Sugar Ending Explained: Does John Sugar Leave the Earth?

‘Sugar’ season finale aired on Apple TV+ on May 17, 2024, and the final episode of the series continues after John Sugar (Colin Farrell) finds Olivia Siegel (Sydney Chandler) in the basement of Ryan Pavich’s (Cameron Cowperthwaite) house.

John recovers Olivia, who was being tortured along with other girls, in the basement, where he also finds CDs of Pavich’s recordings where he would articulate his wrongdoings.

As John and Ruby (Kirby) prepare to leave the planet, Ruby tells John that she knew about Pavich all along but could not tell him about it. Meanwhile, Miller who had left early gets shot by a police person. Ruby tells John that they are leaving the same day. 

John visits the Siegel family, where Jonathan Siegel offers him a position as head of security, which he refuses. In talking with Jonathan, he hints at Olivia possibly being Jonathan’s daughter but refuses to take this any further because of all that Olivia has been through.

Sugar, however, feels that another person was involved with Pavich, and there is more to it than meets the eye. Can Sugar solve the mystery before leaving the planet?

1. Does John Sugar tell Melanie his secret?

John and Melanie (Amy Ryan) have built quite the chemistry over the period John has been looking for Olivia. John finds a confidante in Melanie and doesn’t quite know what to make of the relationship.

For one final time, he meets Melanie before leaving and confides in her about his sister Djen’s (Maeve Whalen) disappearance. Just as he is leaving, he takes a moment to hold Melanie’s hand and transfers some information in a silent moment that turns both their eyes blue.

John sighs a sigh of relief after possibly telling her about his identity. In his inner monologue, he says he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone but is glad he did.

2. Is Henry Involved with Ryan Pavich in Apple TV+ ‘Sugar’?

Henry, played by Jason Butler Harner, is John Sugar’s friend who helped him when he was injured in the sixth Episode. As it turns out, Henry wasn’t just involved with Ryan Pavich but was also the one who took Djen.

John Sugar plays the CDs he found at Pavich’s place nonstop and hears how someone there is taking notes. He confirms with Olivia that there were two people in the basement. A line spoken by Ryan in the recording reminds him of something Henry had once told him.

When John takes the call with Henry, the latter already knows that John is onto him, and he tells him the truth about Djen, too. Henry tells John that it was their mission to observe, and he was just observing with Pavich all along.

3. Why doesn’t Sugar go home?

After learning the truth about Henry and that he is staying on Earth, John decides against returning home despite missing it. Ruby tells him that she was aware of Henry being involved all along.

John says that he is beginning to feel more human, with all the emotions that human beings express. He would like to stay here and pursue Henry to find out the truth about his sister.

4. What Can We Expect From Season 2?

As John Sugar stays back on Earth, a second season of Sugar may be made, showing more of his adventures.

He tells Ruby that his sole intention is to find Henry and, eventually, his younger sister, meaning that a clash between the two men who were once friends will occur. Since both have developed human behavior and tendencies, neither will follow non-violent means in case of a fight.

Apart from this central plot point, nothing else from season 1 can be expected to be seen in season 2. Especially the relationships that Sugar made over the last eight episodes will no longer be present in season 2, as he bids farewell to each of them.

Although he has grown attached to Melanie and even gives her a brief glimpse of his real alien self in the end, the two characters will never meet again. In this regard, John Sugar can be expected to make new friends and form new bonds in season 2 if and when it arrives.

5. About Sugar

Sugar is an 8-part American drama television series created by Mark Protosevich, directed by Fernando Meirelles, and starring Colin Farrell who also serves as executive producer. It premiered on Apple TV+ on April 5, 2024.

It is described as “a genre-bending contemporary take on the private detective story set in Los Angeles”.