Plot: Los Angeles’ iconic private detective and film connoisseur, John Sugar. returns for a new case, tracking the troubled older brother of an up-and-coming local boxer as his search for his beloved missing sister continues. As the investigation expands into a citywide conspiracy with sinister intentions, Sugar must reckon with himself to answer the question — how far will he go to do what’s right?
Review: The first season of Sugar was another winning blend of genre storytelling on AppleTV, thanks to a surprising twist that set it apart from other detective or noir shows on the air. Since the series premiered two years ago, we are past the statute of limitations on discussing spoilers, so stay clear of this review. Otherwise, you likely know that Sugar revealed that John Sugar (Colin Farrell) is actually an alien living amongst mankind. At the end of the first season, Sugar’s fellow extra-terrestrials left the planet, with the private investigator opting to stay in Los Angeles. It made for a love-it-or-hate-it shift for audiences, but Sugar was still a satisfying interpretation of noir films and detective fiction. The new season brings Colin Farrell back on a new case with a new cast of characters as he investigates multiple mysteries while also delving more into his people and who knows of their existence. Sugar is just as good as it was the first time around, as it gives us more insight into the main character’s true nature while also investigating a complex new case.
The eight-episode second season finds John Sugar alone after his fellow aliens have departed Earth for their home planet. Truly alone for the first time, Sugar busies himself with work and takes on a missing persons case. Up-and-coming boxer Danny Moon (Jin Ha) enlists Sugar to find his drug addict brother, Ji (Raymond Lee), who has disappeared after stealing some drugs. As Sugar begins digging into Ji’s whereabouts, he comes into a more complex conspiracy involving decorated police officer Ray Vega (Tony Dalton) and the displacement of the homeless population in Los Angeles. Sugar has new allies this season, including a fellow investigator (Shea Whigham) and a new employee, the street-smart Val (Sasha Calle). Sugar’s investigation also connects to the fallout from his case in the first season in intriguing ways that broaden the connection between seasons one and two. This season also introduces a new love interest for Sugar in Charlotte Fischer (Laura Donnelly), a resident of the same hotel where he lives, whose retro good looks pair well with John’s penchant for old movies, especially noir films.
Because the twist involving John’s origin is known to audiences, this season of Sugar layers in more references to his heritage, including flashbacks to his arrival in human form and to his connection with another member of his species, played by Laura San Giacomo. The focus is heavier on the loneliness of being the last of his kind while also giving us a glimpse at the dangers of becoming too human. The exploration of the alien-versus-human aspect of who and what John Sugar is makes for a fascinating element of the season. It also blends in nicely with the main narrative, which is more layered than the first season. The hallmarks of classic noir stories are embedded deep in the DNA of Sugar, and references to classic movies like The Lady from Shanghai and Sunset Boulevard add to the list of films viewers should watch if they are unfamiliar with the genre. But Sugar still works even if you are not versed in old-school Hollywood, thanks to the engaging mystery and the performance of Colin Farrell. Farrell was transformative in his portrayal of the DC villain in The Penguin and plays his own version of a dark knight here, giving John Sugar a humanity that could only be achieved by playing an alien posing as a person.
As much as I enjoyed the first season of Sugar, I think season two may be an improvement. The entire season chugs along at a nice pace, with every episode revealing a new wrinkle in the investigation that ties together John’s efforts to figure out who knows about his people on Earth, remnants of the season one storyline, the new case involving the Moon brothers, and a larger conspiracy. With all of that going on, the burgeoning romance between Sugar and Charlotte keeps you on your toes as to whether she is a femme fatale playing John like a mark, an alien herself, or just a legitimately charismatic love interest. Farrell and Donnelly have a subtle chemistry that makes it easy to invest in their pairing. The addition of Sasha Calle and Shea Whigham as allies to Sugar, and Tony Dalton as an antagonist, makes the ensemble this season as impressive as in season one, even though I do miss Amy Ryan, Kirby, and James Cromwell. Nevertheless, this season of Sugar serves as both a standalone mystery and a continuation of the first season, and the unfolding story makes for a weekly destination watch.
Season one scribe Sam Catlin takes over as showrunner this season from series creator Mark Protosevich, who remains aboard as executive producer. Catlin wrote the opening and closing episodes of this season alongside a new retinue of writers, including Gary Tieche, Christopher C. Rogers, Jonny Gomez, Michael A. Bhim, Megan Ritchie, and Sam Alper. Season one was directed by The Constant Gardener‘s Fernando Meirelles and Adam Arkin, with this season directed by Michael Morris (Better Call Saul), Amat Escalante (Narcos: Mexico), and Adam Bernstein (Oz). The larger writing and directing staff does not in any way detract from the consistency or quality of this season. Sugar remains a reverent homage to film noir while also presenting a modern interpretation of the genre. The sultry score by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge is a jazzy retro reminder of the origins of Hollywood detective stories while augmenting the bright colors of Los Angeles, both day and night. The special effects remain subtle and are used only when necessary, but the true nature of John Sugar continues to add a layer of interest to an already fascinating narrative.
Noir is a word overused these days to describe crime shows that do not keep to the formula of the classic genre, but Sugar is the rare project that both faithfully adheres to it while innovating it at the same time. Colin Farrell is so good as the gumshoe who loves people more than a human being actually could, and that makes him more human than any character in the series. Without being overly violent or nihilistic, Sugar is a fascinating take on an old-school genre. With fantastic performances and great additions to the cast, I hope that Sugar keeps going well beyond this season, with each new mystery adding to who John Sugar is and bringing more opportunities for Colin Farrell to wear nice suits and drive around Los Angeles looking cool. The season finale definitely takes another big swing that could alter the trajectory of a third season, but as it stands, Sugar is my favorite mystery show on air, and another stellar original from AppleTV.
Sugar season two premieres on June 19th on AppleTV.
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