Apple TV’s Underrated 8-Part Sci-Fi Is the Perfect Binge Before Season 2 Premieres

5 days ago 9

Science fiction and noir often go hand-in-hand, as the two genres are reliant on themes of exploration and ambiguity. Apple TV may have become the definitive streaming service for science fiction content, but it has yet to produce a sci-fi series with any roots in the classical mystery genre; shows like Silo, For All Mankind, and Dark Matter are all more epic in scope and feature more extensive worldbuilding. Sugar is one of the streamer's most unusual sci-fi shows because it sets up a nostalgic yet grounded take on modern Los Angeles that feels reminiscent of hardboiled detective stories. While the sci-fi twist that alters the core of the series is unexpected, it offers a completely original commentary on how media obsession has shaped an entire generation’s perception of reality.

Sugar stars Colin Farrell as the enigmatic private investigator known as “John Sugar,” who travels to the City of Angels after a showdown with the yakuza in Tokyo. Sugar is hired by the award-winning film producer Jonathan Siegel (James Cromwell) to find his granddaughter, Olivia (Sydney Chandler), who is struggling with addiction. However, Sugar discovers that there may be more to the case when he encounters Melanie Matthews (Amy Ryan), who used to be Olivia’s stepmother. The brilliance of Sugar is that its mystery is two-pronged; although the investigation is initially focused purely on Olivia’s whereabouts and her connection to a criminal conspiracy, Sugar’s unique set of skills makes it fascinating to dig into his past.

‘Sugar’ Is a Throwback to Classic Hardboiled Mysteries

Sugar is not only a show that is clearly made by cinephiles, but one in which the protagonist is a movie lover; Sugar has based his perception of the locations he visits on his love of classic Hollywood films, and even gives the type of old-fashioned voiceover that is reminiscent of a Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade story. The series is beautifully shot, as Academy Award-nominated director Fernando Meirelles played a major role in establishing its striking visual design. However, Sugar is not so steeped in nostalgia that it becomes antiquated, as it often shows that Sugar’s perspective has blinded him to the nuances of the investigation. Although Sugar has learned a lot about behavior based on popular media, he finds that modern Los Angeles has become far less whimsical and operatic than it was during the Golden Age of Hollywood. This is reflected in the way the series is edited, as it switches between a lush, swanky adventure and a grittier crime drama.

Sugar is one of the many recent drama shows that has benefited from half-hour episodes, as the series embodies the essence of “dime store mysteries” by spending each chapter on the uncovering of a specific clue. While the serialized format makes Sugar a great binge-watch, the brevity of the installments ensures there isn't an overabundance of information that would detract from Sugar’s perspective. The mystery is well-handled because each step asks as many questions as it solves; Sugar’s ability to speak many languages, pick up on obscure irregularities, and emerge from brutal conflicts unscathed suggests that he is hiding as much as the clients he’s been paid to work for. It makes Melanie’s involvement in the series even more important, as she becomes the closest thing the audience has to an avatar because of her personal connection to the case.

‘Sugar’ Has One of Colin Farrell’s Greatest Performances

Although any viewer could watch over half of Sugar and get the impression that it is a traditional, albeit old-fashioned, detective series, the sixth episode, “Go Home,” delivers a shocking twist when it reveals Sugar's true nature. Without delving too deeply into spoiler territory, this could have easily felt like a “jump the shark” moment, but Sugar carefully plants some hints early on that its main character is not “normal.” It’s a twist that works perfectly because it explains why Sugar has only learned about humanity because of movies and makes him more vulnerable; even if he doesn’t have the emotional involvement in the case that Melanie does, his failure to solve it could result in significant consequences.

Sugar is not only a highly watchable series currently made up of eight fun episodes, but a show with a tremendous amount of potential going into its second season. There's room for each new season of Sugar to introduce a new investigation that brings in new cast members, all while contributing to the larger narrative at play involving its lead's origins. In an era where so many high-concept stories are poisoned by irony, Sugar is unabashedly sincere and says something profound about why mystery stories have become humanity’s defining work of drama. Very few shows can say that they’re genuinely impossible to predict, and following Sugar to see what shocking reveal comes next has only made it more entertaining.