scene Adopted Word-For-Word</a>
<h2>The Sandman episode 6 clips an emotion-heavy scene</h2>
The episode The Sound of Her Wings introduces us to Dream&#8217;s elder sister, Death of The Endless. Breaking the stereotype for the many interpretations of <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-the-grim-reaper-reimagined-neil-gaiman-delves-into-the-unique-depiction-of-death-in-the-sandman/">the grim reaper</a> that came before, <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/tag/the-sandman">The Sandman</a>&#8216;s Death, portrayed by Kirby Howell-Baptiste, is a young, jovial, and kind-hearted celestial. She is the &#8220;friendly face&#8221; that appears before every human being as they die and acts as their guide to the beyond.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-48226 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1_UdAaJjtxlWsV19Ve1IPwkg-1.png" alt="" width="2091" height="1102" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1_UdAaJjtxlWsV19Ve1IPwkg-1.png 2091w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1_UdAaJjtxlWsV19Ve1IPwkg-1-300x158.png 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1_UdAaJjtxlWsV19Ve1IPwkg-1-1024x540.png 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1_UdAaJjtxlWsV19Ve1IPwkg-1-768x405.png 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1_UdAaJjtxlWsV19Ve1IPwkg-1-1536x810.png 1536w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1_UdAaJjtxlWsV19Ve1IPwkg-1-2048x1079.png 2048w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1_UdAaJjtxlWsV19Ve1IPwkg-1-1140x600.png 1140w" sizes="(max-width: 2091px) 100vw, 2091px" />
In the episode, Dream accompanies his sister as she interacts with the souls as they breathe their last. Mirroring the comic book, <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-beings-in-some-ways-more-powerful-than-gods-neil-gaiman-unravels-the-lore-for-the-sandman-and-who-are-the-seven-endless/">The Endless</a> siblings arrive at the crib of a baby to take her away. It&#8217;s an absolutely tragic scene as Death picks the baby up in her arms and admits this was &#8220;all there was.&#8221;
https://youtu.be/kQWrJ2ujoiw?t=240
Actor <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-original-kirby-howell-baptiste-on-playing-death-in-the-sandman-on-netflix-its-mostly-just-walking-talking-and/">Kirby Howell-Baptiste</a> assumed that the gut-wrenching death of the baby might not make it to the screen. While that scene made the cut, the comics had yet another panel following that scene that did not. In an interview with Netflix Tudum, showrunner Allan Heinberg <a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-sandman-episode-6-the-sound-of-her-wings-fun-facts#:~:text=Howell%2DBaptiste%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20sure%20the%20infant%20death%20scene%20would%20make%20the%20cut.%20Heinberg%20explained%20they%20cut%20the%20mother%E2%80%99s%20scream%2C%20which%20is%20in%20the%20comic%2C%20from%20the%20show%20because%20it%20was%20%E2%80%9Ctoo%20much%20to%20bear.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illustrated</a> the scene was &#8220;too much to bear.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-48231 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sound-of-her-wings-comic.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="779" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sound-of-her-wings-comic.jpeg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sound-of-her-wings-comic-300x228.jpeg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sound-of-her-wings-comic-768x584.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
It was the mother&#8217;s reaction after seeing the lifeless body of her baby lying in the cradle. The mother&#8217;s initial shock makes her scream &#8220;No!&#8220;, drop the bottle of milk all over the floor, and finally, the realization of what really happened brings her down to her knees. In the Netflix show, the scene cuts out just before the mother enters the frame.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-theres-a-lot-of-heavy-lifting-you-need-to-do-neil-gaiman-talks-about-the-most-difficult-issue-to-adapt-in-the-sandman/">&#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of heavy lifting you need to do&#8221;: Neil Gaiman Talks About the Most Difficult Issue to Adapt in &#8216;The Sandman&#8217;</a>
We, for one, are glad for the edit. It definitely would&#8217;ve been really tough to watch and listen to the mother scream in agony. What do you think of the creator&#8217;s decisions? Let us know in the comments.
You can always refresh your memory by <a href="https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81150303" target="_blank" rel="noopener">re-watching</a> The Sandman episode 6.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

“There’s a lot of heavy lifting you need to do”: Neil Gaiman Talks About the
Most Difficult Issue to Adapt in ‘The Sandman’

WATCH: ‘The Sandman’ Netflix Show and Comic Parallel From Death and Dream Scene
Adopted Word-For-Word

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/netflixjunkie-logo-2.jpg

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/death-the-sandman-kirby-howell-baptiste-copertina-1280x720-1.jpg

“Too Much to Bear”: The Sandman Showrunner Allan Heinberg Reveals Why They Had to Cut a Pivotal Comic Scene From 'The Sandman' Episode 6 - Netflix Junkie

Natasha is a writer at Netflix Junkie. Despite completing her Masters in Architecture from Hochschule Anhalt in Germany, she decided to follow her passion for storytelling. Apart from working as an architect in the past, Natasha currently also ghostwrites for various travel and lifestyle blogs like italyfoodies.com, mypureplants.com and more. Moreover, she has also been involved as a screenplay analyst with Outstanding Screenplays London. An avid cinephile, Natasha especially enjoys quirky dark comedies and gangster films. She can talk about films by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for days and even aspires to make her own film someday. When not at work, she can be found at at outdoor music concert or a stand-up gig. Additionally, she’s a feminist, LGBTQIA ally and a strong mental health advocate.

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“Too Much to Bear”: The Sandman Showrunner Allan Heinberg Reveals Why They Had to Cut a Pivotal Comic Scene From &#039;The Sandman&#039; Episode 6 - Netflix Junkie

https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-too-much-to-bear-the-sandman-showrunner-allan-heinberg-reveals-why-they-had-to-cut-a-pivotal-comic-scene-from-the-sandman-episode-6/

“Too Much to Bear”: The Sandman Showrunner Allan Heinberg Reveals Why They Had to Cut a Pivotal Comic Scene From ‘The Sandman’ Episode 6

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