6 things you have to watch on TV this weekend
The Sandman hits the small screen, two Apple TV Plus finales drop, and more

Welcome to the weekend edition of What’s On. Here are the big things happening on TV from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7. All times are Eastern. [Note: The weekly What’s On will publish on Sundays.]
1. The Sandman comes alive on Netflix
Netflix, Friday, 3:01 a.m.: Neil Gaiman’s iconic DC Comics series The Sandman finally arrives on Netflix. This live-action adaptation follows Morpheus, a.k.a. the King of Dreams (Tom Sturridge), who escapes captivity after 106 years and wants to restore order in his kingdom of Dreaming. The ensemble includes Gwendoline Christie, Charles Dance, Jenna Coleman, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjay Bhaskar, David Thewlis, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Here’s an excerpt from The A.V. Club’s review:
Sandman, thank the Endless, is not as dopey or mindless as anything that Zack Snyder has put his name on, but how much praise can you really give something for doing what is essentially the bare minimum in replicating an acclaimed work of art and transferring it into a different medium?
2. Hulu drops Prey
Hulu, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, Prey is a prequel to all four films from the Predator franchise. This one is set in the Comanche Nation in 1719, where a highly skilled warrior, Naru (Amber Midthunder) learns what she’s stalking is a highly evolved alien species. Dakota Beavers and Michelle Thrush also star. As our positive review puts it:
It’s clear that while the filmmakers are taking the property seriously, they’re also having fun. Alongside their respect for the Comanche, to whom the film is dedicated (and producer Jhane Meyers is a Comanche and Blackfeet American Indian, ensuring respect and authenticity in its depictions of their culture), there is a giddiness in the filmmaking that suggests that the film was a passion project for all involved.