Sugar Season 2 Review: John Sugar is back with another season of suave detective work as he struggles with an existential crisis and crippling loneliness after the events of the last season. Season 1’s ending was one of the most divisive and talked-about TV endings of the time, and, with the new season, John’s extraterrestrial roots, along with his choice to stay back on Earth in search of Djen, add to the mystery while he searches for Ji Moon.
Thankfully, the second season isn’t all about alien shenanigans and mostly focuses on where John is after the events of the first season. What makes the second season compelling is that it knows where viewer interest lies and sees everything through that lens, showcasing a world that is flawed but beautiful through John’s own eyes. It’s a confident continuation that has some downsides, but one that keeps you rooting for the troubled protagonist.
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Who is in the Cast of Sugar Season 2?
Colin Farrell, Jin Ha, Raymond Lee, Tony Dalton, Laura Donnelly, Sasha Calle, Shea Whigham
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Who is the Showrunner of Sugar Series?
Sam Catlin
The second season has 8 episodes, with a runtime of 40 minutes each.
Sugar Season 2 Review
A New Missing-Persons Case With Bigger Consequences
John Sugar is back in Los Angeles, and this time, he has to find an up-and-coming boxer’s junkie older brother. However, diving into his life, which seems straight cut at first, showcases the rot in our justice system. Tackling a case that seems to have taken a life of its own, the series, he also tries to figure out what happened to his sister Djen. But everywhere he goes seems to be a dead end.
The citywide conspiracy angle is quite interesting, although the obvious next step in the franchise. As we are forced to question how far he’s willing to go in the name of justice, things get darker not just professionally, but personally as well. The premise this season is familiar and nothing we haven’t seen before. However, Sugar‘s signature neo-noir vibe, the fantastic background score and Farrell himself transform this storyline from feeling repetitive. There’s a freshness with the execution that overshadows what we may be able to figure out about the plot.
Plus, John’s personal pain, the loneliness, and the desperation to find some sort of connection feel genuinely relatable and elevate the emotional stakes a lot. These looming issues add to the intrigue of the rest of the plot because every new lead adds to John’s pain. The mystery, thus, is more engaging and intimate.
Colin Farrell Remains the Show’s Greatest Asset
Farrell is fantastic as John Sugar as he navigates a new life on Earth without his friends. Choosing to stay behind comes with its pros and cons, and sometimes, it’s obvious that the cons outweigh the pros. He balances the noir detective charisma with genuine vulnerability effortlessly, making his character stand out. It’s easy to sympathise with John and root for him as he goes on a path to get justice. His character is also unique in his contradictions – while he is able to easily read other people, he struggles to identify his own emotions. Farrell grounds the series even during more unusual moments, making us see the person in him rather than, well, the alien.
Style and Atmosphere Continue to Shine
The show continues to be absolutely arresting, with its stylistic choices adding to the atmosphere of crime. The neo-noir aesthetic blends seamlessly with sun-soaked LA, with the dark undercurrents of corruption, violence and moral ambiguity making this such a unique watch. One of the best things about this Apple TV+ series is that it’s able to hold on to this mood throughout, making viewers take a pause and wait with bated breath for things to happen.
The Show Finally Moves Beyond Its Biggest Twist
While there are more elements of extraterrestrial lore in this season than the last, the series cleverly focuses more on John’s own struggles and the central mystery so as not to become a complete sci-fi watch. While John’s desperation to find someone like him still living on Earth, or his desperation to find Djen, calls back to his origin story, it’s a surprisingly small part of the show. If anything, it makes his character more unique, as his being an extraterrestrial doesn’t define who he is as a person.
Not Every Mystery Thread Lands Perfectly
With all that being said, Sugar still suffers from last season’s problem and continues to be painfully slow sometimes. Even though the noir aesthetic, performances and cleverly added mystery elements keep viewers engaged, it’s impossible to ignore how slow and unnecessary some episodes are. There are long stretches where absolutely nothing happens, and, on top of that, corrupt institutions are nothing new. When the series ends, the answer to the mystery and who was behind it all won’t prove to be satisfactory because it’s almost identical to other shows in the detective/mystery genre.
Final Verdict
Sugar continues to be very engaging, and its aesthetics are the best part of the show. While the storyline is far too obvious and the pacing is terrible at times, it makes for a very interesting watch because of how the story is presented. Overall, this one’s worthwhile, but it does get on your nerves sometimes.
Apple TV+’s Sugar will stream every week from June 19, 2026, till August 7, 2026. What are your thoughts on the series? Let us know in the comments below!
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