Viewers in search of something peculiar and intriguing that warns you of its imminent plot twists might enjoy the neo-noir thriller “Sugar” streaming its first two episodes today on Apple TV+.
First among its oddities is the casting of Colin Farrell as the contemporary Los Angeles detective John Sugar. Last seen in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” the brooding Irish actor buries his brogue in a flat, accentless American voice used most frequently to propel the story with voiceovers.
Sugar is first seen in a black-and-white flashback in Tokyo, where he’s helped a powerful gangster retrieve his child from an inept kidnapper. Finding the missing is Sugar’s mission. His next assignment brings him to the home of Jonathan Seigel (James Cromwell), an elderly Hollywood mogul whose films Sugar has all but memorized.
It’s at this moment that Sugar’s odd personality quirks come to the surface. On one level, he’s a smooth and stylish L.A. detective, outfitted in expensive suits and driving vintage cars. His handler, Ruby (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), seems to be a protective mother hen. Protecting him from exactly what? She’d like him to take some time off, and buy a home. Instead, Sugar likes to be cossetted in an expensive bungalow hotel. Convinced he needs protection, Ruby buys Sugar a gun, but not just any pistol. It’s the gun Glenn Ford used in a vintage film. Sugar is obsessed with films and seems to think — or daydream —cinematically.
Mogul Siegel hires Sugar to find his missing granddaughter Olivia (Sydney Chandler), whose father is also a producer, but of much lesser films. Sugar spends a boozy evening with her former stepmother Melanie (Amy Ryan), a rock star past her prime.
Chief among Sugar’s quirks are his virtues. He won’t take advantage of Melanie’s come-hither glances because she’s drunk. He comes to the aid of homeless people and other strangers. Apparently, Sugar can speak any language. He’s a private eye who hates violence, but can handle himself when challenged.
What gives with this guy, anyway?
Given the sum of his parts, Sugar is strange enough to seem over-the-top, but intriguing enough to keep us interested. He may be looking for Olivia. We’re too busy trying to figure out the mystery at the heart of “Sugar.”
— Starz launches the limited series “Mary & George” (9 p.m., TV-MA). Julianne Moore stars in this period costume drama as Mary Villiers, a widow who steers her handsome son (Nicholas Galitzine) into an intimate (and scandalous) relationship with Britain’s King James I (Tony Curran), the royal whose reign (1603-1625) is best remembered for the English translation of the Bible that still bears his name.
While “Mary” strives for period details, the script trades in anachronistically profane dialogue, leaning closer to “The Sopranos” than “Wolf Hall.”
— Hulu imports the BBC comedy “Dinosaur.” Set in Glasgow, it mines uncomfortable comedy from the relationship between sisters. Operating on the autism spectrum, Nina (Ashley Storrie) channels her talents as a paleontologist at a Glasgow museum. She’s entirely too dependent on the routine that she’s established with her sister and best friend, Evie (Kat Ronney), and is completely blindsided by Evie’s impetuous engagement to a man she’s only known for six weeks.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— “American Masters” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) profiles publisher and political provocateur William F. Buckley Jr., whose magazine National Review and TV series “Firing Line” popularized conservative ideas in the mid-20th century when the post-New Deal liberal consensus was most dominant and seemingly unassailable. The second of two celebrations of 20th century intellectuals that began last Friday with a “Masters” profile of Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
— A federal investigation sends Erin to the horse track on “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
Director Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 adaptation of “Starship Troopers” (9 p.m., Vice, TV-14) straddles the line between political satire and camp.
SERIES NOTES
After a shooting, Hondo seeks payback on “S.W.A.T.” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … “Password” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) … “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) … A baby bottle monitor detects spoiled milk on “Shark Tank” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … A fire tornado threatens Edgewater on “Fire Country” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC) … “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC).
LATE NIGHT
Jimmy Fallon welcomes Glen Powell, Christian Slater and Arlo Parks on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Cecily Strong, Nicholas Galitzine and Greg Davies & Alex Horne visit “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) … Taylor Tomlinson hosts Rob Riggle, Adam Ray, Monet X Change on “After Midnight” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
