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billyjepma's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Another very cool outing for a very cool series. The structure each installment has used so far is still a little strange—the first half that follows the core story of Dream and the Endless is consistently and reliably fantastic, while the latter half of short stories and vignettes can be hit-or-miss. Thankfully, this one is back-loaded with some great short stories with a fascinating framing device, to boot. The World's Ends stories are fun and strange, never overstaying their welcome before moving on to another. The voice performances are less consistent, but since we're never stuck in one story for too long, there's a new narrator around the corner. It's a treat seeing Gaiman develop his world with these stories, and considering his world essentially encompasses every story you can imagine, the imagination is never lacking. Could he iterate more on the classic tales he borrows from? Sure, but the iterations he does make are neat, and considering how familiar those tales are, I enjoyed seeing them with a new coat of paint.
I also loved the deeper focus we got on Dream and his siblings, which has always been one of the most exciting things in the series. James McAvoy is as good as ever, bringing so much personality, tension, and simmering emotions to the stoic Dream that I still find myself hanging on every word. His deliveries are just excellent, too. His dynamic with Kristen Schall's (from Bob's Burgers! and Gravity Falls! and dozens of other amazing things!) Delirium is a special treat here, and I'm as eager as ever to see more of the Endless. And based on how Act III ends (arguably the best ending so far), there's more of that on the way in Act IV. I can't wait.
I also loved the deeper focus we got on Dream and his siblings, which has always been one of the most exciting things in the series. James McAvoy is as good as ever, bringing so much personality, tension, and simmering emotions to the stoic Dream that I still find myself hanging on every word. His deliveries are just excellent, too. His dynamic with Kristen Schall's (from Bob's Burgers! and Gravity Falls! and dozens of other amazing things!) Delirium is a special treat here, and I'm as eager as ever to see more of the Endless. And based on how Act III ends (arguably the best ending so far), there's more of that on the way in Act IV. I can't wait.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Body horror, Grief, Murder, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Car accident
Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
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