Apple TV+ is slowly becoming recognised as a streaming service of high-class storytelling thanks to the ambitious strides it takes. However, whilst a promising premise, can Sunny shine?
Based on the book Sunny: A Novel (fka The Dark Manual), Sunny is a dark comedy/mystery featuring Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation) as Suzie Sakamoto. Suzie finds her life upended when her son and husband go missing in a suspicious plane crash. Shortly after, Suzie is gifted a home bot named “Sunny” (Joanna Sotomura), created by her husband's domestic robots firm. With her bright personality, Sunny attempts to breakdown the barriers between itself and Suzie. But as their relationship develops, a dark and unexpected mystery revolving around Suzie's life is revealed. Together, the pair attempt to understand what really happened to Suzie's family.
From the get-go, Sunny will strike viewers as a show that fails to match its significant and unique potential. This largely stems from the decision to stretch the series to 10 episodes, despite the lack of story to indulge audiences in. Episodes average at around 30 minutes long, yet mid-season releases feel like a sluggish and forgettable waste. Pacing is inconsistent and the story often uninteresting; Sunny is at its best when adopting a faster, more time-conscious approach. Sunny is a rare instance where a show has too much time to tell a tale. The 10 episode series could easily be condensed into a more fluid 6 episode format that possess slightly longer runtimes. Unfortunately, this is where viewership may quickly falter.
Housebots in the series provide an enticing level of intrigue, but will fail to maintain viewership alone. When coupled with a protagonist, who isn't exactly written to be likeable, audiences will likely lose their patience to uncover the truth behind the mystery. At times, the mystery can be remarkably both uninteresting and underwhelming. Reveals are withheld until interest has dwindled, opposed to being scattered throughout to encourage weekly tune-ins. Additionally, audiences aren't given enough motivation to invest in Suzie's journey or sympathise with her loss. The latter episodes eventually provide this context, resulting in a somewhat satisfying conclusion, however this arrives too late to save the show.
Whilst not short of criticism, Sunny proves capable in providing moments of excellence. Balance of dark-comedy to mystery is near-perfect, consistently ensuring laughs. Rashida Jones' ability to a deliver a snarky and mournful Suzie Sakamoto opposite a positively perky Sunny is impressive. Their chemistry breathes life into the series, with both actresses harnessing the aura of someone whom the role feels written for. Such can also be said for Judy Ongg (The Pillow Book) as Suzie's mother-in law, and Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) as Masa Sakamoto, Suzie's husband. Furthermore, Sunny boasts a delightful visual style that oozes character, and deserves better writing. As acknowledged above, episodes 8 and 9 are perhaps the height of the series. Whilst they differ greatly emotionally, the writing here feel refreshingly stylised, aiding the overarching story.
Overall, Sunny is a mixed bag where potential rapidly evaporates. It opens and ends well, albeit with a few odd creative choices, but delivers a sloppily paced middle segment that may turn televisions off. Yet, whilst perhaps disappointing, it never feels cheap or rushed. For those with patience and the ability to weather their expectations, Sunny is worth a watch. Just don't expect a weekly drama that leaves you on the edge of your seat.
Sunny Episode 1 & 2 Release July 10th on AppleTV+.