I have to admit that when the first season of Sugar revealed what many had dismissed as nothing more than an absurd internet theory, my reaction was less one of delight and more of bewilderment. I spent much of the final stretch trying to understand why an elegant homage to film noir had suddenly decided to become something nobody had asked for: a science-fiction story about aliens observing humanity.

And yet, here we are two years later. Apple not only renewed the series, but seems determined to turn John Sugar into a recurring figure, almost a Philip Marlowe from the stars.

It is worth remembering that everything began in a far more conventional way. Producer Jonathan Siegel hired renowned private investigator John Sugar (Colin Farrell) to find his missing granddaughter, Olivia. While the family appeared strangely unconcerned and willing to blame drugs for her disappearance, the sensitive and unusually empathetic detective sensed there was something much darker at play.

As the episodes unfolded, the narrative delved deeper into conspiracies, murders, and a gallery of eccentric characters, all wrapped in loving references to classic cinema. But gradually, subtle clues suggested that the biggest mystery was not Olivia’s disappearance at all, but John Sugar himself.

The revelation that Sugar and his companions were visitors from another world transformed the series into something entirely unexpected. A new genre seemed to emerge: sci-noir, an unlikely blend of science fiction and detective storytelling that few viewers knew they wanted. Suddenly, Olivia became almost secondary to the questions that truly mattered. Who were these observers? Why were they on Earth? Who received their reports? And what had happened to Djen, Sugar’s missing sister?

By the time the first season ended, it felt as though there were far more questions than answers. Henry, Sugar’s friend and colleague, was revealed to be behind the crimes involving Olivia and also responsible for Djen’s disappearance. While the others returned home — wherever that home might be — Sugar chose to remain on Earth to search for his sister.

At the time, I found myself wondering whether Apple would really invest in a second season.

The answer, apparently, is yes.

Those expecting a direct continuation of the Siegel story, however, may be surprised. Season two leaves behind most of the original cast and introduces an entirely new investigation. This time, John Sugar will be searching for the missing brother of a promising young boxer, in a mystery that once again takes him into the darkest corners of Los Angeles.

The cast has also been largely refreshed, with Tony Dalton, Laura Donnelly, Jin Ha, Raymond Lee, Sasha Calle and Shea Whigham joining Colin Farrell.

At first glance, it may look like a radical departure. But perhaps the opposite is true. The impression is that Sugar wants to become something closer to the classic detective series of the past, in which the same investigator moves from one mystery to another while carrying his own unresolved demons.

And those demons are still very much present. The search for Djen remains unfinished, as does the mythology surrounding the extraterrestrial observers. The difference is that the series seems less interested in providing immediate answers and more focused on establishing John Sugar as an enduring character.

Curiously, time itself has turned the existence of this second season into a small victory for the concept. Because, however strange that 2024 twist may have been, few recent television series have dared to take such a leap.

And whether one loved or hated the result, it is hard to deny that sci-noir may well be the genre we never knew we wanted.