The Sandman’s Loki and Puck Reimagined as Adorable Gay Dads in Season 2
The Sandman Showrunner Reimagines Loki and Puck as Gay Dads
Allan Heinberg, showrunner of Netflix’s The Sandman, has taken a fresh approach to the characters of Loki and Puck, turning them into a loving gay couple who become dads. This creative choice adds new layers to their relationship and motivations, making the story richer and more emotional.
- Showrunner Allan Heinberg expands on Loki and Puck’s relationship
- Characters go from comic tricksters to devoted parents
- Season 2 of The Sandman now streaming on Netflix
- Bonus episode “Death: The High Cost of Living” releasing July 31
From Mischief Makers to Caring Parents
In Neil Gaiman’s original Sandman comics, Loki teams up with the faerie Puck to steal a baby born in the Dreaming. Their goal seems to be nothing more than causing chaos and having fun at Dream of the Endless’s expense. However, Allan Heinberg, who led the adaptation for Netflix’s second season, felt the need to deepen their story.
Heinberg shared in a recent interview that he wanted to explore “who Loki is and who Puck is, and why they do what they do.” Both characters have a moral core, even if their actions seem anarchic or mischievous. Loki’s purpose is to shake people awake from their delusions, while Puck acts as a truth-teller, challenging authority.
A New Dynamic with Baby Daniel
The show follows the comic’s storyline, introducing Puck (played by Jack Gleeson from Game of Thrones) during a performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream arranged by Morpheus (Tom Sturridge). Loki (Freddie Fox, known from Slow Horses) is part of a Norse god delegation seeking control over Hell to avoid Ragnarok. Their clever trickery leads them to kidnap baby Daniel Hall, who is destined to be Dream’s heir.
What stands out in the series is how the two tricksters navigate parenthood. The differences in their approach to caring for Daniel create both comedic moments and genuine relationship tension. Heinberg explained, “If you’ve got two trickster figures with ambiguous sexualities and a baby, I just immediately went, ‘Well, these are just gay dads.’” He wanted the relationship to be emotional and relatable, so the audience would root for them.
Sympathy for the ‘Villains’
Jack Gleeson, who had taken a break from acting after his role as Joffrey Baratheon, embraced his part as Puck without hesitation. Heinberg emphasized that The Sandman doesn’t have traditional villains, stating, “We don’t have any villains on The Sandman.” The show encourages viewers to sympathize with characters often seen as antagonists, revealing Dream himself as the central figure who challenges others’ lives.
The entire second season of The Sandman, covering episodes 1 through 11, is now available for streaming on Netflix. Fans can also look forward to the bonus episode Death: The High Cost of Living, which will premiere on July 31.
