Any American TV show that intends to educate its viewers about another nation’s culture in a light-hearted and entertaining manner should be celebrated and not cancelled. But that’s not how business works. Katie Robbins’ charming sci-fi dramedy “Sunny,” an Apple TV series, got the axe despite its unique setup based on Colin O’Sullivan’s 2018 novel, “The Dark Manual.” It had a lauded critical reception (90% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and writing that is both poignant, funny, and thought-provoking.
Led by the wonderfully versatile Rashida Jones, “Sunny” follows her American expat Suzie in Kyoto, Japan, after her husband and son mysteriously disappear in a plane crash. Unable to get closure in a country she doesn’t belong in, Suzie is both depressed and angry, not knowing what to do or who to turn to in her overwhelming grief. That’s when she receives a domestic robot called Sunny (Joanna Sotomura), which was apparently made by her husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima). He had an important role at the robotics company ImaTech and didn’t work at the refrigerator company he initially made Suzie believe. His assumed death might not have been accidental. Despite her dislike of robots, Suzie slowly discovers that Sunny was sent to her for a reason: it may be the first clue in a line of many that will lead her to investigate what actually happened to Masa and their son, instead of the lie she was told.
Sunny is an intriguing mix of technology, crime mystery, and personal drama
The cancellation of “Sunny” after one season (via Screen Daily) is particularly upsetting because we don’t get many intriguing shows that blend future tech, crime mystery, and grief in such a thoughtful and engaging manner. Not to mention that it all unfolds in a spectacular and distinctive setting replete with Japanese culture. The deeper the plot goes in exploring a potential conspiracy that involves the underworld of Kyoto as much as strange housebots, the more compelling “Sunny” gets with each episode — although the writing occasionally gets bogged down by leaning a little too heavily on personal drama and plot points that don’t bring us closer to the truth but rather delay it.
It also helps that Rashida Jones brings her A-game as usual in a well-earned lead role, portraying Suzie with a lovable sense of humor, occasional grumpiness, and an emotional depth that’s easy to relate to. Interestingly, it also seems that the actress found herself another genre befitting her range, since her last three roles were all in sci-fi shows (she appeared in “Silo” and Season 7 of “Black Mirror”). Before that, she became known for comedies like “Parks and Recreation” and “I Love You, Man.” Evidently, she excels in all, proving that she can deliver as much dramatic depth as comic relief.
Although the 1st season of “Sunny” ends on a cliffhanger, setting up for another season that won’t come, it wraps up the most captivating storylines and major character arcs. So, if you’re intrigued by any of its peculiar aspects (and there are plenty to choose from), you should definitely give it a watch. Especially if you’re craving something out of the ordinary with just the right amount of weirdness and … well, robots.
