Apple TV’s Sugar season two, episode five opens with a body being prepared for cremation. John Sugar (Colin Farrell) announces that Ji Moon died of an overdose and that he’s the one who killed him. But he quickly adds, “And brought him back to life.”
(The following is a recap of season two, episode five – “Unknowns” – and there are spoilers.)
John drives Ji (Raymond Lee) to Open Road, a rehab facility where he should be safe from dirty cops and drug dealers. It’s not the first time John’s used this facility for a client, and he knows they’re very discreet.
John has Val (Sasha Calle) take Ji’s friend home; they’re in on the lie that Ji’s dead. John pays for a fake death certificate that lists Ji’s cause of death as fentanyl overdose. The added detail of his body being shipped back to Korea is a clever touch.
John returns to Teddy’s ranch just to make sure everything is picked up and no evidence is left behind that could indicate Ji is still alive. He retrieves the Narcan pump and heads to Vega’s place. John punches the dirty sheriff in the face, making a good show of being angry that Vega got Ji killed.
His next stop doesn’t involve any violence. John delivers the good news to Danny (Jin Ha) that his brother is safe … for now. Danny’s all smiles.
But John isn’t done with this case, even after making sure that Ji’s away from bad influences and safe. He meets with Tom Flyberg (Shea Whigham) and informs him that Ji’s case involves corrupt sheriffs. Tom confirms some sheriffs turn corrupt after working in the jails and making connections with drug dealers. John’s not sure what Vega’s deal is, but he does know that the street price of fentanyl is down 90% in Ez4’s territory, Vega’s jurisdiction.
Tom says, “What we got here is a fire sale in Downer Town.”
John wants to move Ji into witness protection, but Tom knows that won’t work. The government won’t fork over the cash to fund Ji in witness protection because his case against Vega isn’t strong enough. Tom reminds him that although Ji witnessed Vega committing murder, he was in the middle of stealing a thermos full of drugs at the time.
Tom promises to check with his guys anyway. Before John leaves, Tom admits he still doesn’t understand why Vega’s helping someone buy up the fentanyl market in Downer Town because that’s Sergey’s market.
John pops into Paramount Pictures to take a guided tour of the backlot. Apparently, he’s done this before because the tour guide, Steff, knows him and appreciates his knowledge of films.
Danny heads to the gym and his trainer, Teddy, is extremely disappointed about the fight he got into at the Japanese restaurant during his meeting with Len Pankow. He can’t believe Danny threw away his chance, and Danny warns him not to bring up Ji again or he’ll hit him.
John finally gets time to work on his Senator Pavich investigation and breaks into the house of Dr. Stanley Ondaatje, the professor who met with Pavich recently. John looks through Stanley’s desk as the professor’s parrot keeps repeating, “What the heck?!” He finds a drawing with circles at the corner of a rectangle. There are what appear to be mathematical equations next to three of the circles.
John’s almost caught but manages to hide when the professor returns for his planner. After he leaves, John finds a room filled with pots of succulents.
Sugar returns to his hotel room, decides against dinner in the restaurant, and checks his messages. So far none of his fellow aliens have responded. He leaves another message telling anyone else who stayed behind that he’s still on Earth. After that, he takes a swim to relax. It’s obvious he’s feeling lonely and missing his fellow travelers.
He finally calls Melanie (Amy Ryan) and reveals he stayed behind. John’s happy to hear her voice and happy that she’s in Paris on tour with her band. He asks about Wylie the dog, but Melanie needs to get off the phone because she’s busy.
John spends his days watching Pavich’s house from the backyard of the house he recently bought. He seems restless and unsure what to do with himself.
Val talks to him about Chuy and suggests that maybe, like Ji, Chuy also knew about the dirty sheriffs and that’s why he was murdered. She thinks it’s possible he will have a video on his phone, and John suggests that she visit Chuy’s grandmother to see if she has his phone.
John admits to himself that he’s gotten better at lying, a skill that didn’t come naturally to him. He’s gotten used to it because of his job.
John did his succulent research and deliberately runs into Dr. Stanley Ondaatje in Echo Park where they grow. The professor studies them as a hobby, and John claims he admires them for their ability to survive in the face of adversity.
That night, Val calls and reveals the hospital never gave Chuy’s grandmother Chuy’s phone. John still wants to keep trying to make a case against Vega.
The hotel’s restaurant is closed but they make John his first-ever cheeseburger, not even reacting when he says it’s his first. He’s surprised to see Charlotte (Laura Donnelly) checking in again; he thought she left. John apologizes for jumping to conclusions and accusing her of looking through his room when she was just leaving him a note.
Vega sent one of his men to tail Sugar and learns about Sugar’s trip to the studio and his encounter with Dr. Ondaatje. There’s really nothing unusual to report.
John is still wondering about Chuy’s phone and thinks he’s missing something. He recalls the artwork at Chuy’s grandmother’s house and thinks Chuy’s mom, Sandra, might know something. He can’t locate her in the tent cities or tunnels where she normally hangs out, but someone who knows her leads him to her location. Unfortunately, by the time he gets there, she’s dead from an overdose.
John gently covers her body and considers his next move. He’s kneeling by her body when he finds Chuy’s phone in Sandra’s bag.
Danny’s forced to apologize to Nestor Rodrigues’ friend that he punched in the restaurant. And because he says he’s sorry, Nestor still wants to fight him in Las Vegas. Danny holds up the contract and his fellow boxers cheer, happy he’s getting a real shot.
John stays with Sandra’s body at the coroner’s office and learns that it’s the coroner’s fifth drug overdose of the day. The coroner confirms that’s more than usual, even though the city-wide rates are supposedly down.
Meanwhile, Vega’s not satisfied that he knows everything about Ji’s death. He returns to the cabin.
John believes the crooked cops’ case will get worse before it gets better. Back at the hotel, Charlotte is basically ignoring him and he continues to apologize. He explains why he has cameras in his room, and she finally starts talking to him, even admitting she comes on a little strong. Her table’s ready and she asks him to join her. John accepts.
They discuss beautiful cities, and John makes his fifth movie reference. Charlotte laughs, points it out, and then realizes she needs to leave to get to work. They talked the night away.
Back in his room, he imagines Peg (Laura San Giacomo) telling him he’s going to hell because he’s assimilating.
Episode five ends in the morgue, with hundreds of temporary urns (basically just boxes) full of the ashes of people who died either unidentified or unclaimed.
- 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
This post was last modified on July 17, 2026 12:01 am