The Endless family tree in The Sandman season 2, explained

In The Sandman season 2, the plot revolves around the Endless siblings, children of the cosmic entities Night and Time. The siblings, more commonly referred to as "The Endless," are anthropomorphic personifications of universal concepts. The seven siblings are featured extensively in the show and are based on the characters created by Neil Gaiman in the DC comics.

The Endless have their own realms and responsibilities, with a variety of visual depictions as seen in The Sandman season 2. The seven siblings have names beginning with the letter "D" and are named Dream, Destiny, Death, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium. Here's a detailed breakdown of the Endless family tree and what roles the seven siblings play.

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The Endless family tree featured in The Sandman season 2, explored

1) Dream

Dream personifies imagination, storytelling, and subconsciousness. Brooding but developing, he spent the first season regaining his domain and power symbols, which include the helm, ruby, and sand. During The Sandman season 2, he reencounters his siblings, saves Nada from Hell, and travels with Delirium to seek out Destruction.

His tragic decision to kill his son Orpheus violates the Endless's prohibition against shedding family blood. This act breaks him emotionally and invokes the Furies, opening up significant repercussions for Volume 2.

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2) Destiny

Destiny as seen in the series (Image via Netflix)

Being the oldest of the Endless, Destiny represents inevitability, order, and the strands that bind all things. He is blind and forever chained to the Cosmic Log, where everything that has or will ever occur is held. Destiny is severe, fair, and emotionless, unable to deviate or act spontaneously.

He returns in The Sandman season 2 to call the family forth during "Season of Mists," holding court over important debates regarding cosmic balance and the fate of Dream. His arrival reiterates that although the Endless can function independently, they are still bound by greater laws of consequence and design that even they cannot fully comprehend or alter.

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3) Death

Death as seen in the series (Image via Netflix)

Death is the second oldest sibling and most cherished, and she is noted for warmth, wisdom, and tranquility. Unlike stereotypical depictions, she is bright and kind, escorting spirits to the afterlife with dignity. In season 1, she assists Dream in reconnecting with his humanity, and in The Sandman season 2, she reappears at critical moments of emotional weight.

She is pivotal in maintaining the balance of the darker urges among the Endless and provides moral compasses for her siblings to cling to. Death alone can move across planes of existence with ease, reflecting her sole autonomy and the global power of her purpose.

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4) Destruction

Destruction is the middle brother who left his responsibilities centuries prior during the Enlightenment. He represents not just destruction, but also creation, change, and transformation. In season 2, Delirium and Dream come for him, only to discover he has abandoned them for a peaceful, contemplative existence grounded in art, philosophy, and renunciation of cosmic duty.

Uncharacteristic of his title, Destruction is unusually emotionally intelligent and highly accepting of change. The fact that he declines to return implies his embrace of free will. He is serene with the disorder he once had under his control, a stark contrast to Dream's agonized stiffness.

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5) Desire

Desire as seen in the series (Image via Netflix)

Desire is the androgynous personification of want, lust, ambition, and manipulation. Elegant, quick-witted, and sadistically playful, Desire enjoys causing strife, especially between Dream and the other Endless. They live in the Threshold, a domain molded to their likeness, and are always engaged in plots that challenge Dream's pride and judgment.

Their feud with Dream carries over to The Sandman season 2, but hints are added of greater motivations for their actions. Desire tells the truth, albeit indirectly, and usually uncovers unpleasant truths others deny. Their strength is in using emotional vulnerabilities to their advantage.

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6. Despair

Despair is the twin of Desire and the embodiment of despair and inner agony. She is presented as sour, heavy, and self-injurious, surrounded by mirrors in her domain, by which she observes human suffering. In the show, she is quieter than Desire, engaging less with the family feud but always in attendance at critical moments.

The Sandman season 2 presents her as resigned and somber, heavily bound to Desire's desires but acting out of grim acceptance. The power of Despair is in subtlety—she does not speak often, but feels intensely. She is the embodiment of the aspect of the Endless that represents emotional conclusion and the boundaries of opposition.

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7) Delirium

Delirium as seen in the series (Image via Netflix)

Delirium, the youngest of the siblings, was once Delight. Her evolution into the personification of madness and chaos is not explained, though it is apparent that her present self conceals a great emotional burden. In The Sandman season 2, she convinces Dream to hunt down Destruction, which results in some of the show's most emotionally insightful scenes.

Her constantly changing appearance, non-linear dialogue, and erratic behavior are a stark contrast to her siblings' formidability. Apart from appearing unpredictable, Delirium presents insightful observations through piecemeal logic. She acts as an emotional bridge connecting cosmological disorder and inner truth, and is treated with unusual gentleness by her siblings.

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The Sandman season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.