User Reviews

It seems like some people here should expose themselves to classic noir films and books this series finds its inspiration in. Folks criticizing the internal dialogue, that's a time-honored device of the genre as is, a slow burn pace and flashbacks. Maybe people these days are too accustomed to explosions and car chases to appreciate a little mystery. Read some Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett or watch a Robert Mitchum or Humphrey Bogart movie in the genre. Farrell is definitely well cast and the cinematography is sumptuous. I'm excited to see where this series takes us. We were glued to the screen and can't wait for me.

Sugar is a new LA noir private detective show that works both as a hommage to the genre and a self serious meta parody with all the cliches imaginable. After 2 episodes it's difficult to tell where it will go but I like it for the moment.

Colin Farrell is great as usual and succeeds in giving gravitas to a character that for the moment is paper thin. We feel he has a past and relationships and traumas and an inner life.

I reserve the right to revise my note according to the evolution of the next episodes. Many shows started great and collapsed very fast (the Apple TV+ Godzilla show for example). Let's wait and see.

I wasn't really sure what to expect going into Sugar, I wasn't familiar with the story at all but Colin Farrell was starring in it so I was definitely going to at least give it a chance. I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed it. Anytime a A-list actor like Farrell does a tv show I'm usually going to give it a chance because if it's good enough to get a big name like that it must be worth watching. There are a ton of detective shows to choose from out there, it seems like even more so this year, so a show must be good enough to stick out from the bunch to get people to watch and Sugar is. The acting & writing aren't the only good things going for this show, it's also beautifully shot. It has a real stylish throwback to classic noir films to it. Bottom line, Sugar is worth your time.

Apple TV keeps putting out great television shows and Sugar is no different. It kept me entertained the entire way through and Colin Farrell is as terrific as always as the lead. He plays John Sugar, a kind of loner who gets hired by rich people to find missing people. He's hired to find the missing granddaughter of a big time movie producer (James Cromwell) which leads him into a lot of danger and mysteries. There are plenty of good twists and mysteries to see if you can solve along the way. I'll be shocked if Farrell isn't nominated for a bunch of awards for his role in this. I don't think this is a limited series so I hope they plan on doing several seasons of this because I'm in.

I admit I have a soft spot for private detective drama's whatever the time frame and this looks to be a good one. The genre relies on a strong male lead with some kind of vulnerability and Colin Farrell as Sugar completely embodies the requirement. All the cool you expect from the genre is on display, the car, the suits, the neon, every box ticked. The plot conforms to all the requirements, wealthy man hires private eye to find granddaughter, money is no object, all is not as it seems, dark secrets, etc. The directorial style and cinematography really lift this piece and the referencing to classic noir enhances the look. We're only two episodes in so it could go badly off the rails but as I say, if the reviewer at The Guardian hates it then it is going to be good.

"Sugar" is a commendable series that skillfully incorporates elements of classic hardboiled detective stories into a contemporary setting. The show strikes a balance between paying homage to the genre's traditions and adapting them for today's audience.

The lead character, reminiscent of the archetypal private eye, brings a certain charm and authenticity to the role, making the series engaging for both aficionados of the genre and new viewers. The dialogue is sharp, and the plot is well-crafted, with enough twists to maintain interest without being overly complex.

The modern take on the genre is evident in the show's approach to character diversity and social issues, which adds depth and relevance to the narrative. The visual style nods to the noir roots while maintaining a current aesthetic that suits the show's tone.

Overall, "Sugar" is a solid series that offers a fresh take on the detective genre, and it's worth watching for its clever writing, strong performances, and thoughtful update of classic tropes.

Colin Farrell is simply perfect in this role. Vulnerable yet strong, serious yet fun, and mysterious yet open. Really stellar supporting cast with beautiful scenery of LA. A real trip back in time to the old style self-narrated private directive genre. Apple hasn't disappointed and continues its excellent record of releasing excellent limited series like this one. The only negative is in a world of instant gratification, waiting for a whole week for a new episode is torturous! But this is most certainly work the wait. Finally, I also love the embedded black and white clips from old detective movies throughout. It adds to the intrigue for me.

I didn't plan to check out "Sugar," a neo-noir TV series about a private detective, which didn't sound interesting at all.

There were many red flags suggesting it would be subpar, including the name "Sugar," which follows the cliché of having a name that also has another meaning, like "Monk," "Magnum," or "Castle," among others.

It started in black and white, which, in my opinion, should only be used for flashbacks and is narrated in the first person.

Nonetheless, I gave it a chance, and it somehow started growing on me.

This production definitely tries to incorporate every trick and cliché in the book. The private eye is sick, dislikes guns, drives a vintage car, dresses the same every day, and only searches for missing persons. There are even meta jokes, including the hero entering a bar named 007.

At the same time, it tries to be different with some unusual cinematography angles, like those from a TikTok video shot with Insta360 cameras. Despite the scant information provided about his background, past, and personality, the main character is almost paper-thin, yet you find yourself starting to like him and wanting to follow his story.

This is an advantageous role for Colin Farrell, but he owns it well. Amy Ryan also delivers a strong performance as a lonely alcoholic.

Overall, I will keep watching, even though I hadn't planned to. It's a 'construct,' not a solid series-too many clichés thrown together, but somehow, I didn't change the channel.

Revelation and a lot better than I'd thought it would be; especially after trying to watch the absolutely awful Ripley. Somewhat reminiscent to the show Dream On where they instill footage from old movies. Except that was a comedy. The show is set like a fast paced film noir; not boring us with endless scenes of people aimlessly puttering about. Each scene has purpose and meaning. Farrell as always is superb as is most of the supporting cast. And while Sugar seems a bit too extraordinary, excelling at many things his illness brings him down a notch. With the mystery of the supposed disappearance, murders and plenty of nefarious characters about, there's plenty of plot to last a season. And finally just before they revealed the car I was hoping it would be a Corvette Stingray and lo and behold.........this show is a complete winner.

Interesting to see Colin Farrell so slimmed down. He looks and acts like a 1940s private eye. He really portrays the character like he was born for this role. His accent is perfect, even when speaking Arabic, French Spanish, Japanese or Swahili.

The story is good right from the start and never gets predictable. I like the black and white scenes, the spliced in scenes from old movies, the realistic characters, the quirky story line that keeps you on your toes. The photography is interesting for a TV show. Adam Arkin does a great job directing. Only three episodes in and I'm hooked. One of the best shows on TV today.

"Sugar" is one of those rare shows that, despite a bland story, remains watchable. That's probably because of Colin Farrell, and the fact that the eponymous John Sugar private eye he plays is a nice guy who helps homeless people and doesn't take advantage of intoxicated women.

It's not the quirky direction, which relies on constant time jumps and juxtaposed scenes to cover over the slowness of the story. It's not the spliced-in scenes from old black and white movies either. (See! It's a homage!) And it's not really the cast. Colin Farrell is good because Colin Farrell is always good. But Amy Ryan feels a little miscast, honestly, and the rest of the ensemble is just okay.

And it's not the "mysterious past" Sugar has (is he a Jason Bourne super soldier? Is he here from another planet? What's with the typewriter and the note-taking?) or the hint that he lost someone -- a daughter, maybe. A cloudy past and a core wound / great loss are all standard tropes for the genre.

No, it's none of these things that make Sugar watchable despite its bland story (a rich white girl is missing, possibly the victim of domestic abuse, yadda yadda).

It's just that it's kind of fun. Farrell wears cool clothes and drives a fancy car and fights like a bad ass. He acquires a rescue dog that he takes good care of. You believe in him -- whatever he is -- he makes it seem like a guy like this could really exist.

That's it. Four episodes in, that's all that's really going on. If there's nothing else to stream that night, the wife and I will watch Sugar, and be generally satisfied.

See you on down the road.

Despite what that delusional negative reviewer said, I think this show had a great, well written start. Great noir nods with fantastic acting to boot. Farrell turn in his usual stellar performance. The relationship between Sugar is wonderfully interesting, nuanced, and complicated, I guess some people need everything spelled out for them in the first fifteen minutes in order to "get into it." The pace isn't lightening quick but I wouldn't call it slow. The plot/set up is hardly groundbreaking, it's a typical neo noir plot, but if you're a fan of that stuff you should enjoy it. Also if you're familiar with old movies in general you should enjoy the many references. Most "professional" critics also enjoy it, despite what some people who clearly only read reviews they agree with might claim. I only watched the first two and I'm very excited to see where it goes. It could go bad, I've watched many show that start strong and become a mess but I'm very hopeful. The writer is a pretty solid out of the box thinker (he also wrote The Cell) so that's a good sign.

I don't know why other people like mysteries or thrillers, but I like a lot of them because they have relatable characters. They aren't rich, living in worlds I have no interest in. I really despise the excesses we're supposed to admire. I hate it. I want to see worlds where real average people are represented. Not some millionaire ahole, no. The British know how to create human stories, because as many issues they have with class divisions they at least examine these issues in their shows. But not American creators. Nope. The directors and show runners that actually get funded for projects here really want to shove a certain kind of lifestyle down our collective throats. I just really miss seeing human stories set in the US, about average people. Preferring shows shot on location with little green screen. This is not worth my time, but some people will enjoy this. It's not for me. I didn't think the character development was the least bit interesting, nor was the shooting style or yge world any of them inhabit.

I see a lot of good reviews giving it 8/10, but I do not see much reason for praise. The show definitely has some interesting "vibe" to it, that people can like, for sure, and the style overall is not bad. But what about the story? Or maybe not so much the story, which is somewhat classical for a "noir detective" genre, but the narrative. It feels... Disjointed? There are these weird cuts here and there, including flashbacks, and Sugar himself often seems to be doing things that feel out of place and strange. Maybe there is some plot that will explain everything in next several episode (or even during the last episode of the show), but I just do not feel it. And I was just plain bored watching the 1st episode. But probably just me.

Not passion, as in romance. Passion as in, I love what I am doing and I am going to get every bit of it perfect. Creator Mark Protosevich loves film, loves LA, loves the old hardboiled shamus films -- clearly not the case with the team behind Monsieur Spade! -- loves people, dogs, rare alcohol, fine cars .... you get the picture. Sometimes, it's rare, you find a production that overflows with such passion for detail you can get lost in the process instead of the content. Sugar has great content too, and Farrell, having landed the role of a lifetime, puts everything he has has into it. Special entertainment. Sip it. Savor it. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Colin Farrell is one of the very few actors for me which when I first saw, I knew was going to be a star. I believe this is perfect for him! I always wanted to see him in the leading role, and his own show. And the whole concept, at his age is perfect. The character, like his suit, fits him like a glove. I think he's really grown as an actor. His portrayal of the penguin in Batman was iconic. I loved him in Bruges, Banshees and Alexander. One of the movies that didn't do good in numbers, but I love his role, which he did to perfection; was Daredevil!! Yeah, I'm watching both episodes and loving it...

Since episode 1 I've been intrigued by the mix of different styles and the wonky tone sitting within what on the surface appears to be a modern noir. What's with the mysterious bag of drugs Sugar carries around, why the utter lack of fear and the calmness throughout, the anti-violence and difficulty sleeping, there just seemed to be something else going on. What about the clandestine gathering of 'spies' and the feeling that there was something either supernatural or psychological at play. To think that it is a simple detective show would be to underestimate Colin Farrell and his willingness to take chances. I'm sure it's going to divide people, good. I for one am loving the combination of old school story with a plot twist unlike anything you may have seen before. It's great, it could go in so many directions from here, I'm hooked!

I wanted to and was hoping to really like this. I like good old Colin. The best part about this show is the opening 5 mins. First episode was interesting when he takes on the case. I don't know what it is about this show. It's just incredibly dull.

As somebody else says it's trying to be a cross between LA Confidential and China town but with out the charm, the snappy PI dialogue of old.

I'm going to go watch Maltese Falcon again, it at least inspired me to do that.

It's a no from me.

........

I wanted to and was hoping to really like this. I like good old Colin. The best part about this show is the opening 5 mins. First episode was interesting when he takes on the case. I don't know what it is about this show. It's just incredibly dull.

As somebody else says it's trying to be a cross between LA Confidential and China town but with out the charm, the snappy PI dialogue of old.

I'm going to go watch Maltese Falcon again, it at least inspired me to do that.

It's a no from me.

I wasn't sure about casting Colin Farrell as an old style Phillip Marlow detective before watching this series but have been pleasantly surprised. He is following in some big shoes though really makes this his own. The self referencing clips from old black and white film noir are excellent and reinforce the style of this series. This script isn't as predictable as many are and has a pleasing amount of twists to keep you watching week to week. Pacing myself has never been a strong point and I'm glad I've been made to wait otherwise I would have binged all episodes by now.

I hope this gets more series as the chemistry is good and I know by the end I'll be left wanting more. No.

Well, it was going so well. Colin Farrell was in fine form. The noir detective genre and writing were both great. Directors Fernando Meirelles and Adam Arkin were excellent. The supporting cast: Amy Ryan, Dennis Boutsikaris, James Cromwell, Anna Gunn, Eric Lange were all top notch. Then, Episode 6: Go Home happened and everything went fatally wrong for me. Now, clearly, we knew they were holding back a major plot point. We knew there was another big shoe yet to fall. But when it was revealed, it turned me right off this series. I audibly said: Oh no!

So, I'm done with this series 6 episodes in!

I wanted to like this show because Colin Farrell is an excellent actor and I love detective/noir films. Ferrel is good in this show but ALL, and I mean ALL, the other actors are terrible. There's not one supporting actor that gives a believable performance....except the dog. The dog shows a lot of appropriate emotions without over acting. I would definitely watch another show with this fabulous dog. His acting skills are comparable to Snoop from Anatomy of a Fall. They're both good boys!

Back to the other supporting actors: I'm not sure if they're trying to be campy but they come off as cheesy sitcom actors from the 90s.

I've seen the first two episodes but I'm not sure I'll watch the 3rd once it's released.

I will always say, the people who leave bad reviews i bet they are not even watched the movie or tv show or whatever, they are robots, frustrated and lonely persons who like to show there frustrations online rather than fix there personal problems to live a better life, it's not cool to say negative things about something that's actually good or very good, some people might believe your "review" and the interest in watching it is from high to low because of some internet bots who really don't care about nothing, specially there own problems. I always said that the best way is to watch and see for yourself before you read the reviews, you will realize that the "bad reviewers" are really internet bots and you almost got fooled by them, don't let them influence your interests, that's what they do.