7 Best Shows Like ‘The Sandman’ to Watch Right Now

It might not be the best news for numerous fans of Neil Gaiman’s comic book series that was adapted into a two-season TV show, but Netflix’s The Sandman isn’t going to adapt any of the original stories anymore.

Despite the creators’ initial plans to run the series for at least three seasons, The Sandman won’t be returning to the screens, though its fans might want to jump onto something similar.

In case you still have nothing on your list that would substitute The Sandman, here are some helpful suggestions.

‘Dead Boy Detectives’ (2024)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Dead Boy Detectives holds a score of 92% from both critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the show is rated 7.5/10

Based on the DC comics of the same name, the series follows Edwin and Charles, two deceased boys who aren’t yet ready to go to the afterlife and decide to stay on Earth making themselves busy with investigations of supernatural occurrences.

Just like in The Sandman, here cult legends and myths are the forefront of the whole story, somehow even being featured in the main characters’ background: while Charles is killed by his mate after he tried to defend a Pakistani kid, Edwin comes as a victim of a prank cult ritual carried out by his classmates.

‘Carnivàle’ (2003 — 2005)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Carnivàle has a score of 92% from audiences
• On IMDb, the show rates 8.4/10

Delving into The Sandman’s themes like Christianity and masons’ culture, the show develops two storylines at the same time, with the first following Ben Hawkins’ decision to join a traveling carnival and the second revolving around Brother Justin Crowe who can manipulate people with his superpower.

He isn’t the only one with magical powers in Carnivàle though, as Ben Hawkins also starts seeing weird dreams about a man with similar abilities who joined the same carnival several years prior.

‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014 — 2016)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Penny Dreadful keeps scores of 91% and 90% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the series is rated 8.2/10

Starring Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton and Eva Green in the leading roles, the show might remind some of The Sandman just because it also takes place in a fantasy world where real-life historical or imaginary, but famous figures show up to move the story forward.

As the trio gets together to explore the magical land, the background of 19th century London remains one of few connectors to real life.

The Wheel of Time (2021 — 2025)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Wheel of Time holds scores of 88% and 75% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the show rates 7.2/10

Based on Robert Jordan’s book series of the same name, the show stars Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred, a member of the powerful female organisation called Aes Sedai.

Like The Sandman, The Wheel of Time makes its leading character encounter numerous mythical beings as she keeps looking for a great channeler who will either unite the entire world or break it up forever.

‘The Witcher’ (2019 — )

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Witcher has scores of 80% and 94% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the series’ rating is 7.9/10

Also based on a book of the same name, the show primarily follows Geralt of Rivia who has a special power and holds a place in the ancient Order of the Witchers.

With time, it becomes pretty clear that Geralt isn’t the only one with superpowers, since he’s later joined by Crown Princess Cirilla of Cintra holding a power of going through different worlds and other sorcerers.

The story, initially started at different times and periods, gradually comes together, introducing new types of monsters and witches every new season.

'Supernatural' (2008 — 2020)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Supernatural has scores of 93% and 73% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the show’s rating is 8.4/10

The Sandman’s fans might also find something similar from their favorite series in the characters of Supernatural, at the time helmed by The Boys’ creator Eric Kripke.

Starring Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, the show follows brothers Dean and Sam Winchesters as they spend their time fighting with all kinds of monsters, demons, ghosts and other types of supernatural occurrences.

The brothers’ motivation also gets a profound look, adding more drama to the horror-ish series, which is also what made The Sandman so compelling.

Good Omens (2019 — )

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Good Omens has scores of 86% and 94% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the series is rated 8.0/10

This might be the top choice among The Sandman’s fans just because the show is also based on the book of the same name by Neil Gaiman (though he co-wrote it with Terry Pratchett).

Starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen, Good Omens witnesses the birth of an unlikely friendship between the demon Crowley and the angel Aziraphale, forced to stay on Earth as the representatives of Hell and Heaven respectively.

The series has a similar mythical premise as what The Sandman has to offer, following the two characters through their attempts to stop the Armageddon and prevent Earth from being destroyed by the Antichrist.