Olivia – The episode opens in Japan with Hideo (Taishi Mizuno) preparing food when he receives a call from Private Investigator John Sugar (Colin Farrell) claiming to have found his money. Seconds later, Sugar knocks on the door. Hideo reluctantly opens to find Sugar holding cash. When he offers a reward, Sugar refuses and shows him a photo of a missing boy, Yuma Kobayashi (Koya Harada). Hideo denies seeing Yuma. Locking the door, Sugar accuses him of sending a ransom note to Mr. Kobayashi but Masaki Hashimoto (Yoshio Maki) is Yuma’s biological father. He says Masaki is a Tokyo crime syndicate boss. Hideo grabs a knife off the table. Sugar threatens to call Masaki if Yuma is not handed over to him in two hours and urges him to get out of the country. Hideo attacks him with the knife. Sugar wrestles it away from him and chokes him out. While inspecting the damage to his suit and wound, he hears a shuffling in a nearby room. He find Machiko (Yuma  MizuI) and Yuma.

Masaki and Yuma are reunited. He gives Sugar a thick package and asks him to leave. Later, Sugar claims to dislike hurting people but finding missing people makes his job worth it. While out having a drink, he receives a message from Thomas Kinzey (Miguel Sandoval) asking him to meet with Hollywood producer, Jonathan Siegel (James Cromwell) at Gatos Avenue in Los Angeles, California. He makes eye contact with a man who he appears to know.

Sugar has a conversation with his driver, Munzer (Jamil Zraikat) en route to Gatos Avenue. Upon arrival, Sugar gives his doctor’s contact information to Munzer for his sick daughter. While walking toward the house, Sugar has an episode. He retrieves his phone and rings the doorbell. Ruby (Kirby) greets him. She gives him a letter from Helen and magazines. She says Kinzey called requesting his service but she told him that he was unavailable. He tells her about his visit with Jonathan. She reminds him of his promise to take a break from work after Tokyo. In a flashback, Jonathan says Emily Carpenter said he utilized the highest level of discretion when working for people like himself. He says his granddaughter, Olivia Siegel (Sydney Chandler) went missing two weeks ago. Sugar studies her photo. Jonathan explains how Olivia disappeared for sometimes months when she was addicted to drugs but she never failed to call. He claims they last saw each other a month before when they went to dinner to celebrate her two years of sobriety. He admits to having a heart condition and only cares about her.

Ruby demands Sugar take a break and not work for Jonathan. He stresses the need to find Olivia who reminds him of Djen. While unhappy with Sugar’s decision, she gives him a California PI license, driver’s license, and the gun utilized in “The Big Heat.” He asks if Glen Ford utilized the gun. She assures him that it is the real thing and insists he sees Doctor Vickers. He claims to feel great but she does not believe him. Before driving away in his favorite car, Sugar declines her offer to buy him a house because he likes the Del Corazon. Upon arrival at the Siegel’s condominium, Sugar meets the building manager, Gary Bascomb (Travis Richey). Gary tells him that Olivia’s vehicle was last used two weeks ago. He explains how the tenants’ vehicles are fitted with a gate opener, a device that records exits and arrivals. Gary escorts him to Olivia’s condo. Sugar asks for Olivia’s spare key and gives Gary his business card for emergencies.

Sugar is searching Olivia’s apartment when David Siegel (Nate Corddry) demanding to know why he is there. David’s guy, Kenny (Alex Hernandez) draws his gun. Sugar tells him that he is a PI hired by Jonathan and asks about his sequel to “The Boy in the Corner.” David claims Bernie Siegel (Dennis Boutsikaris) asked him to visit the condo to see if his half-sister, Olivia is back. Sugar asks if the spare key belongs to Bernie. David assures him that junkies never change. Sugar calls him a liar and asks him to leave. Alone again, Sugar questions who David is afraid of. Looking at Rachel Kaye’s photo, he sees sadness in her like her daughter, Olivia. He finds a January 2023, photo of Olivia and her stepmother, Melanie Matthews (Amy Ryan).

Step-Hi Lounge – Sugar pays a vagrant, Carl (Jon Beavers) to watch his vehicle. He spots Melanie at the bar and buys her a drink against the bartender’s (Avery Bagenstos) advice. After a few drinks, she invites him to take her home. Outside, he pays Carl who tells him about his sister, Sophie in Milwaukee. Sugar insists he utilizes his phone to call Sophie and tell her what is happening with him. He offers to buy him and Wiley a ticket to Milwaukee. Upon arrival, Melanie asks Sugar to make sure no one is waiting to assault her. After a quick search of the house, he says all is good and tries to leave but she insists they have a drink. She comes on to him but he declines the offer. Before leaving her passed out on the sofa, he writes something on the back of her and Olivia’s photo and turns an oldie on the TV. Seeing Kenny watching from a nearby vehicle, Sugar gives him his contact information and orders him to leave. He questions why David is having him followed.

Utilizing a diagnostic tool, Sugar accesses Olivia’s car and retrieves the data stored on the computer. He finds a man’s body in the trunk. While taking photos of the man, a motorcycle speeds out of the parking garage.

Hotel Del Corazon – Sugar is greeted by Clinton (Darwin Shaw). He puts the gun that Ruby gave him in the safe and installs cameras in and around his bungalow. Clinton drops off his luggage. Later, Consuelo (Marisa Echeverria) arrives with his food and an invitation to a party. He thinks about reuniting with his friends whom he avoids at all costs. Going through Olivia’s things, he finds a newspaper article about Rachel Kaye while she was working on “Pariah.” Rachel was killed by a drunk driver. He finds nude photos of her in Olivia’s things. He has an episode and believes his arm is bleeding. The episode passes while he is in the shower. Later, he injects medicine into his neck and falls asleep thinking of Olivia. The episode ends.

 

Sugar Synopsis

Sugar is a private investigator hired by important people to find their missing loved ones. After locating a missing Japanese boy, Yuma, Sugar returns to Los Angeles for another job prospect. Hollywood producer, Jonathan Siegel wants him to find his missing granddaughter, Olivia.

Concerned about Sugar’s health, Ruby demands he take a break before working on another case. Something about Olivia prevents Sugar from declining Jonathan’s job proposal. She insists he see Dr. Vickers but he ignores her and gets straight to work.

Sugar delves into Olivia’s past to learn her mother, Rachel Kaye, a famous actress, died in a car crash. He grows suspicious of Olivia’s half-brother, David who has him followed. Sugar tracks down Olivia’s stepmother, Melanie.

 

Sugar Review

The series combines scenes from classic films into a modern-day crime drama. The plot is not unique but interesting enough to draw in viewers. It also helps to have Colin Farrell as the lead actor. The intro and soundtrack are great.

While the plot is interesting, the execution is far from perfect. There is nothing worse than subpar cinematography and editing to ruin a decent show. The low-budget camerawork makes it nearly painful to watch.

The snail’s pace has a tendency to irk some viewers. Story progression is at times unbearably show. The acting is hit-and-miss, with some cast members reading their lines with empathy and true emotion.

 

The episode deserves a 6 out of 10. Get more Sugar recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss new and classic TV shows, crime, sports, and celebrity happenings.