Sugar concluded its tumultuous second season on August 7, leaving audiences with a heap of pressing questions as the final credits fade.
Warning: Spoilers follow for Sugar Season 2, Episode 8.
Let’s rewind: John Sugar, played by Colin Farrell, wrapped up the chaos after surviving the Fire Sale incident, which included eliminating Lieutenant Vega (Tony Dalton) and the subsequent arrest of those involved. As this chapter ended, Sugar aimed to pursue a blossoming romance with Charlotte, portrayed by Laura Donnelly. However, a jaw-dropping twist revealed she was not who she seemed. Charlotte had known Sugar’s identity long before their paths crossed and was, in fact, working for his sister, Djen (Mireille Enos). Unbeknownst to Sugar, Djen never left Earth and is very much alive!
While relieved his sister is safe, Sugar is mortified to discover she isn’t the same. Djen, having invested years in developing a weather-controlling technology, has sold it to a select group under the guise of combating global warming. Yet, what she confides in Sugar is that her true intention with the technology has a darker side.
Colin Farrell shared with Decider over Zoom, “Finding her was almost more devastating than her disappearance, because she’s altered. It’s a change he can’t quite pinpoint. They barely reunite when it’s clear there’s a threatening undercurrent. He’s scared because of her immense intellect and potential. There’s a shadow over her now that is baffling to him. Exploring their connection in potential future seasons, contemplating how they might find each other again, fascinates me.”
“There’s a darkness that’s fallen over her that he doesn’t quite understand. So the idea of how to bring them back together or what kind of contact they would have in future seasons, if we get to explore them… is really interesting to me.”
Colin Farrell, Sugar
As of Sugar‘s Season 2 finale day, Apple TV had yet to renew the series for a third season. But should Sugar get the green light, Farrell and showrunner/EP Sam Catlin feel there’s more of John Sugar’s story left to explore, and includuing his layered relationship with Djen.
“We wanted her to be a character that had power and agency, and wasn’t just a damsel in distress. And someone worthy of Sugar’s admiration, and certainly his love. The more we talked, we were like, ‘What if she actually has more than agency? Maybe she set up the whole thing, and she’s quite powerful and a cautionary tale for Sugar going forward. Like, what can happen when you stay too long?’” Catlin told Decider. “She also has certain personality traits that Sugar doesn’t, in terms of ambition and greed, and all of those things that are going to make her a real problem for him going forward.”
By the end of Season 2’s finale, Sugar was reeling from the emotional whiplash of finding, then losing his sister again. But Djen wasn’t the only women weighing on him. Charlotte’s betrayal left him heartbroken and questioning if their romance was all an act.
“I think 100%, her feelings were genuine. And I think that is the complication for Charlotte. As time goes on through the course of the season, she’s more and more torn, because she has genuinely fallen in love with this man,” Donnelly told Decider. “For her, the hope that she managed to continue was that maybe he would want to come on board. Because I think she also does genuinely believe that she’s doing the right thing following Djen’s plan for the world. I think she had hope there that those two things could come together. When it becomes really clear that that’s not the case, I think that that will be devastating for both Charlotte and Sugar. Do I think that there could be a future reconciliation? I’d love to think so, but that’s not my call.”
“I think 100%, her feelings were genuine. And I think that is the complication for Charlotte. As time goes on through the course of the season, she’s more and more torn, because she has genuinely fallen in love with this man.”
Laura Donnelly, Sugar
If Sugar does land a Season 3 renewal, both stars adored sharing scenes together. So it seems like Charlotte’s return has real potential, especially if she’s still working with Djen. Story-wise, Farrell also told Decider that he had a “lovely” time portraying the new side of Sugar that explores romance despite the dangers.
“It was lots of fun to play a sincerely awkward [man], because he doesn’t even just let himself fall in love. He can’t help but fall. You’re out of control. There’s nothing to grip. You’re falling. And so he finds himself there, swimming in these waters that he’s never swam in before. And it’s as it can be in the world of romance. It’s intoxicating, euphoric, confounding, nerve-wracking, all those things,” the star/EP said. “He finds himself in a very uncomfortable position with Charlotte. And Laura was just amazing to work with. She just brought so much truth to everything, and heart, and humor, and sensuality. She really carried herself as a throwback to a bygone era in a way. That sensuality of the femme fatale, but also the sweetness as well.”
A longtime fan of Farrell’s work, Donnelly echoed the sentiment. “I think he’s really one of the greats. In terms of the acting, it was so free and easy. Everything just felt like it was there to be played with. He’s very generous as an actor, and made everything feel very spontaneous. I really just had to react to the truth behind his eyes,” she recalled. “He brings such grace, and humor, and generosity, and time for everybody. And I think a huge aspect of it is that he has absolutely still got a completely unsinkable wonder at the process of making film and TV. He loves working with the crew. He makes everybody feel like it’s somewhere they want to be. And his treatment of everybody else really sets the bar.”
While fans wait for updates on future of the compelling Apple TV, here’s what we know about a potential Sugar Season 3.
Sugar Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV.