After the jaw-dropping twist in its first season, Mark Protasevich’s “Sugar” returns for a second season on Apple TV+, once again starring Academy Award nominee Colin Farrell in the titular role. When we last saw Sugar, he had decided to stay on Earth to track down Henry.
Season 2 takes a different approach, starting with an episode titled “Home Away from Home.” While most television shows spend their second seasons trying to recreate the magic of the first, “Sugar” takes a more daring route by reinventing itself.
Apple TV+’s noir mystery returns with a fresh case, a new supporting cast, and a renewed sense of purpose. The constant throughout remains Colin Farrell, whose portrayal of private investigator John Sugar remains the show’s secret weapon. In Season 2, Sugar is still searching for answers about his missing sister while investigating the disappearance of the older brother of a rising Los Angeles boxer. What begins as another missing-person case soon evolves into a sprawling conspiracy, forcing Sugar to examine the limits of his own moral code.
One of the smartest decisions made by showrunner Sam Catlin is surrounding Farrell with an almost entirely new ensemble. New additions include Jin Ha, Raymond Lee, Tony Dalton, Laura Donnelly, Sasha Calle, and guest star Shea Whigham. Rather than feeling like replacements for Season 1 favorites, they help create the sense that Sugar is entering a completely different chapter of his life.
Dalton, fresh off his scene-stealing work in “Better Call Saul,” brings an unpredictable edge to the season, while Donnelly’s character appears refreshingly resistant to Sugar’s natural charm. Jin Ha’s connection to the central mystery adds emotional urgency to the investigation from the outset.
What continues to set “Sugar” apart from countless detective dramas is its atmosphere. Los Angeles feels haunted, romantic, and dangerous all at once. The series remains deeply rooted in classic noir storytelling, yet it never abandons the genre-bending identity that made the first season so memorable. Farrell’s performance remains exceptional; in lesser hands, John Sugar could come across as just another tortured detective. Instead, Farrell portrays him as empathetic, hopeful, and quietly human. Even when the story delves into darker territory, he keeps the audience emotionally invested.
If Season 1 was about revealing what “Sugar” truly is, Season 2 appears to focus on exploring what that revelation means. The mystery is compelling, the new cast fits seamlessly into the world, and the show’s confidence has only grown. For viewers seeking another standard detective drama, “Sugar” remains anything but conventional. That’s precisely what makes it one of Apple TV+’s most intriguing series.
Grade: B+
Season two of “Sugar” premieres on June 19th and runs for eight episodes, concluding with the finale on August 7th.
When I reflect on the summer of 1998, I was preparing for my junior year, while R&B seemed to be at a crossroads. Brandy and Monica were dominating the youth market with their blockbuster sophomore albums, while established male singers like Luther Vandross and Gerald Levert were comfortably settling into Urban AC.
When you hear the name Tony Rich, “Nobody Knows” is likely the first song that comes to mind. That record was a massive success, and its influence still lingers. However, true music enthusiasts recognize that Rich was never a one-hit wonder. He possessed an incredible talent for songwriting.
This week’s Slow Jam Saturday pick takes us back to 2008 to show some love to Chauncey Hannibal, a member of Blackstreet, and his solo track “Everyday Is Your Birthday.” Chauncey’s vocals were featured prominently on the group’s first four albums until he began his solo career in 2005. He initially signed with Flipmode Entertainment, and “Everyday Is Your Birthday” was the first single from his project titled “Church Boy,” although the actual album was never released.