Plot Synopsis

QUEEN SUGAR is a one-hour drama series that chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Saint Josephine, Louisiana: Nova, a world-wise journalist and activist; Charley, the savvy wife and manager of a professional basketball star; and Ralph Angel, a formerly incarcerated young father in search of redemption. After her father suffers a stroke and she receives alarming news about her husband, Charley leaves her upscale Los Angeles lifestyle to return to her family home -- an 800-acre sugarcane farm in the heart of Louisiana -- where she and her siblings must navigate the triumphs and struggles of their complicated lives in order to run an ailing farm in the New South. To start their journey together, the siblings must work together to plan their father's funeral. Tensions rise between Charley and Nova as they each seek to honor their father in different ways. Ralph Angel argues with Aunt Violet over whether or not it's appropriate to invite his young son Blue to the funeral service. Charley struggles with the fallout of the shocking news surrounding her husband and also learns there are many things they did not know about the state of their father's farm. In an unexpected encounter, she comes face-to-face with an individual who's interested in taking the farm off their hands. OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network premiered QUEEN SUGAR as a two-night event on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 and Wednesday, September 7 at 10pm ET/PT, with a commercial-free Tuesday episode. On Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network premiered the Season 1 finale of QUEEN SUGAR. In the season ender, "Give Us This Day," Charley continues to make calculated choices regarding Davis' basketball career and her desire to secure an investor. Nova and lover Calvin finally reunite, but their union causes controversy in the community. Davis attempts to repair his relationship with son Micah, but he faces resistance. Aunt Violet learns of Hollywood's departure and tries to make amends, and Ralph Angel makes a shocking discovery that changes everything.

Season 2 of QUEEN SUGAR premiered on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network with a two-night event that finishes on Wednesday, June 21 at 10pm. In the second season, the Bordelon siblings struggle to move forward with their lives as they continually strive to honor the legacy of their father following his unexpected passing. Charley, who becomes the first black woman to run own and run a mill in Louisiana, fights to regain her independence while rebuilding her relationships with her estranged siblings. Ralph Angel struggles to transform from a formerly incarcerated single father to a land owner in the eyes of his family as he works to restore his relationship with his son's mother. Nova finds herself torn between her activism and her desire to be loved. Together, they must learn to rely on one another as they navigate their tenuous bonds as family. In the season opener (Tue 10pm), "After the Winter," Charley and Davis remain entangled, Ralph Angel tries to find his footing on the family farm and Aunt Violet confronts her feelings for Hollywood. Plus, Micah has a dangerous encounter with a police officer and Nova deals with the loss of her relationship with Calvin and later holds a community fundraiser. Then, in the season's second episode (Wed 10pm), "To Usward," Ralph Angel has an idea for the farm, Charley is blindsided during her final divorce mediation with Davis and Nova holds a community fundraiser. Plus, Aunt Violet learns that Hollywood might have been involved in a life-threatening accident. QUEEN SUGAR returned for its Season 2 midseason premiere with a two-night event at 10pm ET/PT on Tuesday, October 3 and Wednesday, October 4, 2017. Season 2 regularly aired Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT. In the next episodes of the series, Charley receives an unexpected visit from her mother Loma and the two finally have a revealing heart-to-heart about Charley's upbringing. Darla, takes a huge step in mending her family estrangement by reaching out to share the news of her engagement to Ralph Angel. Meanwhile, Aunt Violet's condition worsens, and Micah finally comes to terms with his emotions surrounding his traumatic encounter with a police officer. Plus, Nova's Zika story causes great concern in the community. Then, an unexpected encounter creates issues between Ralph Angel and Darla. Meanwhile, the presence of Charley's mother Lorna gives rise to old tensions in the family, and Violet finally sees a doctor about her recurring symptoms.

Season 3 of QUEEN SUGAR premieres with a two-night event on Tuesday May 29 and Wednesday, May 30 at 10pm ET/PT each night. (The series regularly airs Wednesday nights at 10pm.) Continuing a creative initiative established in the show's first season, series creator/executive producer Ava DuVernay has once again assembled an all-female directing team for the third consecutive season. Season 3 directors include DeMane Davis, Patricia Cardoso, Shaz Bennett, Maria Govan and Lauren Wolkstein, several of whom will be making their television directorial debut, with additional names to be announced. In the series' third season, the contemporary drama returns as the Bordelons find themselves continuing their fight to save their family farm and father's legacy as they navigate their own personal journeys. They soon find that their fight extends beyond their close-knit family, but also to the community. Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) remains in the thick of the trials and tribulations in both her personal and professional life as she continues to battle the Landry family while also trying to ensure Micah's safety and future. Ralph Angel is still reeling from learning from Darla that he might not be the biological father of his son, Blue, and attempts to push forward as the new cane season begins. A new and unexpected love in the form of an old friend comes into Nova's life and challenges her long-held notions of relationships while also offering her something she didn't think she could ever have. The expansive cast also includes Tina Lifford as the siblings' free-spirited Aunt Violet; Omar J. Dorsey as Violet's much younger fiance Hollywood Desonier; Dondre T. Whitfield as trusted Bordelon family friend Remy Newell; Additionally, recurring guest stars Timon Kyle Durrett portrays Charley's estranged husband and pro basketball player Davis West and Henry G. Sanders plays Prosper Denton, a farmer and longtime friend of the late Bordelon family patriarch, Ernest. In the season opener, "A Rock, A River, A Tree," Ralph Angel finally learns the truth about his biological connection to Blue, Charley exposes her hidden plan for Landry Enterprises, and Nova is propositioned by book publishers.

Season 4 of QUEEN SUGAR premieres Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. In the series' fourth season, the contemporary drama returns as the Bordelons find themselves continuing their fight to save their family farm and preserve their father's legacy as they navigate their own personal journeys. Charley remains in the thick of the trials and tribulations in both her personal and professional life as she continues to battle the Landry family while also trying to ensure Micah's safety and future. Nova publishes her memoir and while she goes on a book tour around the country sharing her family secrets and shaking things up at home, she unexpectedly encounters significant relationships from her past along the way. Ralph Angel is managing fatherhood and his complicated relationship with ex-girlfriend Darla after learning he is not the biological father of his son, Blue, and is encouraged by an old friend to create opportunities for formerly incarcerated men. The expansive cast also includes Tina Lifford as the siblings' free-spirited Aunt Violet who revealed her Lupus diagnosis to her family along with plans to open her own pie shop; Omar J. Dorsey as Violet's new husband Hollywood Desonier; and Henry G. Sanders plays Prosper Denton, a farmer and longtime friend of the late Bordelon family patriarch, Ernest. Recurring guest star Timon Kyle Durrett portrays Charley's estranged husband and pro basketball player Davis West. Guest star Cree Summer portrays Octavia Laurent, a professor and fiery past love of Nova Bordelon, who surprises Nova while in Atlanta during her cross-country book tour. Bryan Terrell Clark guest stars as Darla's new love interest. Continuing a creative initiative established in the show's first season, series creator/executive producer DuVernay has once again assembled an all-female directing team for the fourth consecutive season. Season 4 directors include Cheryl Dunye, who will also serve as producing director, in addition to Carmen Marron, Numa Perrier, Heidi Saman, Bola Ogun and Tchaiko Omawale, all of whom will be making their television directorial debut, with these additional directors announced later: Lacey Duke, C. Fitz, Pratibha Parmar, Deborah Kampmeier and Stacey Muhammad.

On Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network premiered the fifth season of QUEEN SUGAR, which was helmed entirely by three filmmakers, including producing director Lauren Wolkstein, Lisa France and Cierra Glaude. During the production stop-down in 2020 due to COVID-19, DuVernay decided to completely revamp the Season 5 storyline to address the very real issues our country was facing through the lens of the beloved Bordelon family and the fictional community of St. Josephine. DuVernay reconceived the character arcs and storylines, writing alongside returning showrunner Anthony Sparks and supervising producer Norman Vance to tackle head-on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protest movement, and corruption in politics to showcase the specific impact and ramifications these issues have on communities and people of color. Through it all, viewers will see the joy around the pain, and humanity's ability to persevere and find light in the darkest of times. QUEEN SUGAR's storylines continue to delve into important topics such as police brutality, addiction and recovery, and systemic racism, among many others.

On Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT, Season 6 of QUEEN SUGAR premiered on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Newlyweds Ralph Angel and Darla prepare to welcome a new baby while struggling to make financial ends meet. Nova reaches her breaking point while continuing to expose police and political corruption, and finds unlikely support from a new neighbor, Dominic. Charley explores political opportunities on a national scale as she navigates reconnecting with ex-husband Davis West, while her son Micah grapples with college life amid the lasting effects of PTSD and growing confusion over a relationship with his new fraternity brother. In the season opener, "If You Could Enter Their Dreaming," Nova publishes an article on defunding the police, Ralph Angel has financial problems, and Violet delivers a pie to a mysterious person. Plus, Nova's planned vaccination drive for St. Jo residents erupts in chaos, leaving someone injured. The directorial line-up includes: Bertha Bay-Sa Pan, Carmen Marron, Cierra Glaude, Keisha Rae Witherspoon, Marie Jamora, Shari Carpenter, Shaz Bennett and Stephanie Turner, with Lisa France upped to serve as producing director. This marks 42 female filmmakers the series has hired through six seasons, 39 of whom are first-time television directors. Tammy Townsend (regular cast member) portrays Billie, the daughter of beloved Bordelon family friend Prosper Denton, who returns to St. Josephine for the first time in 20 years to care for her ailing father. Paula Jai Parker (recurring) portrays Celine, a single mother whom Aunt Violet takes under her wing as Celine works to establish a life in St. Josephine with her 10-year-old son, Gabriel. Marquis Rodriguez (recurring) portrays Isaiah, a college student wise beyond his years who befriends Micah West. McKinley Freeman (recurring) portrays Dominic, a cultural anthropologist who captures the attention of Nova Bordelon.

The seventh and final season of QUEEN SUGAR premiered on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Season 7 picks up six months after viewers last left the Bordelons as they continue to strive to honor the legacy of their father and preserve their land and community. In the season opener, "And When Great Souls Die," the family attends a christening for Ralph Angel and Darla's baby, Tru. Plus, Billie ignores Vince's calls, Prosper asks Sandy on a date, and Micah sees Keke. Finally, Sam Landry delivers shocking news that could threaten the Bordelon land once again. Notable guest stars include the return of Glynn Turman, the late father of the Bordelon siblings; Tracie Thoms, as Nova's long lost high school love; Sharon Lawrence as Charley Bordelon's mother Lorna; Greg Vaughan as Nova's former partner; Vanessa Bell Calloway; Amirah Vann as family nemesis Parker Campbell; and Brian Michael as Ralph Angel's high school friend and current police officer Toine. Kaci Walfall and Lamman Rucker join returning recurring cast members that include Reagan Gomez who portrays Nova's former lover Chantal; Ann Nesby as Sandy, the at-home nurse who catches Prosper Denton's eye; Tanyell Waivers, Micah's ex-girlfriend Keke; McKinley Freeman, Nova's anthropologist boyfriend Dominic; and Vivien Ngo, Ralph Angel's ex-girlfriend Trinh.

When QUEEN SUGAR first began production in 2016, creator and executive producer Ava DuVernay made a commitment to exclusively hire women as directors and kept that promise through the entire series run. Over the course of its seven seasons, QUEEN SUGAR has employed 42 women to direct episodes of the show, with 39 of those being first-time scripted television directors in the United States. Every director has gone on to direct a wide variety of award-winning television series and films across all major streaming and broadcast networks. The final season welcomes the return of seven directors from previous seasons, including Kat Candler, Stacey Muhammad, showrunner Shaz Bennett, Patricia Cardoso, Aurora Guerrero, DeMane Davis and Ava DuVernay. DuVernay, having directed the pilot in Season 1, will return to direct the final episode in a full-circle moment.
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On Tuesday, November 29, 2022 from 8-9:35pm ET/PT, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network premiered the series finale of QUEEN SUGAR, immediately followed by a half-hour special:

"For They Existed" (series finale; 8-9:35pm): The Bordelons make one final attempt to get their land back.

"The Queens of Queen Sugar: How Queen Sugar Changed Hollywood Forever" (special: 9:35-10pm): Over seven seasons, Queen Sugar has boldly tackled narrative change with an eye toward true social impact. Creator Ava DuVernay celebrates the 42 women directors who contributed to the series becoming the longest-running Black family drama in TV history.