This put up comprises main spoilers for the Apple TV+ sequence “Sugar.” Like, actually gigantic spoilers.
The web has been buzzing with potential theories about John Sugar (Colin Farrell) and his actual id for weeks, however the latest episode of “Sugar” confirms one of many greatest guesses that is been floating round for some time: Personal investigator John Sugar is an alien.
“[Character] has been an alien the entire time” is true up there with “[character] has been useless the entire time,” or “this whole present has been a dream” when it comes to essentially the most paradigm-shifting, world-shaking reveals a tv sequence can execute, however reveals not often have the audacity to offer their audiences with such a large misdirect. The final time I can consider a present pulling off a twist this huge was in 2017, when “The Good Place” revealed that its characters had been truly within the Unhealthy Place for the whole thing of season 1. However even that twist felt prefer it was inside the bounds of the universe through which that present was working; this one feels so monumental as a result of it completely adjustments the DNA of what this present even is.
For many of its runtime, “Sugar” episode 6 merely felt like a extra suspenseful, action-forward episode than the 5 that preceded it. However after my substantial shock on the closing shot, through which Sugar reverts to his true alien type in entrance of a mirror in his resort room, lastly started to dissipate, some items started to fall into place. Nagging observations grew to become clear, and lingering questions had been all of a sudden answered. Listed here are only a few of the important thing moments within the present — some refined and a few not-so-subtle — that, in hindsight, had been tipping us off to Sugar’s alien heritage.
Sugar’s opening narration has a twin that means
Apple TV+
“I do not like hurting folks. It is true,” Sugar tells the viewers within the first strains of his voiceover narration within the pilot episode. “This world has greater than sufficient struggling with out additional contributions from me.” The phrases “folks” and “this world” tackle a complete new tenor once you understand Sugar’s an alien. He is telling us who he’s, albeit extraordinarily subtly, proper from the beginning.
Colin Farrell’s John Sugar cannot get drunk
Apple TV+
Within the first episode, after matching Melanie drink for drink at a bar, she complains that he is stone-cold sober whereas she’s completely drunk. “I’ve a … unusual metabolism,” Sugar explains. His physique “processes alcohol at a price 50 instances sooner than regular,” which prevents him from mainly ever getting drunk. On the time, I chalked it as much as a personality quirk — one thing to additional subvert the trope of the down-and-out, drunk P.I. who steadily populated the noir movies Sugar loves a lot. However after the reveal, this quirk makes far more sense. “Unusual metabolism,” certainly.
(In that very same dialog, Melanie says she enjoys sci-fi motion pictures, and he or she additionally tells Sugar there’s extra to him than meets the attention. “You might have secrets and techniques, and you retain issues hidden,” she says. Madam, you don’t have any thought!)
Sugar’s drug use is not what it appears
Apple TV+
On the finish of the pilot episode, we see Sugar inject himself with a substance and lay on his resort mattress. Naturally, I assumed this was the identical sort of drug use that always pops up in status reveals like this, akin to how Clive Owen’s character self-medicated with heroin in “The Knick.” As that injection scene performed out, I keep in mind considering that the syringe Sugar used appeared somewhat unconventional, however I did not give it any extra thought than that — till we see what actually occurs when he injects himself on the finish of episode 6. The props division hinted at one thing being “off” with the design of that syringe, however did not overplay their hand. Properly achieved.
He stopped these Dobermans fairly simply in Sugar episode 6
Apple TV+
As Sugar approaches Stallings’ home in episode 6, the villain’s assault canine come roaring across the nook, barking furiously. However as quickly as they lock eyes with our protagonist, he quietly shushes them and stops them of their tracks. Certain, perhaps Sugar has merely watched a whole lot of “Canine Whisperer” … or perhaps these canine react that means as a result of my man is a mom effin’ alien.
That blood bag appeared awfully unusual
Apple TV+
In episode 6, when Henry is treating Sugar’s wounds, Henry sends Melanie out to the drug retailer to buy some provides. As quickly as she leaves, he locks the lavatory door with Sugar inside and tosses a blood bag down on the counter — one which not solely has an indecipherable label on it, however the blood itself contained in the bag appears … nearly alive, in some way. It’d simply be air bubbles contained in the bag, however then once more, it may very well be that Sugar’s alien blood operates somewhat in a different way than ours. It is a fast shot, proving as soon as once more that “Sugar” shouldn’t be a present that you may watch passively if you wish to observe all of its probably explosive particulars.
Sugar appeared to dam a bullet together with his hand
Apple TV+
Throughout the huge confrontation with Stallings and his crew, Sugar is on his knees with a gun close to his head, about to be executed on the lounge ground. However when Stallings offers the order to one among his cronies to fireside, Sugar mainly slaps the bullet out of the air, redirecting it throughout the room earlier than killing everybody. That is the kind of factor I’d sometimes have rewound, as a result of it undoubtedly stood out as a “wait a second, how precisely did that occur?” second, but it surely’s a testomony to the writing (from “Raised By Wolves” alum Donald Joh and “Breaking Unhealthy” alum Sam Catlin) and the course of the episode (by “Metropolis of God” helmer Fernando Meirelles) that the story held my consideration lengthy sufficient to override that impulse and take me by means of all the best way to the tip, the place, after all, the massive reveal occurs.
(Within the opening minutes of the primary episode, Sugar additionally snatches a fly out of the air with chopsticks; on the time, I form of rolled my eyes at that, however in hindsight, it was giving us a glimpse into the preternatural pace he would use in that bullet scene.)
Will Sugar have the ability to stick the touchdown?
Apple TV+
The artistic group behind “Sugar” simply took one of many greatest potential swings they may with this story. Now, with two episodes left within the season, we simply want to attend and see if their swing truly connects. Personally, I am rooting for ’em.
New episodes of “Sugar” debut on Apple TV+ each Friday.
