TV Show review
Review basis: 2 seasons, 16 episodes · through June 25, 2026
April 4, 2024 · TV-MA · Returning Series
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
John Sugar is a smooth private investigator in Los Angeles who searches for missing people while hiding the secret that he is actually an alien. Over two seasons, he navigates a dark web of corporate power, kidnapping, and human trafficking. The show features a highly diverse cast and highlights John's sidekicks, who are explicitly portrayed as lesbian or played by queer actors. These background LGBTQ+ character details are the main modern identity elements in an otherwise traditional sci-fi detective story.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Sugar.
Woke representation / casting
The show features a diverse modern cast including Kirby Howell-Baptiste as John’s handler Ruby. However, the most distinct casting signal is Sugar's selection of assistants: in Season 1, he hires Charlie, a butch lesbian played by Paula Andrea Placido, and in Season 2, he replaces her with Vai, played by openly queer actress Sasha Calle. Because LGBTQ+ representation is prioritized for these sidekick roles, this category receives an elevated score.
Woke political dialogue
Woke political dialogue is virtually absent from the series. Unlike many modern streaming shows, the characters do not lecture the audience on contemporary identity politics, systemic racism, climate change, or patriarchy. The dialogue stays firmly rooted in traditional neo-noir tropes, character-driven mysteries, and the philosophical sci-fi question of what it means to be human.
Identity-driven story themes
The overarching plot focuses on John's alien nature, which serves as a traditional sci-fi metaphor for isolation and finding where one belongs. It does not employ modern activist identity politics or lecture the audience about systemic oppression. However, the background inclusion of a lesbian sidekick adds a minor, incidental LGBTQ+ element to the narrative's character circle, warranting a mild score.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Production
The series features classic neo-noir tropes, including corrupt Hollywood elites and human trafficking. However, these elements represent standard genre conventions rather than a modern activist critique of capitalism, whiteness, patriarchy, or Western institutions. The show avoids reframing these crimes into systemic political lectures or targeting traditional social norms.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. Sugar is an original television series created by Mark Protosevich. It is not an adaptation of existing source material, a book, or historical events, so there are no character or canon changes to evaluate.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
There is no notable anti-woke backlash or political controversy surrounding the series. Public discussion has focused almost entirely on the show's sudden genre-shifting alien twist in the first season and Colin Farrell's performance, completely bypassing typical culture-war debates.
Creator track record context
The key creative team has a very mild political track record. Creator Mark Protosevich and showrunner Sam Catlin have very low woke scores (0 and 13 respectively) with no history of activist filmmaking. While executive producer and star Colin Farrell has a history of public advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights in Ireland, the rest of the crew, including the writers and directors, primarily focus on traditional genre filmmaking without activist signaling.
