The Sandman – Season 2 Episode 12 'Death: The High Cost of Living' Recap & Review

The Review Geek

2 days ago

Bonus: Episode 12
Episode 12 of The Sandman Season 2 begins with the environmental journalist, Sexton, trying to write a suicide note for Sylvie, his ex. He feels hopeless as the world is heading towards its inevitable end despite his best efforts. He is kicked out when his roommate, Billie, shows up with her girlfriend, Amelia.
He goes out for a walk, and his woebegone argument is strengthened when he sees a collection of classic novels and memorabilia abandoned in a dump. As he goes through them, he trips and Death comes to his rescue. She invites him to her place to patch him up. He insists on learning the identity of his rescuer and gets creeped out when she is truthful. She explains that she takes a day off once every hundred years, spending a day as a mortal to stay in touch with humanity.
Sexton tries to rush out when Hettie takes him hostage. She uses him to force Death into finding her soul for her. Death, who Sexton dubs as Didi, agrees and drags him along for her holiday on Earth. She is bubbly and enthusiastic which earns her free food and a free taxi ride, much to Sexton's shock.
Next, she convinces him to go to Sylvie's regular club. They run into Billie, an annoyed Amelia and her friend, Jackie. Despite his cynical attitude, Sexton mediates between Amelia and Billie. Billie confides in Didi that Sexton is currently not in a good place and hopes he finds people who make life worth living.
Sexton seems to have taken a big brother approach to Didi, who he thinks is a delusional and naive human girl, as he tries to protect her from Sylvie's thug of a friend, Theo. It seems that he doesn't approve of Sylvie and Theo for being irresponsible party animals. And in exchange, Theo and Sylvie would constantly look down upon Sexton.
However, Didi insists on seeing the best in people and dances with Theo. Jackie joins Sexton, who sulks on the side. He is frustrated that no one cares that the world is ending and accidentally reveals that he is suicidal. She worries for him as she confesses to her suicidal attempt and that, despite everything, she is glad to be alive.
A while later, Didi drags Sexton along for a club tour being given by Theo. It is a setup as Theo grabs her ankh necklace, locks the duo in a storage room and runs off. Didi sees a pentagon and realises that Theo summoned Death.
Didi apologises for not listening to Sexton and for dragging him into the mess. He doesn't blame her and they talk about free will. She reveals that as an Endless, she doesn't have a choice. As a human, she does but she is upset that she messed up her one day of freedom. He feels bad for her and tries to come up with hilarious rescue plans.
Right then, Theo barges in as the ankh doesn't work for him. He wants to bring back his girlfriend, Natalie, who died from an OD in his presence. Didi tries to comfort him but he decides to kill himself. Sexton interferes and barely misses the bullet. Theo survives and is taken away in an ambulance.
The next morning comes and Didi tells Sexton that she needed to experience all that happened. They come across a jewellery stall by the river. For once, the owner charges her as she buys a pendant for Hettie.
Sexton realises that he truly won't see Didi again and is sad. She declares that time goes too fast and it makes one hold onto every second. She begs for one more second but her heart stops.
Hettie finds a tearful Sexton trying to bring Didi back to life. She puts the two cents that Didi had left on her eyes and takes the pendant. It does have her soul – a painting of her daughter. Before Hettie leaves, she promises Sexton that Didi will be back, 100 years later.
At home, Sexton tells everything to Billie, who wonders if Didi is really Death. He thinks it would be nice if Death were a friendly face instead of pain and suffering. Amelia brings Jackie who wants to check up on him. She doesn't want to intrude but he deletes his suicidal note and offers her a cup of tea.
At the end of The Sandman Season 2 Episode 12, Didi wakes up in Death's realm. She tells her Endless version that she loved mortality and doesn't want it to end. The Endless version smiles sadly as she offers Didi her hand.
The Episode Review
The Sandman Season 2 Episode 12 is a bittersweet epilogue that wraps up what has been a wild ride since 2022. There are tons of spin-off issues involving faes, supporting human characters, and other beings that could have led this special bonus episode but we are glad that it was Death's story.
Kirby Howell-Baptiste has been perfectly cast for a fan-favourite character and she brings Death to life one last time. She is definitely main character material, dealing with dangerous challenges and slice-of-life adventures, likewise with a relaxed attitude.
And who better to team her up with than Merlin- er, Colin Morgan as Sexton. His constant confusion but willingness to go with the flow that is Death is hilarious while educational. Every time the episode tries to get too didactic or contrived, there is a moment of absurdity that keeps it lighthearted and fun. This is evident when all the service providers are suddenly kind and altruistic to Death till the jewellery hawker charges her for the pendant.
All in all, this special episode hits all the right notes and ends with a thoughtful message, just like all the arcs of the Netflix adaptation. Sexton is inspired by Didi and Jackie to keep going. Meanwhile, Didi aka Death reveals herself to be just like Dream and Destruction. She doesn't want her role as a reaper but she has no choice. Could we get a spin-off show on Death trying to find her successor and leave her post?
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