Paula Hammond - Features EditorFrom ultra-stylish visuals, to the cool, jazz soundtrack, and the knowing nod to Noir, Sugar is one glorious piece of misdirection after another. Like the best detective fiction, the clues are all there — frequently big, and bold, and right in your eye-line.
Starring Colin Farrell, who also executive produced, this is a show that never puts a foot wrong — and the result is a binge-worthy series that will leave you wanting more. Whether there will be more is yet to be decided, but viewers who hate cliff-hangers can be assured that series one is complete, with enough plot threads to weave a satisfying sequel, should one be made.
It’s great to see Farrell — who in the ’00s, made a living being the anonymous guy in that film you can’t quite remember — finally starting pick and choose some plum roles for himself.
Petrocelli had his bricks, Magnum had his Hawaiian shirts, Kojak had his lollipops. Sugar, too, is the archetypal odd-ball detective — as sweet and as memorable as the name implies, with just the right hint of mystery and danger to make him a challenging opponent. He is, in fact, the exact opposite of the morally grey Noir detectives he so admires — a fact that’s both endearing and notable.
Streaming on Apple TV+ now, the eight-episode sees Colin Farrell as John Sugar, an American private investigator on the heels of the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of legendary Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. As Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he will also unearth Siegel family secrets; some very recent, others long-buried.
Ignore the naysayers. Sure, this probably isn’t a show that will appeal to the traditionalists, but even if you miss the clues, Sugar will still surprise and delight you.
Sugar streams on Apple TV+, with new episodes every Friday through to May 17th.
