Apple TV+’s latest original show, Sugar, features one of the biggest sci-fi twists in recent memory, making the theories for a potential season 2 all the more intriguing. Starring Colin Farrell as the titular John Sugar, a private investigator living in Los Angeles, the series unfolds like a classic film noir about the disappearance of a movie producer’s granddaughter. The show draws inspiration from the great movies of the genre like L.A. Confidential, Chinatown, Mulholland Drive, and many more. Sugar might be set in the present day, but it’s reminiscent of a glittering time gone by.

The Sugar season 1 ending left the audience with more questions than answers, but this only makes the anticipation for season 2 grow stronger. Though the series has not officially been renewed for a second season as yet, Apple TV hasn’t squashed calls for its return. Considering how many recent TV series have gained large followings due to their genre-bending approach to storytelling, Sugar is a solid contender for one of the most memorable shows of 2024. Though the twist came later in the show than audiences anticipated, it was as satisfying as the creators promised.

Colin Farrell’s best movie and TV show roles prepared him for playing John Sugar, the P.I. harboring a secret that can only be seen to be believed. In episode 6, Sugar sheds his human-like appearance and shows the viewer what he truly is, an alien sent to Earth with an objective that remains a mystery until the very end. From there, Sugar only delves deeper into its science fiction elements and the mystery at the heart of the story. As his connection to humanity grows, Sugar starts questioning what he knows as right and wrong.

6

John Has Something To Do With His Sister’s Kidnapping

Whether he’s aware of it or not

The Sugar episode 6 twist was when audiences learned that John Sugar and the Polyglots were aliens, but the show didn’t stop there. Discovering the sci-fi origins of the story was only the tip of the iceberg, as John’s ultimate purpose is solving the disappearance of his sister, Djen, who’s also an alien. Subtle and overt hints have been dropped about who might have taken her, but little is known about why, or if she’s still alive. Season 2 could raise the stakes with the even more shocking twist that John Sugar isn’t innocent in the kidnapping of his sister.

Based on how John feels about her and his desire to get her back, it’s possible that he’s harboring a lot of pent-up guilt because something he did led to her abduction. Conversely, John might have been coerced into hurting his sister and blocked out the memory because it was so painful. Knowing that Henry, John’s greatest antagonist in the series, knows something about what happened to Djen only makes it more frustrating for John that he’s in the dark. However, uncovering the truth might be just as unsettling. Or, even worse, if he finds out Djen is gone.

5

Melanie Suspects John Is Hiding Something

She’ll discover his real identity in season 2

The relationship between Melanie and John can be credited with helping John realize just how human he has become and how much he cares for humanity. He’s been open about his feelings for Melanie, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he asked her to come with him if and when he leaves Los Angeles. Though Melanie doesn’t have all the superhuman abilities that John does, she holds her own and is helpful in an investigation when the chips are down. Additionally, their romantic arc will have more time to take center stage now that the biggest twists are known.

While John easily passes for a human in everyday settings, spending more time with Melanie and being in close quarters would mean concealing his alien origins would get more challenging. Trusting her with his secret would be risky considering the hit that’s been put out on his kind following his intervention in Olivia’s abduction. However, Melanie could be a vital asset moving forward, and sharing the truth with her would bring them closer together than ever before. If their relationship continues in season 2, Melanie will figure out that something’s afoot whether or not he tells her.

4

Henry’s Hiding Djen

Which will take John on a journey across America, and possibly the world

Sugar season 1’s shooting locations were predominantly on location in Los Angeles, referencing the great film noirs that were also shot in the heart of Hollywood. The Sugar season 1 finale saw Henry and John at odds because of Henry’s involvement in Olivia’s disappearance. Additionally, John’s suspicions grow when he finds Djen’s robe in Henry’s house. This is a clear message that Henry is either harboring Djen or knows something about her kidnapping. Either way, it’s the best lead John has had in the case since his sister went missing, and he’ll stop at nothing trying to track Henry down.

However, there’s a long road ahead of John as Henry has a head start, and John’s empathy will likely create many hiccups along his journey. John needs to be single-minded in his pursuit of Henry, which will take him outside Los Angeles and into the wider world. Unfortunately, John will only find more pain and suffering in his path, and he’s become the kind of man who does what’s right and helps people when he can. This outlook is what Henry will rely on to ensure that John never catches up to him and finds Djen.

3

The Polyglots Wanted To Leave Henry & John Behind

Neither one of them was ready to fit into their utopian society

Throughout the series, the Polyglots claim the reason they came to Earth is to learn from humans and make sure not to make the same mistakes when perfecting their own society. Their core tenant, “observe and report,” was something neither John nor Henry did perfectly. While John sees himself as the good guy and Henry as the villain, in the eyes of the Polyglots, both men fail to learn from humanity, instead succumbing to their own human-like impulses. Each of them believes they stay on Earth of their own volition, if for vastly different reasons.

However, in reality, it could have been the plan of the Polyglots all along. They knew that Henry was hurting others and wanted him gone, so they ensured John would find the evidence linking Henry to the disappearance of both Olivia and Djen. With the two upstarts safely back on Earth with no way to return to their home planet, the Polyglots can rest assured that nothing will disrupt their plans. Unfortunately for them, since John and Henry developed human feelings, there would be more aliens like them hiding within the ranks of those who left Earth.

2

The Pact Between Humans And Aliens Runs Deep

Ruby briefly mentions the pact of the Polyglots but doesn’t elaborate

It’s unlikely that audiences have seen the last of Ruby even though she boarded the aircraft and left Earth along with the other Polyglots. If the Polyglots are gone for good, this would be a shame, especially because of the great dynamic between Sugar and Ruby that develops as the show progresses. However, before she leaves, Ruby does hint at a key piece of information that has been puzzling audiences ever since. She mentions a pact between Polyglots and humans, and this pact is the reason that they’re driven from Earth in such a hurry.

This pact could mean many things and doesn’t necessarily connect to the conspiracy surrounding Djen and other missing aliens, but it would be a coincidence if it didn’t. A pact like this indicates that humans high up in government institutions are aware of them and made some sort of deal in exchange for the Polyglots being able to live on Earth and collect information. Hopefully, this is a harmless exchange of resources and ideas, but that’s likely wishful thinking. The darker explanation would be that humans take aliens like Djen to experiment on in exchange for the other’s immunity.

1

Other Alien Species Are Hiding On Earth

The Polyglots are not the first and won’t be the last

If Sugar is going to top its season 1 twist and cliffhanger, the writers have their work cut out for them. Though plenty of hints were dropped about the truth of John Sugar’s identity, his alien reveal is something fans of the show aren’t likely to forget. However, now that the Polyglots have left Earth, it would be a huge letdown if the alien angle completely disappeared from the show. The existence of the Polyglots points to the theory that other aliens are hiding and living among humans on Earth, observing the same way Sugar’s allies and enemies were.

Henry’s behavior signifies that not all aliens are neutral or simply want to collect data about humans. They could be violent and sociopathic like Henry, or they could care deeply for humanity like Sugar. Additionally, in the season 1 finale, Sugar mentions that he’s worried Henry will start amassing a following of like-minded humans. However, it would be even worse if some of these followers and allies were other aliens. While this would be worse for Sugar and his journey to track Henry down, it would keep the show exciting and retain the sci-fi elements that make it unique.