Equal parts black comedy and sci-fi, mystery and thriller, this 10-episode series is a compelling study of grief and the increasing role of AI in our already complicated lives.
What is grief? Is there a single, ideal way to go through it? Does one ever get over grieving?
These are some of the questions that Apple TV+’s Sunny explores. The 10-episode series is headlined by Rashida Jones who plays Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, whose husband and son disappear after a mysterious plane crash. As she tries to process her grief, her husband Masa’s (Hidetoshi Nishijima) company sends over a domestic robot, whom they say was programmed by Masa especially for her.
Suzie is initially hostile toward Sunny, even trying to throw her into a river only to wake up to the faithful robot back home the next day. As the details surrounding the deaths of Masa and Zen continue to become murkier and more suspicious by the day, Suzie grows fond of Sunny who becomes a reliable and trusted companion.
Along the way, the unlikely duo makes more enemies than friends as they try to solve the mysteries surrounding the tech genius Masa—who may not be as gentle and kind as he seemed to be. Why is the yakuza after him? Why are there blood trails on the carpet of his lab? Is he really dead?
The answers are for me to know and for you to find out in this quirky yet surprisingly gripping and thoughtful show.
Jones gives what critics describe as a career-defining performance—and I agree. She encapsulates a woman in grief so perfectly—disheveled hair, mind going blank, sudden outbursts, and ultimately descending into questionable hygiene.
And let’s talk about our titular hero who is beautifully voiced by Joanna Sotomura, who lends Sunny not just a voice but a soul. She—I refuse to call Sunny an “it” because she just seems so alive—is a scene-stealer with her huge South Park eyes, unflappable loyalty, and sardonic, deadpan humor which she obviously got from her owner—perhaps Masa really did program her after Suzie. I love how something made of nuts and bolts and computer chips can bring back the humanity in someone on the verge of losing it to grief.
The other characters are just as wonderfully acted, with standout performances from the dashing Hidetoshi Nishijima, who takes on the role of the loving Masa, to his mother Noriko Sakamoto, played so effortlessly well by the luminous Judy Ongg.
There’s also Suzie’s other BFF, Mixxy, who is played by the quirky songwriter and YouTube personality Annie the Clumsy (she doesn’t seem like she’s acting). Finally, we have little Zen, Suzie and Masa’s son, who is brought to life by Fares Belkheir and whose big, curious eyes speak of so much emotion.
Another strong point of Sunny is how it refuses to romanticize grief. Grief is ugly, confounding, angering, unpredictable. It causes one to cry, scream, or suddenly stare blankly into space. Sunny shows the whole spectrum of grief from the ugly to the hideous, and all the unsavory parts in between.
And just like any other great material, be it a book or a film, or in this case a series, it compels one to be all philosophical and ponder some of life’s mysteries. For Sunny, it makes one wonder if we can ever truly know a person, even if we’ve known them almost our entire lives. How much do you know about your mom or dad? Your sibling? Your special someone? How much do they know about you?
It also raises questions on present-day quandaries, such as the double-edged sword that AI is. Can AI relationships (trust me, it’s on the rise) substitute for real ones? Will domestic or companion robots be a reality in the near future? I think it is inevitable, with robotaxis becoming more common; it’s only a matter of when.
Sunny is one of those oddball series that you can’t fit neatly into a category. It is comedy and sci-fi with bits of thriller and mystery all rolled into one satisfying sushi. If you love Japan, then chances are you’d love this too. There’s robots aplenty, some evil yakuza to ruin the fun, and Kyoto, oh beautiful Kyoto, as the backdrop of all the hullabaloo. What’s there not to love?
It’s also produced by A24, an American independent entertainment company known for its impressive filmography that includes films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, Midsommar, Lady Bird, and Past Lives. As of the 96th Academy Awards, A24 has received a total of 62 Academy Award nominations, winning 18 overall.
The series, however, is not without flaws. I’d even go as far as saying this may not be for many of us. It starts off strong, then sorts of meanders somewhere in the middle, before picking up speed once again in the last few episodes.
But if you’re like me who doesn’t mind a show that takes its time, then I suggest you give this one a go. I wish there was less focus on the yakuza, though, which was a bit annoying and unnecessarily bogged down the pace.
Overall, Sunny is a compelling study of grief and AI’s increasing role into our already complicated lives. It will make you laugh, cry, and wish that it gets a well-deserved second season.
