Netflix’s “Dead Boy Detectives” is an eclectic extension of the fantastic world of Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” series. It is zany, quirky, and absolutely fun. The eight-episode series looks into a variety of unique supernatural cases while a single common plot threads them together. Showrunners Steve Yockey and Beth Schwartz have developed an exciting world that could seamlessly blend with Netflix’s hit series “The Sandman.”
Here is a recount of everything that went down with the main characters and what to expect from season 2.
Dead Boy Detectives (2024) ‘Netflix’ Recap:
Dead Boys Meet Crystal Palace
Edwin Paine (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) are two teenage boys who are also best mates. However, they were born at least seventy years apart. So, how could they be “Teenage buds,” you ask? Well, to be completely blunt, they are dead. Edwin died in 1916 when some of his schoolmates offered him as a ritual sacrifice. The ritual goes badly as a demon appears and kills them all before taking Edwin to Hell. Charles also fell victim to school bullying. The bullies forced him to hide in the freezing lake, eventually leading Charles to die from hypothermia.
As fate would have it, both boys died because of bullying. The very same school, as a matter of fact. Give or take six or seven decades. So, when Edwin escaped from hell, the very first place he came to was the school. And that was when Charles died. Edwin helped Charles accept his ‘Ghost’ self. Since then, the two boys formed a strong friendship which eventually led to the detective-partnership. They decide to help other ghosts who are struggling to cross to the ‘afterlife,’ just like them.
Living humans, possessing psychic powers or having encountered death closely, can see these ghosts. One such psychic-powered girl is Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), named like the Football club. Crystal is possessed by a demon called David, who is also her ex-boyfriend. The boys help Crystal thwart David from haunting her. However, David still resides in Crystal’s memories and keeps some of Crystal’s memories to himself. This makes Crystal forget who she used to be before meeting the Dead Boys Detectives.
The Witch and Niko
After the first case, Crystal becomes a member of the agency, much to the reluctant dismay of Edwin. However, Charles proves that Crystal, with her psychic abilities, can become an asset to them. Crystal convinces the boys to go to America; Port Townsend, to be precise. A little girl is mysteriously missing. Crystal, who needs a place to stay, rents a room above the local meat shop. Butcher Jenny (Briana Cuoco) owns the place. Crystal has a neighbor. Niko (Yuyu Kitamura), an anime-loving Japanese girl, lives in the adjacent room. Niko also becomes a case for the Dead Boy Detectives, who could simply travel through mirrors to follow Crystal.
The detectives find that Niko has been a host to some parasitic supernatural beings, the dandelion sprites. When the sprites are tricked by Crystal to come out of Niko’s body, we see their actual forms: a mean-spirited, human-like, bickering married couple. In the case of the missing girl, the team of Edwin, Charles, and Crystal figure that it is the work of a powerful witch. Esther Finch (Jenn Lyon), is a witch who has got immortality from the goddess Lilith. However, she does not have eternal youth. So, to keep herself looking young, she feeds young girls to her gigantic magical snake.
The boys, with help from Crystal, rescue the young girl, thus scorning Esther. Esther vows to take revenge and pits herself as the main villain of this season. Her plan includes transforming her pet crow, Monty, into a beautiful boy (Joshua Colley). Oh, I forgot to mention that it is abundantly clear that Edwin is gay. So, Esther wants Monty to lure Edwin so that she can take her revenge.
Cat King
The already complicated magical dynamic of the small town is further complicated by the presence of the Cat King (Lukas Gage). Cat King is a mystical being who is always vague in his intentions and sensuality. He also gauges Edwin’s sexuality and becomes attracted to him. He puts a spell on Edwin so that Edwin cannot leave the town. Although he mentions that this is punishment for Edwin putting a spell on one of his cats, it is likelier that the Cat King wants Edwin to stay.
Call from Hell
Another complication for Charles and Edwin arises as the Lost and Found department of the Afterlife becomes alerted of their location. See, it is that department’s job to find ghosts stuck between the living plane and the afterlife. The authorities then process these ghosts to move them to their respective Afterlife. It could be Hell for the usual baddies. However, due to the technical glitch, Edwin is always destined to go to Hell because he was sacrificed for so.
The two boys have always evaded detection. However, the Night Nurse (Ruth Connell) from the department finally finds them in Port Townsend. The encounter once again sends Edwin back to Hell. A desperate Charles makes a deal with Night Nurse, who becomes a little sympathetic towards Edwin’s cause. If Night Nurse allows Charles to go to hell to find Edwin, then she will take them to the Afterlife if they can come out of hell, which they do after a tremendous fight with many hellish creatures.
Dead Boy Detectives (2024) ‘Netflix’ Ending Explained:
Is Esther Dead?
Esther’s plan to ruin the Dead Boys does not go as smoothly as she hoped. Monty becomes attached to Edwin and becomes a little reluctant to ‘kill’ them. Thanks to the Cat King’s warning and Crystal’s elevated powers, Esther’s Mushroom Elemental devours her instead of Edwin and Charles. But Esther survives that. So, she conjures a new plan as she learns that Edwin has survived Hell.
She prepares a machine that can run on the pain of a ghost and squeezes ‘youth serum’ for her looks. She captures Charles and Edwin. She uses Edwin as the generator of power, as Edwin can withstand tremendous pain. Crystal and Niko plan to rescue them, so they visit their frequented magic shop. The owner, a walrus-turned-human named Tragic Mick, gives Niko a bear-shaped token as good fortune for their fight.
At the witch’s den, Niko and Crystal rescue Charles first. They ask Charles to kill the witch’s gigantic snake because that snake is the source of power. As Charles goes to fight the snake, Crystal tries to divert the witch’s attention so that Niko can rescue Edwin. The plan works, but not before Esther kills Niko. Crystal uses her psychic abilities to launch herself into Esther’s memory. The memory where Esther calls Lilith. Crystal confronts Lilith, saying her gift enabled Esther to kill countless little girls. With the snake dead, Esther loses her youth. Then Lilith comes and takes her frail body. Thanks to Lilith’s boon, Esther was immortal. But it is understandable that Lilith can take that away. The goddess of women is not going to look lightly at Esther’s crimes. So, it seems that it is the end of Esther.
Is Niko Alive?
When Esther threw her magic dagger towards Crystal, Niko threw herself to save Crystal. The dagger stabbed Niko, and she seemed to be dead. Jenny even arranged for her body to be sent to Japan to Niko’s mother. However, the last scene shows someone sitting in an igloo with the two Dandelion sprites. This someone has their face hidden, but they have the bear-shaped token — Mick’s token. So, it appears Niko survived. It is reported that showrunner Steve Yockey has confirmed Niko to be alive. Apparently, the magical token from Mick’s shop transports Niko’s soul to another plane. As Edwin said, in this world, nothing is truly gone forever. So we can hope for more Niko.
What Happens to David?
Crystal, with help from her ancestors and their shared psychic power, finds the strength to defeat David. She finds her lost memories, but that does not make her feel great. As those memories show, Crystal used to be cruel and mean. She is not the great person she is now. The two boys help her understand that it does not matter what she did in the past. It matters what she is going to do now. Meanwhile, David lies buried in Crystal’s deepest mind plane, where she meets with her ancestors. The ancestors will ensure David does not become a problem again.
Will There Be a ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ Season 2?
With the boys being allowed to stay in their plane by the Night Nurse’s supervisor, the boys are open to taking more cases. With Niko’s eventual return, Edwin’s feelings for Charles, Cat King’s feelings for Edwin, Monty’s feelings for Edwin, Charles’ feelings for Crystal, and Jenny’s London switch, it would be a huge surprise if there is no more extension of Dead Boys Detective. With the series being tied with “Sandman,” it is likely that the boys would make an appearance in “Sandman” season 2. Before getting a second bite of the cherry on their own.
