The Bordelons are back—almost. Queen Sugar's sixth season will land on OWN in September. Like season 5, the next season of Ava DuVernay's Queen Sugar will be set in our current era, directly confronting issues like police violence and the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully no one comes down with the virus this season, like Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) did in the last one.
Speaking to TV Fanatic, director Lisa France gave a preview for what season 6 might entail. France indicated there's turmoil brewing regarding the Bordelon family's land, which the three siblings inherited at the start of the first season. "As always, the land is under attack, and a lot of s**t goes down. You're in for a ride," France told TV Fanatic. "I don't think we've ever seen anything like it, ever, what we're going to see this year. No, nothing like this."
There's lots to look forward to in season 6, including the addition of four new cast members. Further, we'll see what happens after Charley and Davis's (Timon Kyle Durrett) unexpected reconciliation, and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) and Darla’s (Bianca Lawson) decision for Blue (Ethan Hutchinson) to attend a prestigious school in Washington, D.C. Will Ralph Angel and Aunt Vi (Tina Lifford) have another blowout argument about Blue's future? We'll see in season 6. Here's what we know.
Queen Sugar's sixth season will premiere in September.
The show will return to OWN on Tuesday, September 7 at 8/7 central. Queen Sugar was renewed for a sixth season while season 5 was still on the air. Filming took place in and around New Orleans in 2021, which stands in for the show's fictional St. Josephine Parish.
The trailer sets up a lot of action.
"Here's to not letting the bad days get the best of us," Hollywood says in a toast at the start of Queen Sugar's official sixth season trailer. We might steal that line for our own lives.
Beyond motivational toasts, the trailer queues up reunions, homecomings, pregnancies, and more. Among the action? Ralph Angel kisses Darla's pregnant belly and refers to their child as an angel. Charley and Davis are seen sneaking around together—clearly not wanting anyone to find out about their reunion. Nova's eyes sparkle at Dominic, a new addition to season 4. Blue returns from boarding school, to Aunt Vi's delight.
Slot those progressions into the "happy" category. But there will be some stressful events, too. It seems like Ralph Angel, pressed for money, is considering illegal activity. Then, Hollywood accuses him of stealing something and being caught red-handed. Let's hope Ralph Angel's OK.
The plot will unspool over 10 episodes.
Queen Sugar's season 5 reoriented some characters' relationships, and in doing so set up the action for season 6. One unexpected progression? Charley and her ex-husband, Davis (Timon Kyle Durrett), seemed to reconcile. She called him while struggling with COVID, and found him to be transformed. Davis had been in therapy to work through his deceitful and harmful past—the professional basketball player was unfaithful and was accused of sexual assault along with his teammates. Now, Charley is willing to give him a second chance.
"People make mistakes, and I think that's one of the things that Ava really wanted to look at. And talking about these things and our tone in talking about forgiveness and love and how it is really hard for somebody just to abandon them," France told TV Fanatic of their reconciliation.
Four actors are joining the Queen Sugar cast.
After an intimate fifth season, the Queen Sugar world is expanding. Four actors are joining the cast, per Deadline.
- Tammy Townsend (Family Matters) will play Billie, the daughter of Bordelon family friend Prosper Denton (Henry G. Sanders).
- Marquis Rodriguez (When They See Us) will play Isaiah, a college student who befriends Micah West.
- McKinley Freeman (Hit the Floor) is Dominic, a cultural anthropologist who captures the attention of Nova Bordelon.
- Paula Jai Parker (The Wayans Bros.) is Celine, a single mother whom Aunt Vi helps get acclimated to St. Josephine.
The rest of the ensemble cast is returning. Expect to see Rutina Wesley (Nova Bordelon), Dawn-Lyen Gardner (Charlotte “Charley” Bordelon West), Kofi Siriboe (Ralph Angel Bordelon), Nicholas L. Ashe (Micah West), Bianca Lawson (Darla Sutton), and Tina Lifford (Violet Bordelon).
Ethan Hutchinson, who plays Ralph Angel and Darla's son Blue, may not be in season 6 much, as his character will now be living in Washington, D.C.
Nine women directed season 6 of Queen Sugar.
When Queen Sugar premiered, Ava DuVernay vowed to only hire women directors, and she's kept that promise. Lisa France, Bertha Bay-Sa Pan, Carmen Marrón, Cierra Glaude, Keisha Rae Witherspoon, Marie Jamora, Shari L. Carpenter, Shaz Bennett and Stephanie Turner directed season 6 of Queen Sugar. That means over the course of its six seasons, Queen Sugar has employed 42 women directors.
"Why did we do this?" DuVernay said about Queen Sugar's directing staff at a conference in 2018, per IndieWire. "Because we can. Because we can create spaces that nourish in our own image, in the same way that our male counterparts have created in their own image for over a century."
Past seasons of Queen Sugar are now streaming on Hulu.
Looking to catch up? So far, seasons 1 through 4 are streaming on Hulu. Season 5 has yet to land on the streaming platform, but it's available to purchase.
Elena Nicolaou
Elena Nicolaou is the former culture editor at Oprah Daily.
