'Dead Boy Detectives' review: A worthy, supernatural successor to 'The Sandman' and 'Doom Patrol' - Entertainment
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'Dead Boy Detectives' review: A worthy, supernatural successor to 'The Sandman' and 'Doom Patrol'

It offers a spooky ride to the afterlife.
Nilofer Khan
by Nilofer Khan 
'Dead Boy Detectives' review: A worthy, supernatural successor to 'The Sandman' and 'Doom Patrol'
> Entertainment

Two teenage boys run from a masked assailant in the dead of night. One of them, Edwin Paine, thinks of ways to stop the killer, while the other, Charles Rowland, realizes that the only object that can help the two survive is in his office! The chase turns more dreadful, but finally, Charles finds a way back to the office: a mirror portal.

Oozing with the supernatural meets thriller, Dead Boy Detectives is a new offering from the creator of 'The Sandman,' Neil Gaiman. It is also the right match for anyone seeking an otherworldly adventure. While the only connection between the new series and Tom Sturridge's Dream is another character: Kirby's Death.

The first episode bridges the shows with the character's inclusion, where Edwin (George Rexstrew) and Charles (Jayden Revri) are running from Death. The two, who died 70 years apart from one another in a school bullying incident, choose not to leave Earth in hopes of helping the lost dead souls. While The Sandman has not yet included them in the series, DC's Doom Patrol featured the duo in three episodes, albeit with different characters.

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So, what makes Dead Boy Detective an engaging entry into The Sandman universe (if you are not sold on the idea of dead teenage detectives)? For starters, it is a perfect binge-worthy successor to The Sandman and Doom Patrol. The show has similar absurd themes, with enough emotional impact to balance out adventures with team bonding. For instance, Edwin and Charles have a third teammate, Crystal Palace, a clairvoyant who can see ghosts and people's memories. Other additions include the Cat King, Niko (an airhead), a witch who kidnaps girls, the tragic Mike, and Night Nurse, who is after Charles and Edwin.

Dead Boy Detectives have lighter notes of banter between characters, which include Edwin's sassy remarks, Charles's ranging outbursts, and Niko's naive faith in people. The show elevates this with the adventures and the cases they solve. The latter gives very Nancy Drew meets Sherlock Holmes (honestly, it is a fun crossover), where Edwin's intelligence is balanced by Charles's bouncer-like outlook. To balance this equation is Crystal, who tends to give a reality check to both boys.

Like both shows before it, Dead Boy Detectives has a diverse cast and pop culture references. For instance, there is queer romance, an inclusive cast, a nod to a multitude of mythologies (from Western to Asian), as well as an open discussion on many topics. For instance, in one episode, the show addresses the issue of stalking, and, in the other, it highlights the challenges of loneliness. Overall, the tone of the show oscillates between hope and despair, with the former winning and cementing one's faith in friendship.

The only issue is that some older audiences may not be able to relate to it, as the show is very high school-centric (despite all the great magic-related storylines). Dead Boy Detectives is centric on a much younger audience, which means the level of gore is toned down compared to Doom Patrol. However, if you are someone who does not mind a more PG-related offering, then you must check out the goofy team! You never know, you may get hooked on them!

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Topics: Entertainment, Netflix, Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Doom-patrol, Dead Boy Detectives

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