Tony Dalton discusses his role as corrupt Los Angeles sheriff Ray Vega in Sugar’s second season and the character’s climactic confrontation with Colin Farrell’s private investigator, John Sugar. The desert duel in episode seven brings their escalating conflict towards a resolution, with Ray attempting to protect himself from allegations of murder, fentanyl deaths and housing fraud.

Dalton said he sought advice from former Better Call Saul co-star Jonathan Banks before accepting the part, after Banks encouraged him to work with Sugar showrunner Sam Catlin. He modelled Ray partly on Denzel Washington’s Training Day character, and contrasted the role with his charismatic Better Call Saul villain Lalo Salamanca; the interview also references Dalton accidentally punching Farrell while filming.