Recreating panels from a popular and beloved comic series can be daunting, as some things get inevitably lost in translation when transferred to a completely different medium. However, “The Sandman” pays homage to its source material in a way that complements the tone of the show, as seen in the sequence where Dream escapes captivity, which is a faithful visual recreation of the comics. Although events in “The Sandman: Overture” have not been referenced in the series as it is a prequel, there are two scenes from the installment that have made it to the show. The first is when Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong) tells Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) that she has a “presentiment” that he will not be returning soon, and the second is the one in which Morpheus confronts Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook) right before being captured.
Circling back to the Gates of Horn, the comics detail that it is guarded by a Gryphon, a Wyvern, and a Hippogryph. While these animals are present when the Dreaming is first introduced in episode 1, they are gone by the time Morpheus returns from captivity. However, on closer inspection of the gates, one can see that these creatures are etched onto the ivory gates, mimicking the beautiful art style of “Overture.” Apart from this, the many faces of Morpheus that can be seen etched above are direct recreations of the art style of Dream in “Overture.”
This is a pretty cool Easter egg, for sure, and given how “The Sandman” keeps getting better at capturing the essence of its source material (as seen in the bonus episodes “Dream of a Thousand Cats; Calliope“), it will be interesting to see how the show continues to do so, if it is renewed for a potential second season.