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Contains spoilers for all of Sugar season 1.
Sugar season 2 is here after a two-year wait, and the Apple TV series is one of the eight huge new movies and shows streaming this weekend (June 19).
If, like me, you have been eagerly awaiting John Sugar’s return, you may have mixed emotions. Although it’s great to be back in the sunny LA backdrop with those stunning film noir vibes, it doesn’t explore the huge twist we saw in season 1.
Sugar‘s season 1 twist was so huge, in fact, that if you tell it to someone who has never seen the series, they’ll probably laugh at you. It’s quite the reveal and does not suit what we see at face value, changing the tone of the series entirely.
In season 1, episode 6, we learned that the sophisticated private detective (played brilliantly by Colin Farrell) is actually an alien disguising himself as a human. It is a plot twist that can make or break a series, as this goes from a film noir mystery to full-blown sci-fi in seconds. Mind blown.
Believe it or not, the alien reveal does work, and it made me more interested in the series as a result. So I was disappointed that Sugar season 2 does not focus on the sci-fi elements as much as it should’ve, disguising itself once again behind the glitz and glamor of Old Hollywood and the totally normal humans who reside there.
Had they gone harder on the sci-fi, I would have definitely rated this season higher because there is plenty to enjoy here. John Sugar continues to blend in as a human, while most of his alien race have already left Earth. There’s a key reason for this, as he’s looking for his missing sister Djen (Maeve Djen) and does not want to leave Earth without her.
Sugar’s investigation seems legitimate enough; humans go missing all the time, so he’s been able to hide his real identity… for now. But when the trail runs cold, he takes on a new case to occupy himself involving Danny Moon (Jin Ha), an up-and-coming boxer whose brother and trainer, Ji (Raymond Lee), has gone missing. Nothing like a new missing person to distract you from your own personal demons.
Sugar season 2 also features less from Kirby Howell-Baptiste, who plays Sugar’s handler and confidante. As an alien herself, she has since left Earth, leaving John behind to do what he needs to. Those hoping to see more from Howell-Baptiste will be disappointed, as Ruby has much more of a backseat role this time.
I am hopeful that, if Sugar season 3 is confirmed, we will see more from Ruby and the other aliens, especially since their mission was compromised and some humans are aware of the alien existence. Sugar simply being on Earth is dangerous, which does present opportunities and threats for future episodes.
The sci-fi elements are not completely forgotten, thankfully, and we do see Sugar using his extraterrestrial powers throughout. But it’s like he is trying to hide much of his true self from the audience as well as the in-universe characters. It makes sense given the slow burn of the series, but I really would have liked to see more alien stuff going on, personally.
Sugar season 2 is not quite as good as its predecessor, but I did enjoy returning to its universe after a long break. There’s some escapism in the vintage aesthetic; every scene is styled and acted beautifully, but much like the fashion, it won’t be to everyone’s tastes.
If you liked the noir aspects more than the sci-fi ones, I certainly think you will like Sugar season 2, as it picks up with new cases and characters to learn about. The universe is crafted with care, creating a world full of secrets, no matter what planet you come from.
But you would be forgiven for wanting more, especially since season 1 has dangled that reveal in front of us only to leave us wondering. If they had balanced the Old Hollywood vibes with the sci-fi ones better, I honestly think season 2 could have been perfect.
Sugar season 2 ultimately feels like a sequence of slow, filler episodes teasing what’s to come later, which isn’t all bad. But it means if season 3 does not happen we will be left with more questions than answers, much like John Sugar left behind on a planet that is not his own.
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