Death’s Return In Dead Boy Detectives Season 1 & Sandman Future Explained

Warning: This contains spoilers for Dead Boy Detectives.

Summary

• Death’s appearance in Dead Boy Detectives sets the stage for a deeper connection with The Sandman universe in future seasons.
• Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s portrayal of Death brings a comforting touch to the often dark and mysterious world of the series.
• Death’s presence influences the actions and decisions of the characters in Dead Boy Detectives, hinting at potential story arcs for future seasons.

Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives season 1 includes an appearance from Death, connecting to the future of The Sandman. The new series follows two teen ghosts named Edwin and Charles who work with a teen medium named Crystal to solve supernatural mysteries. Dead Boy Detectives and Netflix’s The Sandman exist in the same universe, meaning the stories follow the same rules about life, the afterlife, and Hell. Additionally, all the Endless would theoretically exist in the Dead Boy Detectives show even if they were never referenced.

The Endless character that is most closely connected to the events of Dead Boy Detectives is the character Death, played by Kirby Howell-Baptiste in The Sandman. While Dead Boy Detectives functions on the premise that Edwin and Charles are running from Death, it wasn’t a given that the Endless would appear in any of the episodes. They could have referenced her only by name or maintained a focus solely on the Lost and Found Department for the afterlife. Luckily, Dead Boy Detectives brought Kirby Howell-Baptiste in to reprise her role as the beloved character.

Kirby Howell-Baptiste Returns As Death In Dead Boy Detectives Episode 1

Death Helps A World War I Soldier Move On To The Afterlife

Death only appears in The Sandman season 1, episode 6, “The Sound of Her Wings,” but she is one of the most beloved and likable Endless due to her soft-spoken and compassionate nature. This is a stark contrast to her siblings, who are often cruel, brash, and selfish. Kirby’s portrayal makes the concept of death much less scary and more comforting. As such, it was exciting to see Death return in Dead Boy Detectives season 1, episode 1, “The Case of Crystal Palace.” In the one scene where she appears, she’s just as lovable and sweet as previously shown.

She brings a World War I soldier that the Dead Boy Detective Agency helped to the afterlife in a peaceful and kind way. Death isn’t impatient when he asks her questions about what’s to come. As he stumbles while trying to recite “The Sack of the Gods” by Rudyard Kipling, Death helps him finish the stanza he’s trying to get out. This entire scene in Dead Boy Detectives displays the caring nature for which she’s known.

At the end of Dead Boy Detectives, Edwin’s former classmate, Simon, finds peace in his sexuality. Edwin helps him realize that he doesn’t deserve punishment for his sexuality or his mistake of sacrificing his classmate. At this point, the room glows blue as it did when Death came at the beginning of the series, hinting that she appeared for a second time, offscreen.

Death Plays A Large Role In Dead Boy Detectives Season 1 After Kirby’s Cameo

Death’s Presence Is Felt Throughout All Of Dead Boy Detectives

Though she only physically appears in one scene, Death has a presence throughout the entirety of Dead Boy Detectives season 1. Edwin and Charles’ fear of Death is extremely palpable, leading them to run or hide every time that a portal opens up because of Death or Hell. Moreover, the Night Nurse, the primary antagonist throughout Dead Boy Detectives, runs the Lost and Found Department, which is directly under the tutelage of Death. The department focuses on children and teenagers, making Edwin and Charles their prime targets. Without Death, nobody would be after the pair of teen ghosts.

The superior assigns the Night Nurse to supervise the agency’s work on Earth so that she can learn the empathy and care that both Death and the Dead Boy Detectives Agency offer their clients.

Moreover, Death’s presence becomes extremely important at the end of Dead Boy Detectives. Edwin and Charles’ method of working with their supernatural clients resembles that of Death. They’re patient and compassionate, even when their client attacks them, like the World War I soldier ghost. However, the Night Nurse is so black-and-white with the rules that she doesn’t seem to care about the emotional state of the children and teen ghosts with whom she’s working. She also believes her work is more important and better than that of the Dead Boy Detective Agency.

As such, the Night Nurse’s superior gives the agency permission to continue their work, rather than sending Edwin and Charles to their afterlife. She sees their potential even though others don’t. Additionally, the superior assigns the Night Nurse to supervise the agency’s work on Earth so that she can learn the empathy and care that both Death and the Dead Boy Detectives Agency offer their clients. This character arc will likely be a focus if Dead Boy Detectives season 2 occurs.

What Death’s Appearance In Dead Boy Detectives Means For Sandman Season 2

Death Will Likely Tie Together Dead Boy Detectives And The Sandman

Death’s appearance in Dead Boy Detectives is important to the future of the Sandman universe, especially The Sandman season 2. The character will undoubtedly have a much bigger role in the upcoming second season, bridging the gap between the two series within the same universe. Moreover, if The Sandman follows one major storyline from the comics, Lucifer Morningstar will purge Hell of demons and spirits, giving the key to Dream and creating more work for Death. This could also seep into the Dead Boy Detectives because they function under Death’s rule now.