All the ‘Sunny’ characters are ranked and why Tsuji Sakamoto isn’t #1

May contain spoilers for ‘Sunny’

Kyoto, Japan: ‘Sunny’ starring Rashida Jones has finally ended its run on Apple TV+, nine weeks after it premiered. The show mixes gripping mystery elements with subtle comedy and entertains with the quirky treatment of the script. However, the main characters are far from ordinary heroes, they have a certain unpredictability and mystery of their own.

‘Sunny’ won’t overwhelm you with too many big roles. Instead, it mainly focuses on 3-4 main characters, all caught up in the mystery of Masa Sakamoto’s mysterious death, the Dark Manual, and the yakuza’s involvement in it all. If we reflect on our viewing experience, here’s a list of characters ranked from worst to best on Apple TV+’s ‘Sunny’.

6. In the frost

You play Him in ‘Sunny’ (@appletv+).

In Hime, you play the antagonist of the show. Although he was introduced as a deadly villain in earlier episodes, he lost his appeal as the show progressed. He wants Sunny’s a*sa*sination code for which he can kidnap, k**l or amputate people’s limbs or tongues. And yet, there’s something about him that doesn’t scream fear.

He is an average villain at most. You know the villain isn’t strong enough when the hero doesn’t think you’re good enough. Tsuji Sakamoto doesn’t give two cents about Hime as he focuses on finding Masa’s truth. We strongly believe that ‘Sunny’ can use a more dangerous villain to hold our attention.

5. Suzy Sakamoto

A still in Rashida Jones from ‘Sunny’ (@appletv+).

It’s heartbreaking to say that the hero of the show is no longer among our favourites. Rashida Jones fits the role of Suji Sakamoto perfectly, but the way her character is written is disappointing.

First we resonate with his grief and pain. When she lost her husband and son in a plane crash, she fell into alcoholism and loneliness. However, as soon as we dive deeper into his character, the problems begin. He continues to ignore his mother-in-law, who actually seems to be a nice woman, and keeps checking on her after the tragedy.

Despite living in Japan for ten years and marrying a Japanese man, she was not interested in learning their culture. He has no friends at all, and his text conversation with D suggests that Suzy is responsible for his lack of friendships and strong relationships. Even with Mixxy, he often comes across as rude and selfish. While this may be an attempt to make her character more realistic, it often comes off as boring, making it hard to connect with her or feel any sympathy for her.

4. Masa Sakamoto

Hidetoshi Nishijima (@appletv+) on ‘Sunny’

Although Masa Sakamoto is the focus of the mystery, this character is only occasionally seen. We only see her through flashbacks as the showrunners give us a glimpse of her life before her marriage and her work as a roboticist.

Despite its limited appearance, Masa, played by Hidetoshi Nishijima, leaves a lasting impression on us. We can resonate with her pain when her father dies and she isolates herself for years. But the most notable moment from the show is when Masa calls loneliness the biggest epidemic of today. We just wish for more scenes of her.

3. Noriko Sakamoto

Judy Wong as Noriko Sakamoto in ‘Sunny’ (@appletv+).

Noriko Sakamoto, played by Judy Wong, is Masa Sakamoto’s mother. When she loses her son in a tragedy, she tries to be strong, trying to get through her grief by finding the companionship of the people around her.

We begin to question his motives when he intentionally gets himself arrested halfway through the series. However, her grand gesture in episode 10 of ‘Sunny’ reveals her true nature as a kind soul. She may not be the perfect mother – having lied to her son about his biological father for years, allowing her to wrongly blame herself for Noriko’s husband’s hostility. Nevertheless, we understand his struggle and the suffering he endured.

2. Mix

Annie the Clumsy as Mixy on ‘Sunny’ (@appletv+).

Mixxy is the most interesting character in the series on Apple TV+. He is the only one who can hold our attention till the end.

Played by Annie the Clumsy, Mixi is a part-time bartender who helps Suzy with her yakuza problems. He can’t be trusted, as Sunny says. But that’s what makes his character interesting. You’ll have to watch the whole series to see how things pan out for Suzy in her mess.

1. Sunny

A still from ‘Sunny’ (@appletv+)

Number 1 on our list is Sunny, the homebot owned by Suzy. It brings light to Suzy’s dark world, trying to lift her out of loneliness and sadness. It may not be a perfect bot but it certainly tries to be one.

Sunny is the biggest friend in life. Homebot sticks with Suzy even when she doesn’t need it around. Despite being programmed to only do moral things, the bot pushes its boundaries in protecting Suzy. Isn’t that what we all want in life? For someone to walk the extra mile and take the fall for us, if needed?

‘Sunny’ Season 1 is available to stream on Apple TV+