Fernando Meirelles does an amazing job directing Sugar, the awesome new detective show on Apple TV+. His lively way of showing things makes the eight-part series stand out from other similar shows on regular TV. Colin Farrell plays a cool private investigator in Los Angeles who’s trying to find a missing girl. Sugar pays tribute to classic detective stories while also adding some fun twists. It’s cool because it gets you involved in solving the mystery and makes you curious about its stylish look.
Meirelles, along with his partners Adam Arkin and Mark Protosevich, made a bold choice in Sugar. They mixed in scenes from old detective movies that match what the main character, John Sugar, is going through. For example, when he drives on Hollywood Boulevard, they show old clips of the same place from an old movie. And when he talks with his love interest, played by Amy Ryan, they sneak in a quick shot from Vertigo. This editing style is lively and unique, something you don’t see often in streaming shows where everything usually looks the same.
Sugar review: Colin Farrell shines as the main character, a detective in Los Angeles. The show is directed with flair by Oscar nominee Fernando Meirelles
Dieter Rams
Sugar is a bit mysterious. He’s really into movies, almost obsessed with them. Sometimes, he talks like the old detectives he admires, giving his own story a tough-guy vibe. He gets excited when he sees Glenn Ford’s gun from The Big Heat. We meet him in the middle of a job in Tokyo, Japan. He finds a girl who was kidnapped by a Yakuza member, beats up the kidnapper, gets paid a lot of money, and goes back to Los Angeles. Soon after, a famous Hollywood producer hires him to find his granddaughter, who often disappears for long periods.
Firstly, it introduces us to Meirelles’ unique way
This beginning part has a few reasons for being there. Firstly, it introduces us to Meirelles’ unique way of telling stories. Secondly, it tells us some important things about Sugar. He’s serious and doesn’t mess around, but he has a complex view of violence. He’s skilled at what he does and speaks many languages, but he’s also just like any other person
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Sugar lives a luxurious life, staying in a fancy hotel, driving a classic car, and wearing expensive suits. But in the first episode, we see him form a real connection with a homeless man and his dog. This kind of moment is rare in regular TV shows because it doesn’t push the story forward. However, it tells us a lot more about Sugar than any long explanation could. A lesser show might have someone list all of Sugar’s achievements, like his time in the Vietnam War or a crazy story about him using a fork as a weapon, but that would feel forced.
Episode one is like a masterclass in starting a show. It’s exciting, creative, and Colin Farrell is outstanding in the main role. His performance is subtle but captures all the right feelings – guilt, determination, vulnerability, sadness, and most importantly, kindness. It’s important for us to see Sugar as a genuinely good person – like a hero from an old movie by Billy Wilder. The show works hard to make sure we trust him and focus on the big surprise it’s leading up to. This surprise is different from how the story ends, which will depend on how much you’ve enjoyed the show so far. Some might find the twist hard to accept, even though a little sweetness can make it easier to handle a tough situation.
Sugar moves slowly towards it, not too quickly — the pace slows down in the middle episodes, even as we get more hints about who Sugar really is. Is he truly alone? Does he really have no family? Who is this sister Jen he mentions? His dislike of violence must mean something more. The answers come in episode six, which might surprise some viewers. Even though the show doesn’t change completely after this twist, everything that comes after is seen in a new light because of the new information we’ve learned; everything we’ve seen so far is understood differently.
As things start to fall into place, exciting new possibilities emerge. The first season is neatly wrapped up with a well-crafted beginning, middle, and end. It feels whole and very satisfying. But there’s a feeling that Sugar could evolve into something different in the future, as it explores deeper questions about humanity. What does it really mean to be human? Is ugliness, both in character and appearance, necessary for survival? Get ready for an interesting ride.
Sugar
Created by Mark Protosevich
Starring Colin Farrell, Amy Ryan, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Anna Gunn, Nate Corddry, Dennis Boutsikaris, James Cromwell
Rating: 4.5/5