42 reviews
Pretty unique
First of all I would like the creators of this show to acknowledge their love of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, because they named a character Boss Tanaka and he's even the same actor as Boss Tanaka in Kill Bill 1. THEN they name another character Boss Matsumoto. Oh, c'mon! And there are no mentions of this obvious influence in any interviews, but it's so obvious.
That said, I've really been enjoying the show. The writing is fairly clever with enough witty lines to balance out Rashida's dry and unlikeable character. The robot is really impressive to look at but also grows more human all the time. Actually I see a lot of my parrot in the robot, which is sometimes creepy but shows you that everything has emotions. Except robots right now, but we're probably headed there. The story isn't really as gripping as I'd like and it's definitely a slow series, but still very entertaining. I love subtitles so to me the languages blend seamlessly, but I can see how that might bother some whiny Americans. I like that it's set in Japan and seems true to other Japanese made movies and shows with how it's made, the acting, and how over the top the Japanese actors are. It gets better with each episode and I'm glad they made something different that isn't superhero related. It's refreshing that it's at least somewhat original, and definitely weird.
That said, I've really been enjoying the show. The writing is fairly clever with enough witty lines to balance out Rashida's dry and unlikeable character. The robot is really impressive to look at but also grows more human all the time. Actually I see a lot of my parrot in the robot, which is sometimes creepy but shows you that everything has emotions. Except robots right now, but we're probably headed there. The story isn't really as gripping as I'd like and it's definitely a slow series, but still very entertaining. I love subtitles so to me the languages blend seamlessly, but I can see how that might bother some whiny Americans. I like that it's set in Japan and seems true to other Japanese made movies and shows with how it's made, the acting, and how over the top the Japanese actors are. It gets better with each episode and I'm glad they made something different that isn't superhero related. It's refreshing that it's at least somewhat original, and definitely weird.
- HypnoticPoison7
- Jul 24, 2024
- Permalink
Quirky fun
Apple have done it again. Their content is often quirky and unusual and Sunny is no exception.
Rashida Jones's Suzie is a great character, spiky and sarcastic. As her relationship develops with Sunny her robot it becomes normal watching them interact.
Having Japan and Japanese culture, mixed with an American protagonist, and the difficulties this brings when a tragedy happens is interesting.
The futuristic elements are also really well conceived as they are believable, and not too unlike our present world.
I love to watch foreign films and series as subtitles don't bother me. Don't let it put you off.
Rashida Jones's Suzie is a great character, spiky and sarcastic. As her relationship develops with Sunny her robot it becomes normal watching them interact.
Having Japan and Japanese culture, mixed with an American protagonist, and the difficulties this brings when a tragedy happens is interesting.
The futuristic elements are also really well conceived as they are believable, and not too unlike our present world.
I love to watch foreign films and series as subtitles don't bother me. Don't let it put you off.
- mezzaitaliana-89131
- Aug 1, 2024
- Permalink
Not your average mystery
Ok, seen a lot of negative reviews which I don't get. I like this show, it works for me and I look forward to the next week's episode. It's not predictable, doesn't follow the usual recipe and explores a stranger in a strange land with unfamiliar customs, at least where a loved one is lost in mysterious circumstances as an American wife coming to grips not knowing her Japanese husband's secret work life. And yakuza thrown in to make it interesting.
It has a fair bit of quirkiness, which I like. Yes a lot of it is in Japanese, but it's got subs, so that's okay. I'm giving 7 for now, maybe give it more at the end of the season.
It has a fair bit of quirkiness, which I like. Yes a lot of it is in Japanese, but it's got subs, so that's okay. I'm giving 7 for now, maybe give it more at the end of the season.
Two episodes in
Loving the retro yet futuristic esthetic of the visuals and set design! A bit early to speak from an overall perspective since just two episodes have been released thus far, but it feels very promising!
Rashida is a great casting for Suzie and the overall mystery of the series feels very eery and intriguing.
I also like the buddy cop dynamic growing between Suzie and Sunny.
Apple TV keeps delivering!
Loving the retro yet futuristic esthetic of the visuals and set design! A bit early to speak from an overall perspective since just two episodes have been released thus far, but it feels very promising!
Rashida is a great casting for Suzie and the overall mystery of the series feels very eery and intriguing.
I also like the buddy cop dynamic growing between Suzie and Sunny.
Apple TV keeps delivering!
Rashida is a great casting for Suzie and the overall mystery of the series feels very eery and intriguing.
I also like the buddy cop dynamic growing between Suzie and Sunny.
Apple TV keeps delivering!
Loving the retro yet futuristic esthetic of the visuals and set design! A bit early to speak from an overall perspective since just two episodes have been released thus far, but it feels very promising!
Rashida is a great casting for Suzie and the overall mystery of the series feels very eery and intriguing.
I also like the buddy cop dynamic growing between Suzie and Sunny.
Apple TV keeps delivering!
- soulchildofsthlm
- Jul 9, 2024
- Permalink
Cool and Intriguing BUT Poor Script and Bad Dialogues
I don't get it.
I love Sci fi and I love Rashida Jones but I can't figure this show out. I'm not sure what it's about after 3 episodes. The fact that 70% of it is in Japanese makes it even harder. Rashida Jones' job seems to be to stand there half slumped and speak in English to people speaking to her in Japanese. She doesn't have any drive or maybe it's the way she portrays it I get no sense of urgency or even fear or trepidation from her as she's trying to figure out what happened to her husband and son. The writing is really uneven. This makes me sad. I wanted to like it, it's just too obscure for me I guess.
- generic230-1
- Jul 24, 2024
- Permalink
Refreshing
I'm only through 5 episodes but am pleasantly surprised. I tuned in because of Rashida Jones but have stayed for its delicate moments. For a sci-fi thriller this show takes a softer hand and is more creative than I expected. The plot is nicely decorated with philosophy and culture, of which none is overtly stated. The plot develops nicely and preserves its mysteries but it's the scenes in between that are memorable. My favorite so far comes at 23 minutes into Ep 5 and prompted me to write this review. No spoilers from me so if you can handle its loose grip then you may be as pleasantly rewarded as I've been for staying tuned.
Engaging Story and Performances
- fatihsandikci
- Sep 3, 2024
- Permalink
Perfect Robot Tv Series
"Sunny" is a masterful blend of mystery, dark comedy, and heartfelt drama. Rashida Jones delivers a standout performance as Suzie, an American in Japan grappling with the mysterious loss of her family and the unexpected companionship of a domestic robot. The show's intricate plot, set against the authentic backdrop of Kyoto, is both gripping and emotionally resonant. The creative vision of Katie Robbins and Lucy Tcherniak brings a unique depth to the story, making it a must-watch. "Sunny" is a compelling, original series that captivates from start to finish. A perfect show that features a bond with a girl and a robot.
- shaunadam-39903
- Jul 17, 2024
- Permalink
Started well but then fell off a cliff
I guess Apple's strategy of releasing multiple episodes at the start of the season is a good one since it was the first couple of episodes that got me hooked. In the first 2-3 episodes, the tone was darkly funny, the mystery engaging, and the development of the relationship between Rashida Jones's character and the robot was interesting. After that, though, the show pretty much fell off of a cliff, devolving into inane subplots involving the Yakuza and spinning its wheels for several episodes with the plot going nowhere, the relationships taking a backseat, and the central mystery suddenly being ignored. It's too bad because there was a good show in here somewhere, but it seems to have gotten lost in effort to stretch things out over 10 episodes.
- somethingreal81
- Aug 11, 2024
- Permalink
So much to unpack
After watching the first seven episodes and reading the reviews I can get where a lot of people don't enjoy the series or say that it's slow. Honestly there is an enormous amount of Japanese culture imbued in the story and the script, and if you know and understand where it's coming from, this is a really clever and very funny series.
Suzie is described as loud, crude and obnoxious, but she is the epitome of gaijin, and that is the point. She is embroiled in cultural norms that she doesn't understand or flat out refuses to learn and adhere to.
There are so many tidbits to unpack that it's a real joy to watch, but I understand that it's not going to appeal to people who don't get the in-jokes and cultural references. If you do get them you'll really enjoy the series.
Suzie is described as loud, crude and obnoxious, but she is the epitome of gaijin, and that is the point. She is embroiled in cultural norms that she doesn't understand or flat out refuses to learn and adhere to.
There are so many tidbits to unpack that it's a real joy to watch, but I understand that it's not going to appeal to people who don't get the in-jokes and cultural references. If you do get them you'll really enjoy the series.
The show started wel, but...
The show started well, the future, new interesting technologies, Japanese culture, mystery and thriller... but at one point the concept changes. The story is supposed to be told from the eyes of Suzie and Mixxy as the main actors, but the story expands and spends a lot of time on background stories of other characters where it slowly starts to lose fun like at the start... but omg the ninth episode, is for children... little children...
It's a shame a good idea was ruined, how it started could have been something special, this way it will be forgotten very quickly, and actors will have a harder time getting better roles because of a childish show.
P.s. The robot should have a dark mode on face/screen, how could Suzie sleep next to him when he is shining like cinema...
P.s. The robot should have a dark mode on face/screen, how could Suzie sleep next to him when he is shining like cinema...
- nasasaturn1
- Sep 4, 2024
- Permalink
Creepy at start
You will feel kind of lost on the first episode, but later things get interesting. Although this too interesting as we are hearing this AI matter going around all the time and the ethic principles. Did love the actress; Rashida is super good when it comes to writing and acting. Way to go Rashida. Sunny is being creepy suddenly though when it returned to the home. How would that be possible as Rashida went too far to drop the robot and keep in mind that she took the metro! This might be the one thing so far which I got confused about. However, we still have more episodes to come and will see. Great for the beginning.
- m-w-alowais
- Jul 15, 2024
- Permalink
Not nearly enough Japanese charm to save a needlessly complicated plot with no payoff
Worth sticking around for
Som much potential, but it just got weird
I thought the first 3 episodes were great, lots of mystique, interesting plot line and a broad spectre of characters. It was attention grabbing. But at some point it just took a turn in to a surreal japanese game show-esq story with no clear plot. It tries to explore moral questions but it quickly becomes flat and uninteresting. It fails to keep your attention, and although it has an interesting problem : can a robot (AI) have free will, an intriguing and relevant philosophical question, it fails to connect on an intelectual level. At a point I just stop caring about the protagonists or the problem in hand. Loads of potential but it just seems like the writers had no idea how to explore the plot in an interesting way. It's as if the Matrix turned in to a Disney cartoon midway...
- WiggleWalk
- Aug 28, 2024
- Permalink
Futurism and Fun"Sunny" emerges as a standout show, weaving a tapestry of surrealism and futuristic concepts that resonate deeply with contemporary discussions on AI and robot
"Sunny" is a gem of a show that truly stands out. It's a rich blend of the surreal and the futuristic, touching on themes of AI and robotics that are incredibly relevant today. Rashida Jones shines in her role. He show's ability to maintain a balance between the surreal and the real, the futuristic and the relatable, is a remarkable achievement that resonates with a wide audience. The series' use of an in-ear translator as a plot device is a brilliant reflection of the communication barriers and dependencies that arise in a technologically advanced society. It is a refreshing take on the possibilities that lie at the intersection of human experience and artificial intelligence. It's an easy 9/10 for its storytelling and inventive approach.
One of the rare feel good series of the moment, not to mention its originality
I feel like a duty towards my good feeling that this series left me with, in this tide of series that depress us, that make us feel even worse than when we started them, and does it in order to get some hope and some faith in the beauty of the humankind, as hidden and masked as it might me by the self defenses that we create as shields against a world that is ruled by cruelty, loneliness and greed that some take for the gate towards heaven, even though, luckily for us, the victims of those people, life has an end and these cupid psychpaths that walk over corpses in order to impose their supremacy and control leave the earth one day or another. This is a feel good series and I recommand it whole heartedly.
- dianaionescube
- Sep 4, 2024
- Permalink
What Could Have Been: A Disappointing Journey
- sebwriting
- Sep 4, 2024
- Permalink
Quirky fun thriller!
Slow not thrilling. Should be much better.
We are now four episodes in and the story has really only just gotten started, with the slow pace turning what should be a tight thriller into a lacklustre drama. All of this should have been edited down into two episodes.
I truly cannot understand how all these ingredients are coming across as so drab. Japanese is a stunning and enigmatic setting. In the real world AI robotics are slowly becoming a genuine reality. Throw in a dark mystery and we should be watching this on the edge our seat, not able to walk out of the room for five minutes and miss essentially nothing.
Think of compelling shows like Black Mirror and Killing Eve (which this show could and should be a combination of), but instead we get something flat and uninspiring. Sunny is watchable, but knowing what it could have been... just so disappointing.
I truly cannot understand how all these ingredients are coming across as so drab. Japanese is a stunning and enigmatic setting. In the real world AI robotics are slowly becoming a genuine reality. Throw in a dark mystery and we should be watching this on the edge our seat, not able to walk out of the room for five minutes and miss essentially nothing.
Think of compelling shows like Black Mirror and Killing Eve (which this show could and should be a combination of), but instead we get something flat and uninspiring. Sunny is watchable, but knowing what it could have been... just so disappointing.
Very creative & timely sci-fi with a very cool & engagingvibe
This is a very clever and creative bit of Science Fiction raising some very timely and poignant issues about humans and AI. The showrunners have managed to create a really cool Vibe combining kitchen Japanese culture with retro feel and American 60s music. If you allow it to it will really suck you in and envelope you in this very unique world within which the moral issues surrounding the limits AI robots exploring their own "humanity". Rashida Jones does an outstanding job playing a grieving wife and mother who has just lost both her husband and her son in a tragic plane crash. She is lost in grief and alcoholism while something nefarious is clearly going on around her. The show is not slow as one critic has said I personally have a zero tolerance for anything slow. The story is told at a good pace gradually unraveling the mystery. It's not one of those shows where they just keep throwing questions at you with no resolution. This deserves a bit of a higher rating I would say like a 7.8. As for the negative reviews there are always people who can't get into a sci-fi show or any show and I think those are a bit premature considering the series hasn't completely aired yet and the episode that came out this week I think was the best so far. I've been on IMDb pretty much since it started and I've found that users consistently underrate sci-fi and comedy shows and movies. A high six or seven is very good for these genres if you skip shows based on that you're missing out on a lot. Definitely encourage you to give this one a try and see if you can let yourself get lost in the vibe. And don't expect Rashida Jones character to be likeable has one critic said - she's not supposed to be. She's a grieving woman full of self-doubt and much more complex than that.
Another shiny Apple production with no real value
Got to episode 6 and that was it for me.
There is no depth or any artistic value to the show, and it certainly lack entertainment quality.
The story is rather boring, and the plot lines are just that - lines meant to hook you into wanting to find out "what happened next". But that's not enough to make a good show.
The characters were annoying at best, and portrail of Japanese society is superficial and dull.
Did the people grading this show highly watch any of the great TV shows out there? If so - can't you tell the difference?!
The Sopranos, Breaking bad, The wire, Slow horses, Black mirror, Mad men, Love and robots.
Just try one of these.
There is no depth or any artistic value to the show, and it certainly lack entertainment quality.
The story is rather boring, and the plot lines are just that - lines meant to hook you into wanting to find out "what happened next". But that's not enough to make a good show.
The characters were annoying at best, and portrail of Japanese society is superficial and dull.
Did the people grading this show highly watch any of the great TV shows out there? If so - can't you tell the difference?!
The Sopranos, Breaking bad, The wire, Slow horses, Black mirror, Mad men, Love and robots.
Just try one of these.
Quirky and fun
- catrine-48845
- Sep 18, 2024
- Permalink
I'm a glutton for punishment apparently
I really have no idea what I'm watching.
I heard Rashida talk about this show on a Conan O'Brien podcast, so I thought I'd give it a watch.
I like to watch new shows anyway, so why not.
Right from the get go it's disjointed, and doesn't make much sense.
Rashida plays the typical, rude and crude, angry American who refuses to assimilate to the Japanese culture, and talks down to everyone. Completely embarrassing!
Sunny the robot is so stupid, cheap looking, and cheesy.
We're on episode 8 and still trying to put together all the pieces to this story.
The only thing remotely interesting is the involvement of the Yakuza, but don't get your hopes up.
I'll see it through as I've already made it this far, but if you're looking for a great story, great writing, and amazing acting, this isn't the show for you.
I heard Rashida talk about this show on a Conan O'Brien podcast, so I thought I'd give it a watch.
I like to watch new shows anyway, so why not.
Right from the get go it's disjointed, and doesn't make much sense.
Rashida plays the typical, rude and crude, angry American who refuses to assimilate to the Japanese culture, and talks down to everyone. Completely embarrassing!
Sunny the robot is so stupid, cheap looking, and cheesy.
We're on episode 8 and still trying to put together all the pieces to this story.
The only thing remotely interesting is the involvement of the Yakuza, but don't get your hopes up.
I'll see it through as I've already made it this far, but if you're looking for a great story, great writing, and amazing acting, this isn't the show for you.
- celticsfan-72909
- Aug 28, 2024
- Permalink