Colin Farrell’s Eccentric Detective Takes a More Human Turn in Sugar Season 2

During the promotional rounds for the first season of the detective series Sugar, Colin Farrell had to tread carefully with his words. The show follows a quirky private detective, but it also has a hidden science fiction twist that only becomes apparent halfway through the season. “I knew that I could get the show in deep trouble if I revealed certain things,” he shares. As Sugar gears up for its second season, set to stream on June 19th, Farrell feels “unburdened” by the previous secrecy. “There are certain things I wouldn’t mention here about season 2,” he notes, “but nothing as significant as the reveal in episode 6 of season 1.”

**Spoiler warning for the first season of Sugar.**

The big secret is that Farrell’s character, the endearingly eccentric private detective John Sugar, is actually an alien. Obsessed with classic films, he has a rose-tinted view of humanity, which contributes to his unique quirks, like always donning a suit and tie and having an inexplicable affinity with dogs. By the end of season 1, Sugar’s fellow aliens have fled Earth after their true identities were exposed, putting their lives in jeopardy. However, John remains behind, partly to resolve some unfinished business regarding his sister, who vanished on their home planet, but also because he genuinely loves humans and isn’t ready to leave them—or his ’66 Corvette Sting Ray—behind.

As season 2 kicks off, John takes on a new case involving the missing brother of an up-and-coming boxer, leading him into the darker corners of Los Angeles’ underground drug scene. Simultaneously, he’s uncovering more about his sister’s fate while grappling with the isolation from his own kind. Occasionally, he sends messages through an alien communication device, but silence is all he receives in return. This situation forces John to face new experiences: loneliness, violence, and eventually, love. For Farrell, it’s this aspect of character growth that makes Sugar’s new season particularly compelling.

“Even though the character is from where he’s from, it was always a device to explore the human condition,” he explains. “Season 2 honors the foundation we established while also adding depth, placing Sugar in situations that reveal new facets of himself. He’s challenged and given the chance to experience feelings he hasn’t encountered before, whether related to romantic love or violence. None of us truly know our capabilities until we’re faced with a specific event or environment, and that’s true for Sugar as well.”

The season does address some key questions about John’s alien origins, though I won’t spoil anything just yet. What’s most intriguing about the ongoing narrative is John’s evolution as a person. He remains a skilled detective and a thoughtful friend, but he also makes mistakes, poor choices, and sometimes acts against his principles to help others.

After spending so much time on Earth, especially now that he’s cut off from his own species, John is becoming increasingly human-like. This transformation makes him more vulnerable. In fact, one moment in season 2 provides perhaps the most intimate glimpse of John yet: he’s not in his usual detective attire but rather in jeans and a sweatshirt, a stark contrast to his typical look.

“It genuinely was a little bit strange,” Farrell admits. “Out in the world in jeans and a sweater, it felt a little other.”