Shug Avery

Oh, yeah.

Anton Sugar.

Terrifying character.

Terrifying.

Sofia, played by Danielle Brooks, marries Mister's son Harpo, played by Corey Hawkins, and moves into the ho- and moves into the house he builds her.

And Mister's long lost love, Shug Avery, played by Taraji P. Henson, returns to the fold when said house is converted into a juke joint.

Abuse continues to circle around the home.

Sofia leaves Harpo after he attempts to control her via a beating based on the rash advice of a momentarily jealous Celie, and Mister's father, played by Lugosi Jr., intermittently shows up to reinforce his son's ugly worldview.

But Celie's relationship with Shug provides her with something different and special, built as much on mutual respect as it is on admiration and attraction.

Shug spirits Celie away to a local cinema, where they share a kiss, and then helps her discover that Nettie has in fact been writing to her all these years, only for her correspondence to be intercepted by her bitter husband.

As these bonds grow and strengthen, the women are able to support each other through the various trials and tribulations they encounter, whether that's being incarcerated by a vindictive mayor or being brought into the fold as Harpo's latest girlfriend, as in the case of Squeak, or Mary Agnes, played by Her, I think is how you say it.

Her.

It is incredibly intimate, unflinching, and often brutal.

It's an examination of trauma, racism, and a deeply tender queer romance between Celie and a singer named Shug Avery.

It is a challenging text that demands the reader sit in uncomfortable spaces.

Yet the 1985 movie was a massive mainstream box office hit.