Neil Gaiman opens up about the infamous diner scene from The Sandman. He goes deep into his though process and initial ideas for the storyline

“They’ll know I’m a raving psychopath”: &#8216;The Sandman&#8217; Creator Neil Gaiman Reveals the Paradoxical Reason Behind Creating the Diner Storyline

One of the most anticipated comic book adaptations, The Sandman, has finally
made its way onto our screens. Fans absolutely loved the live-action rendition
of Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel collection. After multiple failed attempts, this
great homage to the books is a massive and satisfying payoff for the creators
and fans. The Sandman is a piece of art that is carefully and intricately
conceptualized and crafted by Neil Gaiman.



Adapting a mammoth literary masterpiece was surely no easy feat. Yet, The
Sandman [https://netflixjunkie.com/tag/the-sandman] does full justice to the
source material, be it the pace, the performances, the overall narrative, or the
mind-blowing aesthetic. A special shout-out goes to the Diner Scene from episode
5, which is based on a comic issue. Looking at all the gore and violence, one
would wonder how Gaiman came up with such a scene for his comic series. Well,
the author himself broke down his process in a recent Tudum interview.


NEIL GAIMAN ON HOW THE DINER SCENE FROM THE SANDMAN CAME ABOUT

Netflix Tudum recently interviewed the creators of The Sandman
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-neil-gaimans-the-sandman-review-for-the-latest-netflix-fantasy-series/]
and broke down the infamous diner scene from episode 5 of the show. Titled 24/7,
the episode is based on 24 Hours, an issue from the comics drawn by Mike
Dringenberg. It is one of the most loved stories owing to its diabolical and
convoluted narrative. The Netflix adaptation rose to the challenge and delivered
spectacularly, maintaining the terror and fiendish character of the tale.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

Author and executive producer Neil Gaiman
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-an-enormous-sledgehammer-to-squash-the-tiniest-ants-neil-gaiman-justifies-his-actions-to-take-on-trolls-online-for-the-sandman-cast/]
also provided insights about the “terrifying scene.” Neil was keen on “an issue
in which John Dee had control of the ruby and was driving the world mad.” With
this core idea in place, he initially planned the story to “go all over the
world… follow a whole bunch of things everywhere.” Then, he came up with the
master plan of “a comic that’s 24 hours and 24 pages.” 

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

Although doubtful at first, Neil reminisced
[https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-sandman-24-hour-diner-explained-neil-gaiman#:~:text=What%E2%80%99s%20the%20inspiration,do%20that%20again.%E2%80%9D]
about his vision and how he believed, “If I go this far — once — nobody will
trust me. They’ll know I’m a raving psychopath. They’ll know that this comic is
dangerous and that I might do that again. And I’ll never need to do that again.”
Aren’t we thankful for the great Neil Gaiman to trust his gut and go that far?

ALSO READ: A Loop of Life and Death:‘The Sandman’ Brings to Life Cain and Abel
in the Most Grounding Way Possible
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-a-loop-of-life-and-deaththe-sandman-brings-to-life-cain-and-abel-in-the-most-grounding-way-possible/]


THE SCENE IN QUESTION

Totally consumed by the power of Morpheus’s Ruby, the seemingly harmless yet
appalling John Dee ( played by David Thewlis in the Netflix
[https://netflixjunkie.com/category/news/] show) steps into an everyday American
diner. In an attempt to create a better world, he takes away what, in his
opinion, is the undoing of humanity: lies. What happens next is a series of
chaotic events orchestrated by Dee.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

With the customers forced to only speak the truth, all the walls, the facade,
and the deception shatter. And with that, the shrouded darkness is unleashed
upon the world. What starts with minor disagreements leads to all kinds of lewd
behavior and debauchery, with a grand finale of everyone killing themselves in a
gut-wrenching scene. Apparently, the world cannot function without lies.

ALSO READ: A Pumpkin From the World of the Dreaming, an Exclusive Clip
Introduces Mark Hamill’s Mervyn Pumpkinhead From ‘The Sandman’
[https://netflixjunkie.com/what-to-watch-a-pumpkin-from-the-world-of-the-dreaming-an-exclusive-clip-introduces-mark-hamills-mervyn-pumpkinhead-from-the-sandman/]

What do you think of this scene? If you haven’t already, check out The
Sandman, currently streaming [https://www.netflix.com/watch/81150303?source=35]
on Netflix.

Natasha Vijan

Comment

“They’ll know I’m a raving psychopath”: &#8216;The Sandman&#8217; Creator Neil Gaiman Reveals the Paradoxical Reason Behind Creating the Diner Storyline - Netflix Junkie

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Natasha is a writer at Netflix Junkie. Despite completing her Masters in Architecture from Hochschule Anhalt in Germany, she decided to follow her passion for storytelling.

Apart from working as an architect in the past, Natasha currently also ghostwrites for various travel and lifestyle blogs like italyfoodies.com, mypureplants.com and more. Moreover, she has also been involved as a screenplay analyst with Outstanding Screenplays London.

An avid cinephile, Natasha especially enjoys quirky dark comedies and gangster films. She can talk about films by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for days and even aspires to make her own film someday. When not at work, she can be found at at outdoor music concert or a stand-up gig. Additionally, she’s a feminist, LGBTQIA ally and a strong mental health advocate.

https://netflixjunkie.com/whats-new-on-netflix-theyll-know-im-a-raving-psychopath-the-sandman-creator-neil-gaiman-reveals-the-paradoxical-reason-behind-creating-the-diner-storyline

“They’ll know I’m a raving psychopath”: &#8216;The Sandman&#8217; Creator Neil Gaiman Reveals the Paradoxical Reason Behind Creating the Diner Storyline - netflix-junkie

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One of the most anticipated comic book adaptations, The Sandman, has finally made its way onto our screens. Fans absolutely loved the live-action rendition of Neil Gaiman&#8217;s graphic novel collection. After multiple failed attempts, this great homage to the books is a massive and satisfying payoff for the creators and fans. The Sandman is a piece of art that is carefully and intricately conceptualized and crafted by Neil Gaiman.
<div class="flex-video widescreen youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Scariest Comic of All Time" width="1170" height="658" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ObzC-fTx1PI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Adapting a mammoth literary masterpiece was surely no easy feat. Yet, <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/tag/the-sandman">The Sandman</a> does full justice to the source material, be it the pace, the performances, the overall narrative, or the mind-blowing aesthetic. A special shout-out goes to the Diner Scene from episode 5, which is based on a comic issue. Looking at all the gore and violence, one would wonder how Gaiman came up with such a scene for his comic series. Well, the author himself broke down his process in a recent Tudum interview.
<h2>Neil Gaiman on how the Diner Scene from The Sandman came about</h2>
Netflix Tudum recently interviewed the creators of<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-neil-gaimans-the-sandman-review-for-the-latest-netflix-fantasy-series/" rel="noopener"> The Sandman</a> and broke down the infamous diner scene from episode 5 of the show. Titled 24/7, the episode is based on 24 Hours, an issue from the comics drawn by Mike Dringenberg. It is one of the most loved stories owing to its diabolical and convoluted narrative. The Netflix adaptation rose to the challenge and delivered spectacularly, maintaining the terror and fiendish character of the tale.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-43888 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AAAAQUw3-dpxH19Qa3CyKgz5ExP-kdLCZZ2vLNcw-jIPJ2GmV4yzEfe7w-ojd8Zn0dCeyA3jF0MX2NAj0gNttdNs00TgKh8N72mLfgKmrL5Rjah50o-hKR1glyLlHzYktzjwvVNbaNWgJ3I7w3zighUxCnhY6DY.jpg" alt="" width="1422" height="750" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AAAAQUw3-dpxH19Qa3CyKgz5ExP-kdLCZZ2vLNcw-jIPJ2GmV4yzEfe7w-ojd8Zn0dCeyA3jF0MX2NAj0gNttdNs00TgKh8N72mLfgKmrL5Rjah50o-hKR1glyLlHzYktzjwvVNbaNWgJ3I7w3zighUxCnhY6DY.jpg 1422w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AAAAQUw3-dpxH19Qa3CyKgz5ExP-kdLCZZ2vLNcw-jIPJ2GmV4yzEfe7w-ojd8Zn0dCeyA3jF0MX2NAj0gNttdNs00TgKh8N72mLfgKmrL5Rjah50o-hKR1glyLlHzYktzjwvVNbaNWgJ3I7w3zighUxCnhY6DY-300x158.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AAAAQUw3-dpxH19Qa3CyKgz5ExP-kdLCZZ2vLNcw-jIPJ2GmV4yzEfe7w-ojd8Zn0dCeyA3jF0MX2NAj0gNttdNs00TgKh8N72mLfgKmrL5Rjah50o-hKR1glyLlHzYktzjwvVNbaNWgJ3I7w3zighUxCnhY6DY-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AAAAQUw3-dpxH19Qa3CyKgz5ExP-kdLCZZ2vLNcw-jIPJ2GmV4yzEfe7w-ojd8Zn0dCeyA3jF0MX2NAj0gNttdNs00TgKh8N72mLfgKmrL5Rjah50o-hKR1glyLlHzYktzjwvVNbaNWgJ3I7w3zighUxCnhY6DY-768x405.jpg 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AAAAQUw3-dpxH19Qa3CyKgz5ExP-kdLCZZ2vLNcw-jIPJ2GmV4yzEfe7w-ojd8Zn0dCeyA3jF0MX2NAj0gNttdNs00TgKh8N72mLfgKmrL5Rjah50o-hKR1glyLlHzYktzjwvVNbaNWgJ3I7w3zighUxCnhY6DY-1140x600.jpg 1140w" sizes="(max-width: 1422px) 100vw, 1422px" />
Author and executive producer <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-an-enormous-sledgehammer-to-squash-the-tiniest-ants-neil-gaiman-justifies-his-actions-to-take-on-trolls-online-for-the-sandman-cast/">Neil Gaiman</a> also provided insights about the &#8220;terrifying scene.&#8221; Neil was keen on &#8220;an issue in which John Dee had control of the ruby and was driving the world mad.&#8221; With this core idea in place, he initially planned the story to &#8220;go all over the world&#8230; follow a whole bunch of things everywhere.&#8221; Then, he came up with the master plan of &#8220;a comic that’s 24 hours and 24 pages.&#8221; 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-43898 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Doctor-Destiny-Sandman-1.jpg" alt="" width="1400" height="700" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Doctor-Destiny-Sandman-1.jpg 1400w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Doctor-Destiny-Sandman-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Doctor-Destiny-Sandman-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Doctor-Destiny-Sandman-1-768x384.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px" />
Although doubtful at first, Neil <a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-sandman-24-hour-diner-explained-neil-gaiman#:~:text=What%E2%80%99s%20the%20inspiration,do%20that%20again.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reminisced</a> about his vision and how he believed, &#8220;If I go this far — once — nobody will trust me. They’ll know I’m a raving psychopath. They’ll know that this comic is dangerous and that I might do that again. And I’ll never need to do that again.&#8221; Aren&#8217;t we thankful for the great Neil Gaiman to trust his gut and go that far?
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-a-loop-of-life-and-deaththe-sandman-brings-to-life-cain-and-abel-in-the-most-grounding-way-possible/" rel="noopener">A Loop of Life and Death:‘The Sandman’ Brings to Life Cain and Abel in the Most Grounding Way Possible</a>
<h2>The scene in question</h2>
Totally consumed by the power of Morpheus&#8217;s Ruby, the seemingly harmless yet appalling John Dee ( played by David Thewlis in the <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/category/news/">Netflix</a> show) steps into an everyday American diner. In an attempt to create a better world, he takes away what, in his opinion, is the undoing of humanity: lies. What happens next is a series of chaotic events orchestrated by Dee.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-43900 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_7A4520367E14_1.0.jpeg" alt="" width="1200" height="675" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_7A4520367E14_1.0.jpeg 1200w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_7A4520367E14_1.0-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_7A4520367E14_1.0-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_7A4520367E14_1.0-768x432.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />
With the customers forced to only speak the truth, all the walls, the facade, and the deception shatter. And with that, the shrouded darkness is unleashed upon the world. What starts with minor disagreements leads to all kinds of lewd behavior and debauchery, with a grand finale of everyone killing themselves in a gut-wrenching scene. Apparently, the world cannot function without lies.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/what-to-watch-a-pumpkin-from-the-world-of-the-dreaming-an-exclusive-clip-introduces-mark-hamills-mervyn-pumpkinhead-from-the-sandman/" rel="noopener">A Pumpkin From the World of the Dreaming, an Exclusive Clip Introduces Mark Hamill’s Mervyn Pumpkinhead From ‘The Sandman’</a>
What do you think of this scene? If you haven&#8217;t already, check out The Sandman, currently <a href="https://www.netflix.com/watch/81150303?source=35" target="_blank" rel="noopener">streaming</a> on Netflix.

A Loop of Life and Death:‘The Sandman’ Brings to Life Cain and Abel in the Most
Grounding Way Possible

A Pumpkin From the World of the Dreaming, an Exclusive Clip Introduces Mark
Hamill’s Mervyn Pumpkinhead From ‘The Sandman’

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/netflixjunkie-logo-2.jpg

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AAAAQVa-57VMC_WZTFAazMAt2Gx8XZ0deIFAtEZnJ0M4hAZG_sIUMvzQz9jX80URJVyKB4wHd-15Cc3w3EPFxGtHV7-zEn9VCqklX_RpwR_CqD2f9C6ADsZDRNC8AwoFpntx1l2fAgEG8FNfoSYhGjmqIy5k-1.jpg

“They’ll know I’m a raving psychopath”: 'The Sandman' Creator Neil Gaiman Reveals the Paradoxical Reason Behind Creating the Diner Storyline - Netflix Junkie

Natasha is a writer at Netflix Junkie. Despite completing her Masters in Architecture from Hochschule Anhalt in Germany, she decided to follow her passion for storytelling. Apart from working as an architect in the past, Natasha currently also ghostwrites for various travel and lifestyle blogs like italyfoodies.com, mypureplants.com and more. Moreover, she has also been involved as a screenplay analyst with Outstanding Screenplays London. An avid cinephile, Natasha especially enjoys quirky dark comedies and gangster films. She can talk about films by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for days and even aspires to make her own film someday. When not at work, she can be found at at outdoor music concert or a stand-up gig. Additionally, she’s a feminist, LGBTQIA ally and a strong mental health advocate.

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“They’ll know I’m a raving psychopath”: &#039;The Sandman&#039; Creator Neil Gaiman Reveals the Paradoxical Reason Behind Creating the Diner Storyline - Netflix Junkie

https://www.netflixjunkie.com/whats-new-on-netflix-theyll-know-im-a-raving-psychopath-the-sandman-creator-neil-gaiman-reveals-the-paradoxical-reason-behind-creating-the-diner-storyline/

“They’ll know I’m a raving psychopath”: ‘The Sandman’ Creator Neil Gaiman Reveals the Paradoxical Reason Behind Creating the Diner Storyline

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