Apple TV’s Hit Sci-Fi Detective Series Changing Genres In Season 2 Addressed By Sugar Star & Showrunner

1 week ago 13

Published Jun 17, 2026, 5:40 PM EDT

When Sugar returns to Apple TV for season 2, there will be an unexpected genre change.

The series starts as a story about a private detective who launches an investigation after a girl goes missing in Los Angeles. As the season unfolds, though, it becomes clear Sugar isn't a typical crime drama. Protagonist John Sugar (Farrell) eventually reveals to the audience that he's an alien, subverting what audiences have come to expect from the genre.

Now that this major twist has been revealed, Sugar season 2 will undergo a shift. In an interview with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley, Catlin, whose past credits include Preacher and Breaking Bad, described Farrell as "comedically genius" and explained that he wasn't worried at all about leaning more into the comedy compared to season 1.

However, where he had to walk a tightrope was in ensuring that it "didn't feel like we were changing the entire tone of the show, but that I think some of his humor comes from him being a little bit on the back foot in certain places." The comedy is infused into the show in a subtle way, but it's greatly expanded upon from what fans are used to after watching season 1.

Sam Catlin: "Colin is obviously comedically genius, right? We weren't worried that he was going to be able to do it, but it had to be done in a way that didn't feel like we were changing the entire tone of the show, but that I think some of his humor comes from him being a little bit on the back foot in certain places. It's just like, 'Okay, it's just me now. There are girls, there are cheeseburgers, there are all these different things.' We think it's subtle, but we definitely, when we led into the season, we wanted to make sure that there was whatever levity there was in season 1, we wanted to continue it and expand on it in season 2."

Interestingly, Farrell himself wasn't thinking about the show's comedic aspect when filming Sugar season 2, but acknowledged that his character is an awkward individual, especially when it comes to his interactions with Charlotte Fischer, played by new cast member Laura Donnelly, which causes some humorous moments on the show.

Sugar is typically confident, unflappable, and handles himself well. However, some of that starts to fade away when he meets Charlotte. "He's lost at sea a little bit...and the words aren't coming the way he wants them to come," Farrell explained. While it might come across as comedic to viewers, the actor himself found these heartwarming moments. "There was a sweetness that you could explore in those scenes with her," he added.

Colin Farrell: "I didn't feel that I was leaning into anything specific. I mean, he's awkward. Maybe it was some of the awkwardness with her character with Charlotte. Some of that stuff. There's an awkwardness in that stuff, and that was lovely to explore because often times Sugar is confident moving through space, moving through a room. He's well able to handle himself. He's somewhat unflappable. But at the same time, he's flapping all over the f***ing place when it comes to meeting Charlotte, and he's lost at sea a little bit, and there's an orchanist and the words aren't coming the way he wants them to come. So if anything, it didn't feel funny as much as for me on the inside. There was a sweetness. There was a sweetness that you could explore in those scenes with her."

Aside from Catlin and the other writers leaning into Farrell's comedic side, Sugar season 2 will also add more sci-fi elements. Hiding this alien twist from the audience was hard to do, according to Catlin.

With John Sugar's identity revealed, the writers feel a "degree of relief." Going forward, they're able to put the sci-fi part of the show more at the forefront. Viewers now know he's an alien and has "certain beliefs about the world, and now let's have life come at him."

Sam Catlin: "I would say easier in the sense that you can't withhold a secret from an audience. That can't be the only thing you do with a character. At a certain point, the audience needs to be on board and know this character. And that doesn't mean you know what he's going to do. That doesn't mean you know it's going to confront him down the road, but we actually felt a degree of relief knowing that we could start with, 'Okay, he's an alien, he's from outer space, he's this guy, he has these certain beliefs about the world, and now let's have life come at him.'"

Aside from Donnelly, Farrell's co-stars for Sugar season 2 are Jin Ha, Raymond Lee, Tony Dalton, Sasha Calle, and Shea Whigham.

Sugar season 1 earned an 81% critic score and 80% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with strong reviews across the board. The neo-noir drama's cinematography landed a nomination at the Emmys, and the show was nominated for a Saturn Award in the category of Best Adventure Television Series.

Now, two years later, Sugar is back for its second season, with a genre change and several new cast members, but with an award-winning actor in Farrell still at the helm as private investigator John Sugar.

Sugar season 2 premieres Friday, June 19, on Apple TV.