Hollywood legend’s new detective series hailed as ‘best show of the century’

Colin Farrell ’s new TV series has received glowing reviews since it landed, with viewers hailing it as ‘utterly brilliant’. The Irish movie icon, 47, stars in the Apple TV+ drama as private detective John Sugar. An official synopsis for the detective series explains how Sugar ‘investigates the disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel.’ However, ‘as Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he unearths Siegel family secrets, old and new.’ Castleknock-born Farrell stars alongside Amy Ryan, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Sydney Chandler, and James Cromwell, to name just a few, with viewers already hooked despite the first two episodes only dropping on April 5. Taking to X to share their excitement, user WW2HistoryGal wrote: ‘The new Colin Farrell show SUGAR on AppleTV is utterly brilliant. The way they’ve filmed it, with films of old Hollywood and classic movies interspersed into the narrative, is so cool. And Farrell’s character is smart, cool, and very good at his Job as a PI. Highly recommend.’ TheCinesthetic described the series as ‘captivating and addictive’. ‘This show Sugar on Apple TV with Colin Farrell is great. He plays an American, so more proof that it’s not just the Irish accent — it’s the whole package. I’ve always loved Colin!’, wrote bingetheginge. User posaidwhat added: ‘Finished the first two episodes of Sugar on Apple TV and it’s fantastic so far!! Colin Farrell is fantastic in this. The writing is slick/sharp . The call backs to classic film noir is fantastic. There’s a lot of mystery to it already!!. Can’t wait to see how this goes’. As for critic reviews, Financial Times described the show as ‘an affectionate homage to the golden age of silver-screen crime dramas’. Dan Einav described Farrell’s performance as ‘delectable’, adding that there is’a rich sense of atmosphere’ that is ‘well complemented by sharp yet sinuous plotting’, plus a ‘cool aesthetic and jaded narration are balanced with pronounced melancholy and inner conflict.’ I can’t say much about it but I can say that if you don’t watch Sugar, the forthcoming series on Apple TV+ starring Colin Farrell, you are missing one of the best shows of the current century. And that is not an understatement. ‘Sugar’ on @AppleTV has one of the best opening episodes in a long time. Colin Farrell is full of swagger and vulnerability. A real neo-noir with old school investigative narration directed by Fernando Meirelles, who directed ‘City of God’. Hyped for the season 😍 pic.twitter.com/Xo3Sv5N49R Well what a bag of surprises #AppleTV is. I’m watching Colin Farrell in Sugar and it’s like a 60’s Detective Comic in modern day. It’s good to see a good series being made in 2024.. They have some great series on Apple better than anything on the BBC or ITV. pic.twitter.com/50oQUSuYRP The new noir mystery series “SUGAR” on Apple TV, starring Colin Farrell, is captivating and addictive. pic.twitter.com/6qBIAelMNW This show Sugar on Apple TV with Colin Farrell is great. He plays an American, so more proof that it’s not just the Irish accent — it’s the whole package. I’ve always loved Colin! pic.twitter.com/sfYuKOcSDA Finished the first two episodes of Sugar on Apple TV and it’s fantastic so far!! Colin Farrell is fantastic in this. The writing is slick/sharp . The call backs to classic film noir is fantastic. There’s a lot of mystery to it already!!. Can’t wait to see how this goes #Sugar pic.twitter.com/fVZKXy7il7 Alas, there’s one element of the series that hasn’t gone down so well – the twist. FT adds: ‘Unfortunately it turns out that the series is also harbouring a terrible secret — a woefully ill-judged late twist. I guarantee that whatever theory you come up with to explain Sugar’s many idiosyncrasies will make more sense than what transpires.’ Meanwhile, The Guardian gave the series two stars overall. Reviewer Lucy Mangan notes that, because it comes after the halfway point, the twist is ‘too deep into the story to work’. ‘But your mileage may vary. If it adds something to the experience for you, then you are more generous than I – who thinks this kind of thing should be stamped on immediately, and stamped on hard,’ she adds. ‘Sugar could have been – especially with a little script-polishing – at least an honourable addition to the genre. As it is, it’s nothing at all.’ Thankfully for Farrell, not everyone hated the twist, with X user KristenGBaldwin describing it as something ‘the best detective wouldn’t see coming.’ RandyShulman even declared it ‘one of the best shows of the current century. And that is not an understatement.’ Speaking about the role recently during press, Farrell told TheWrap in an interview that Sugar is not the ‘archetypical private detective.’ ‘He’s deeply intuitive, very attuned to his environment, very attuned to anything living in creation; truly trees, birds, humans, dogs,’ Farrell said. ‘That was one of the lovely things about him. He had a tenderness to him as well, and a concern for all things [in] creation.’ Watch Sugar on Apple TV+. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you. MORE : The truth about Lee Mack’s private life – from his real name to his gorgeous wife MORE : 90s Hollywood heartthrob looks completely different on 25th anniversary of iconic rom-com