‘Dead Boy Detectives’ Season 1 Review- A Hauntingly Entertaining Addition To Netflix’s Sandman Universe

One of the most intriguing aspects of Neil Gaiman’s celebrated and critically acclaimed comic book series, The Sandman, is the unpredictability of its secondary characters. These characters, seemingly introduced in passing, can unexpectedly reappear and play significant roles or even get a spin-off series. Netflix has wisely decided to capitalize on the success of its hit 2022 adaptation of The Sandman comic by expanding the universe with Dead Boy Detectives. The supernatural detective follows a duo of ghosts who have forgone the afterlife to solve crimes on the mortal coil.

The show begins with Edwin Paine (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) taking down a particularly nasty World War I ghost. This action-packed scene gives viewers a quick look at how their dynamic works: Edwin is the brains of the operation and de facto sorcerer, and Charles is the brawn. After they free the spirit of its undead angst, Death (Kirby) makes a quick cameo to carry the specter away to the afterlife while our heroes hide. They can never let Death catch them because that would mean being separated. The duo has been best friends for 30 years and plans to spend the rest of eternity solving crimes together.

Their undead lives change when they help free a young psychic, Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), from the possession of her demonic ex-boyfriend, David (David Iacono). When one of Crystal’s visions leads them to Port Towsend, Washington, the trio quickly discovers that the place has a ghost problem and is home to a very deadly and vindictive witch. Charles also makes the mistake of running afoul of the local Cat King (Lukas Cage), who binds him to the town for the foreseeable future. Magical high jinks, trauma, and romance ensue.

Dead Boy Detectives is a spooky and fun time that does a great job of carving out its little corner of The Sandman universe. The show wisely pulls a Buffy The Vampire Slayer and gives a plausible reason why the characters stay in one location for most of the show. A simple but believable reason is given for many ghosts in Port Towsend and the world who have unfinished business connected to supernatural forces. Those who love great worldbuilding will appreciate the doses of lore the show doles out throughout its run. While The Sandman explores the supernatural intrigues and betrayals of immortal, godlike beings, this series is a little more street-level and grounded. We even learn that Death herself has attendants like the Night Nurse (Ruth Connell), who always look for wayward spirits and discrepancies in the afterlife. Again, worldbuilding junkies will find a lot to love here.

Rexstrew and Revri possess a natural charm and chemistry on screen, making their centuries-old friendship believable and endearing. Rexstrew’s portrayal of the prim, proper, and depressingly repressed Edwin is great and very entertaining. He’s the voice of reason but often comes across as cold and unfeeling. His mortal life ended prematurely, and he was condemned to Hell unfairly. The fear of returning to the underworld drives many of his actions and reasoning, and it’s understandable. The injustice of both his and Charles ‘ deaths also haunts him and drives him to help those in need.

Edwin also battles with the long-repressed realization that he’s gay and in love with his best friend, Charles. This season, learning to accept himself and make peace with his past is a big part of his arc. Revri’s Charles is fun-loving and accepting of others. He has a pure heart and genuinely cares about living and dead people. It’s his profoundly caring nature that caused him to run afoul of his classmates and led to his untimely demise. He also suffered at home due to his abusive father. Both leads have strong, compelling, and sympathetic backstories that help drive them forward. Again, Rexstrew and Revri’s charm and chemistry make you root for them throughout.

Nelson’s Crystal Palace is a young psychic desperate to recover her lost memories and determined to help the titular duo solve mysteries and bring peace to lingering spirits. The question about her history is a great overarching plot for the character during the season. Her demonic ex-boyfriend, David, drops by repeatedly to taunt and tease her in an attempt to gain access to her body and powers again. Like Edwin and Charles, Crystal wants to help those in need and can easily connect with people. While there is a predictable plot twist concerning her memories in the latter half of the season, there’s a twist with her powers and where they come from that is intriguing and is left begging to be explored further in future seasons. Nelson is a strong actress who instills enough toughness, empathy, and vulnerability into the character, making her a joy to follow.

Other characters are the seductive and witty Cat King (Lukas Cage), whose odd attraction to Edwin leads to him helping the gang with their investigations occasionally.  Jenny Green (Briana Cuoco), the surly owner of a butcher shop who rents out the apartments above her store to the main characters. The adorable and loveable, Niko (YuYu Kitamura), who joins the gang after they help rid her of a nasty pair of foul-mouthed parasitic sprites (Caitlin Reilly and Max Jenkins). and Mick (Michael Beach), a magic shop owner and former walrus condemned to human form after upsetting a sea goddess.

The season’s big bad, Esther Finch (Jenn Lyon), is an immortal witch cursed with eternal aging. Our heroes are added to her hit list early in the season, and while the character is entertaining, her villain arc falls short because she perplexingly isn’t trying to kill the heroes and their allies in every episode.  It would be excusable if the show gave a believable reason for why she wouldn’t be attacking them constantly, but it doesn’t. She even gives her crow familiar, Monty (Joshua Colley), a human body to get close to the gang, and of course, it doesn’t work out as planned. One minute, Esther is calculating and devious, and the next, she’s making dumb mistakes. The character’s uneven development is only forgivable because of Lyon’s comedic timing and charm. She’s nailed the role, and she’s having fun.

Where this show will fall in the grand scheme of The Sandman Universe is left to be seen. While it takes place in its little corner of the world, a surprise cameo in the penultimate episode hints that the dead boys will have a more significant role in things to come.  I won’t spoil who it is, but the character in question leaves Edwin with a foreboding and prophetic promise: “We’re friends now. I’ll call on you when I need you.”

The debut season of Dead Boy Detectives is a hauntingly entertaining mix of horror, mystery, and spooky thrills. Fans of The Sandman, Wednesday, and The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina will love it.

Dead Boy Detectives is now available to stream on Netflix. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwJmZ2Ekfbc]