‘Sunny’ Review: Don’t be fooled by the title, this quirky thriller is dark

Kyoto, Japan: Ever watched a show with high expectations, only to be disappointed later? ‘Sunny’ on Apple TV+ is one of them. The black comedy mystery show had a strong plot: an American woman living in Japan encounters a dramatic turn of events when her husband and son are reported dead in a plane crash. Consumed by grief and alcoholism, she receives a home bot as a gift, which accompanies her on her journey to uncover the truth behind her husband’s mysterious death.

Katie Robbins, the show’s creator, has combined all the right ingredients to deliver an even more engaging experience. However, the results fell short. The ten-episode series has major flaws that could easily have been avoided.

‘Sunny’ does not exploit its potential

June Kunimura, Rashida Jones, and Annie the Clumsy in ‘Sunny’ (@appletv+)

‘Sunny’ is one of those shows that promises a lot but ends up falling into mediocrity. It begins with an intriguing mix of mystery, noir and dark comedy, but fails to capitalize on its early potential as the episodes progress. We had hoped for the show to improve, but unfortunately, it only entertained us with its quirks without making a lasting impression.

The pacing of ‘Sunny’ is undoubtedly slow, but we were prepared to overlook it because of Robbins’ deliberate choice to build tension. However, it becomes frustratingly lazy, especially when the entire episode is spent watching Rashida Jones and Annie the Clumsy’s characters wander through the woods in search of the farmhouse.

The episode added no weight to the mystery or character development, except for a brief glimpse of Sunny’s attempt to feel the bond of motherhood. The scene where Suzy and Mixy sing to fend off a wild bear didn’t do much more than subtly put us off.

The whole Yakuza subplot lacks the horror element it needs. The show would have benefited from more deadly antagonists to heighten the tension. The lack of urgency to unravel the mystery eventually forced viewers to leave the show midway through who couldn’t care less about Masa Sakamoto or his role with the yakuza.

If you manage to stick with it until the end, you’ll likely be disappointed in the way the mystery is resolved. The main plot concludes in a humorous setting with the robot reflected in flashbacks, marking the show’s lowest point.

‘Sunny’ falters when approached by a strong hero

Rashida Jones (@appletv+) on ‘Sunny’

Katy Robbins fails to create a compelling protagonist. Although Rashida Jones is a great actress and a good casting choice, we can’t root for her character because of the writing flaws. The character is complex and not particularly likable, which contributes to the problem.

She is an outsider living in Japan, married to a Japanese man for ten years, yet she has made no effort to learn about Japanese culture or even the basics of the language. He has no friends and shows little interest in forming close bonds with those around him.

It’s hard to root for him when he seems so disinterested in connecting with the people around him, including the audience. It would have helped if Robbins had given a glimpse into Suzy’s past to explain why she is so withdrawn. Understanding her background would have made her less likable traits more relatable.

While Jones does an admirable job portraying Suzy’s loneliness and sadness, the character’s lack of warmth or relatability makes it hard to get emotionally invested in her journey. Her friendship with Mixxy doesn’t excite us. The show even fails to portray the depth of their friendship which has its ups and downs. Hidetoshi Nishijima as Masa Sakamoto and Judy Wong as Noriko Sakamoto provide the only relief in this poorly written story.

‘Sunny’ fails to capture the essence of Japanese culture

Judy Wong on ‘Sunny’ (@appletv+).

The show’s exploration of AI, modern technology, and the darkness of Japanese society is intriguing but doesn’t quite hit the mark. There are moments when the plot feels scattered, unnecessary tangents that distract from the central mystery of Suzy’s missing family.

Another flaw is the show’s failure to fully explore Asian culture despite being set entirely in Japan. With more Americans than Asians on the crew, the show’s fate seemed sealed from the start.

‘Sunny’ is available to stream on Apple TV+.