We’ve reached season two’s penultimate episode of Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed sci-fi detective series Sugar and John’s still determined to find out what ex-Senator Pavich knows while also exposing dirty cops. Season two, episode seven begins with John Sugar (Colin Farrell) confessing that despite how hard he’s tried to find another way, violence is the only thing some people understand. As he thinks this, we see items scattered over the road near an overturned vehicle.
(The following is a recap of season two, episode seven – “What Else Can You Do?” – and there are spoilers.)
Flashback to two days earlier and Tom (Shea Whigham) is against John speaking with Sergey. Instead, Tom believes John has enough evidence now to take this to the cops. John doesn’t think the cops will do anything. He knows that Danny’s life is on the line and he can’t make the wrong decision.
John can’t wait and decides Sergey’s his best hope. Tom agrees to contact him but reminds John that the sheriffs handle Sergey’s territory and are always listening.
John calls Vega (Tony Dalton) and demands to see Danny in jail, and Vega sets it up. Danny looks good and says he’s doing fine. He’s glad that John is there and shocked to learn that Vega knows Ji’s alive. Danny’s pulled away from the visit without John confirming he won’t hand over Ji to get him out of jail.
As he’s leaving, John gets a call from Stanley the professor who sounds devastated. They meet, and Stanley’s upset over the death of his parrot. (John met the parrot while breaking into Stanley’s house, but Stanley doesn’t know that.) John finally comes clean and explains who he really is and that he’s investigating Senator Pavich. Stanley thinks John was lying about liking plants and his parrot, but John insists that was all legit. He truly likes Stanley but needs his help.
John asks what the four circles mean and confesses that Pavich betrayed many people he loves. He wants to find out why, and somehow it seems to involve the four circles. Stanley considers the question and finally reveals the circles are “tropospheric nodes.” Supposedly, they’ll be used to help the Earth’s climate in various ways.
“John, this can change the world, literally,” says Stanley.
He’s just one of the engineers working on the project and describes the technology as “beyond another level.” Stanley doesn’t consider it a weapon, but John believes Stanley’s either scared or conflicted. Stanley confesses the power is so huge that it’s like playing god.
Next, John checks in on Val (Sasha Calle) and learns Ji’s still detoxing. John’s relieved she’s watching over Ji and needs her to keep it up.
John greets Sergey’s son, Diego, and gets a quick pat-down for weapons before meeting face-to-face with Sergey. Sergey Ojeda is the head of the Los Universales cartel and John once did a job for him years ago, but only half-finished it. They catch up and Sergey reveals he likes John because he’s always honest with him.
They finally discuss what John’s there to talk about: Sheriff Ray Vega, an enforcer of Sergey’s in his Fire Sale business. John describes the Fire Sale as a nasty business built on the backs of the homeless and addicted. Sergey starts an argument and John asks him to stop; they’ve been down this road before.
John asks Sergey to order Vega to stop squeezing him and to let Danny out of jail. In exchange, John promises Sergey he’ll finish the job.
Vega calls John and reveals he knows John went to Sergey. John orders him to release Danny that night.
Charlotte (Laura Donnelly) invites John to dinner via room service. Dinner turns out to be sex and a session of getting to know each other. They’re comfortable with each other and John talks lovingly about his sister. He avoids details but does say that she died. John lightens the mood by suggesting they go out for ice cream.
They spend the night together, but Tom spoils the quiet evening by calling with news that Sergey is dead. John and Tom meet in the hotel lobby and Tom reveals Sergey’s plane went down near Lake Charles. It could have been an accident but it’s too soon to know.
When Tom confirms Diego wasn’t on the plane, it dawns on John that the Fire Sale is Diego’s, not Sergey’s. John’s close to panicking when he realizes Danny’s not getting out and Vega wants an answer about the swap in the next eight hours. He thinks he needs to move to Plan B: killing Vega.
Ji (Raymond Lee) and Val are still up at the rehab facility, playing a video game while Ji moans about his life and what could have been. Val’s tired of listening to all his excuses and reminds him that John’s about to make a sacrifice to take care of him. Ji and Val toss insults at each other but keep playing the game.
John meets Vega at Frank’s Coffee Shop, hands him an envelope, and confirms he’s not giving up Ji’s location. The envelope contains Panamanian passports for Vega and his daughter, as well as one for his ex-wife. There’s also a deed to a villa in Playa Coronado and a bank account.
Vega calls it a bribe, while John says it’s a real offer for him to turn his life around. Vega refuses to accept it and John begs him to take it and walk away. Instead, Vega promises that he’s going to let Danny get attacked in jail if John doesn’t turn over Ji. John won’t give up Ji and advises Vega that when Ji testifies, he’ll go to a prison without sheriffs as guards.
John and Val exchange looks when she sits at the counter, and Vega follows John’s gaze. He calls Val John’s friend and wonders what she wants. Vega thinks Val looks worried, so he gets up to leave. John advises him that this is his last chance, but Vega doesn’t believe him.
Val slides into John’s table and Vega watches through the window as they seem to be in a heated argument. Vega left a device at the table and listens as they talk about Ji escaping his hiding place. John says they should return to anywhere Ji used to frequent.
Vega’s still listening at the station when Ji calls asking for a FaceTime conversation. Ji stands outside his trainer’s cabin in the middle of nowhere and indicates he’s done with being under Sugar’s control. Ji makes a complete circle while he’s FaceTiming, obviously showing off where he’s located. He wants to trade himself for Danny and gives Vega his location.
Vega drives there with Danny secured in the backseat. When Vega mentions this is Ji’s dying wish, Danny headbutts him as best he can – considering he can’t move. Vega pulls over and punches Danny in the face and then secures a bag over his head so he can’t see.
Vega parks out front of the cabin and calls out to Ji. Ji doesn’t respond and Vega enters, gun drawn. He steps out the back door and there’s still no sign of Ji. Vega gets back in his car and is driving away when John takes off the head cover! He swapped places with Danny and attacks Vega from the rear seat. They struggle and the vehicle overturns, leading us back to the scene at the beginning of the episode. Vega and John fit inside the car and continue struggling as they make their way out. They attempt to strangle each other, and that’s a battle John eventually wins.
John makes his way completely out of the vehicle and looks up at the sky. He just killed a man, which is against his code, but it was worth it to watch Danny and Ji reunite.
Back at the hotel, John takes apart the listening device that Tom had advised him would be there. Of course he was setting up Vega, and of course Ji and Val were in on it. Tom had said the sheriffs would always be listening in, and John used that knowledge to arrange Vega’s murder.
A flashback shows how it was set up and that John and Val were just off-camera while Ji made the call to Vega. It also shows John taking Danny’s place in the vehicle.
While John’s in his hotel room, thinking about the day’s events and watching an old movie, Charlotte looks through the pocket of one of his suits and finds his drawing of four circles. She slips it back and doesn’t say anything.
John imagines Peg, face burned, sitting next to him. She reminds him he broke another of their rules. Charlotte interrupts his daydream with a hug from behind.
- Season 2 Episode 1 “Home Away from Home” Recap
- Season 2 Episode 2 “Downer Town” Recap
- Season 2 Episode 3 “Watch Face” Recap
- Season 2 Episode 4 “Off 15” Recap
- Season 2 Episode 5 “Unknowns” Recap
- Season 2 Episode 6 “Cautionary Tale” Recap
- Season 2 Episode 8 Finale Recap
