SunnySeason 1 Episode 5, “Joey Sakamoto,” sees Suzie, Mixxy, and the titular robot navigate dense woods and complex emotions while fleeing the Yakuza in a less action-packed, more introspective outing compared to last week’s bloody fare.
Joey Sakamoto
Suzie, Sunny, and Mixxy leave Kyoto for the latter’s family farm; unfortunately, they get lost along the way. It’s your stereotypical faltering point on the hero’s journey, where tensions simmer and boil over between Sunny and Mixxy.
The most intriguing element of this episodic narrative is the ambiguity of Mixxy and Sunny’s motives. Can Suzie trust the human or the robot? This series doesn’t shy away from exploring our relationship with technology and the rapid rise of AI, but what makes flesh and blood more trustworthy than metal?
Sunny and Mixxy
Of course, there’s still the fear that Sunny will turn on Suzie, as evidenced by the reports of homicidal bots popping up all over the city. Plus, with Sunny’s emerging yet fragmented memories, it’s abundantly clear she was involved in something nefarious, as was Masa.
That aside, Mixxy is another enigma entirely. Initially, she seems like a hip 20-something who befriends Suzie when she is at her lowest. However, her actions in “Joey Sakamoto” leave a bitter taste in my mouth. She exhibits two-faced behavior and outright lies, throwing Sunny under the bus. Yet Sunny is the one who covers for Mixxy when Suzie asks for the truth.
Even with the Yakuza and a bear trailing our trio, Mixxy and Sunny’s questionable objectives provide plenty of narrative friction. That’s the tension — wondering who might turn on Suzie at any moment.
Performances
Rashida Jones and Judy Ongg deliver the goods on this week’sSunny. Jones and Ongg beautifully tap into their respective character’s grief processes. Ongg, in particular, does so much with little screen time. We haven’t seen Noriko grieve until “Joey Sakamoto.”
Watching her suppress her emotions in the first four episodes makes her overflow of grief compelling and poignant. Noriko chooses to truly let go in the privacy of her own home. However, we see it start when she tries to organize a game of shogi with her busy friend — who also didn’t attend Masa’s funeral. Ongg fights against the tears in such a relatable way.
Meanwhile, Jones navigates the ebbs and flows of Suzie’s grief, who opts for a more outward display of her feelings. She oscillates between the anger and depression stages, often lashing out and projecting her emotions onto Sunny and Mixxy. Suzie’s breakdown during the bird funeral (that everyone on the farm inexplicably attends) is as heartbreaking as it is profoundly resonant.
Abject Loneliness
“Joey Sakamoto” drives home the all-consuming, collective loneliness we experience in our modern society. The more connected we become technologically, the less connected we are socially. Everyone feels like an island, with Suzie perhaps being the most relatable for those of us who are naturally introverted or have anxiety — we crave connection, but we want to be alone. It’s a conundrum.
Sunny tries desperately to connect with the emotionally unavailable Suzie and to understand motherhood as Suzie grieves the loss of her son. Unfortunately, Suzie is a robot and will never comprehend the complex emotions that come with motherhood. Mixxy attempts to connect with Suzie while keeping her at arm’s length, only reeling her in when she wishes to one-up Sunny. The dynamics between this trio are fascinating.
Overall, “Joey Sakamoto” is a slower affair, but the interactions and back-and-forth between our main trio are fun to dissect. There’s a lot of “show, not tell” in Sunny andan undercurrent of weariness as these characters strive to survive. It’s a beautiful (and harsh) meditation on the human condition.
Stray Observations:
- Do I need a Suzie/Mixxy karaoke night? No. But do I want it? Yes. Fun fact: Annie the Clumsy, who plays Mixxy, is a singer/songwriter.
- Who is the “Do Not Answer” contact on Noriko’s phone? When we see the house of said contact, it looks like a man in the shower.
- Is Sunny the robot who murdered that man at ImaTech? I’m leaning toward “yes.”
- Himé clearly kidnapped Sunny. That sign must be instructions of some kind.
- RIP, Joey Sakamoto. We hardly knew ye.
- The woods where Suzie, Mixxy, and Sunny are lost are gorgeous. I’d like to get lost in them when I need a break from life.
What did you think of this episode of Sunny? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Sunnydrops new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
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Melody McCune
Hello! My name is Melody and I love TV! Maybe too much. I'm the Managing Editor for a small entertainment site called Geek Girl Authority and an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles. Additionally, I have bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. I love cheese. I love lamp.
