Watching the first two episodes of Sugar on Apple TV, many viewers are wondering why the series keeps switching to black-and-white shots. So, here’s all you need to know about Sugar and its usage of black-and-white footage.
Why does Apple TV’s Sugar switch to black-and-white shots?
Apple TV’s Sugar uses black-and-white shots to pay homage to the noir detective and PI genre, particularly movies and TV shows from the 1940s.
Sugar tells a neo-noir tale that follows Private Investigator John Sugar in his pursuit of finding a missing 25-year-old woman. The first episode of the series establishes his talents as he tracks down the kidnapped son of a Yakuza boss in Japan. The entire scene takes place in black-and-white and switches to color when Sugar travels back to LA.
Throughout the series, there are a few quick black-and-white shots from old movies. Episode 1 also makes the revelation that Sugar is a huge movie buff. Furthermore, the protagonists of vintage films inspire a lot of his actions and the way he conducts himself. This is established by the black-and-white scenes, which the series uses them to pay tribute to old noir detective stories.
It has brought back the private investigator noir subgenre, telling a new PI tale by applying modern-day filming and storytelling techniques to the noir style. John Sugar actor Colin Farrell also told Screen Rant that the series pays homage to Los Angeles with the way it portrays the city, further contributing to its noir take.
Besides Farrell, the cast of Sugar also includes Amy Ryan as Melanie Mackintosh, Nate Corddry as David Siegel, and Kirby as Ruby, among others.
The official synopsis of the series reads:
“An enigmatic private detective struggles with personal demons as he investigates the disappearance of a Hollywood producer’s beloved granddaughter.”
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