Critic’s Rating: 5 / 5.0
5
Things have certainly escalated for Suzie and the somewhat human-like Home Bot, Sunny in Sunny Season 1 Episode 3, “Mmmm, Hinoki.”
After revealing Masa’s lies to Suzie about who he was and what his job actually entailed, the series seems staunchly headed for bloodier times.
This episode, in particular, exceeded expectations in many ways and was a testament to Sunny’s quality writing, acting, and direction.
For all the good, the bad, and the bloody, the series feels like a cult classic in the making as long as it can stay consistent and not lose momentum.
There Are a Lot of Mothers in Sunny, but There Is Only One Noriko
The first thing that needs to be addressed is what in the world is going on with Masa’s mother, Noriko.
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That flashback of her bringing food to Masa had us mightily confused for a minute, wondering if she had been harboring him since the plane crash.
This was a solid misdirect from the writers because it made my brain flood with so many questions at once that it was actually a relief when I realized it was all just a memory.
On the surface, Noriko seemed to be filling the archetypical role of the mother-in-law, who isn’t that warm to her foreign daughter-in-law.
But after this episode, it’s clear that Noriko has more layers to her than we might’ve originally thought.
She displays a prevalence for soft lying, as she did in the previous episode.
Strong mothers doing anything to protect their sons is a consistent theme in storytelling, from The Serpent Queen to the delusional Mrs. Langsberry in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School.
And in Noriko’s case, we can’t help but feel she knows much more than she is letting on.
If she does have some inside scoop about her son, she’s keeping it close to her chest. And far from Suzie.
Suzie May be Sad, but Her Sarcasm is Serving Up Snark in Sunny
As for the bereaved widow and mother, Suzie has certainly stayed consistent with her character, which is a sad and morbid breath of fresh air.
So many shows like to fast-forward the grieving process to move the story along, but the writers turned Suzie’s grief into a compass with Sunny.
Every decision she’s made, whether good or bad, has been entirely influenced by the loss, confusion, and anger she feels at the world and her, possibly, late husband.
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It feels wrong to laugh, but Suzie delivers some of the best lines, full of wit and sarcasm, at the most depressing moments.
With years of comedic television experience, it’s no wonder that Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation) can easily maneuver between intense emotional scenes and quick quips that keep us laughing.
So many dark comedies skew in multiple directions, but Jones manages to steer the ship so that the transitions from drunken hijinks to life-or-death situations feel seamless.
In case you missed it, there was an Easter egg in “Mmmm, Hinoki” when Suzie referenced a “Dark Manual,” which is also the title of Colin O’Sullivan’s novel on which the series is based.
Perhaps after this episode, Suzie will be more mindful of her actions, but we’re hoping she isn’t since her actions brought her face-to-face with legit crazy people.
You Can’t Keep the Camp and Crazy Away on a Show Like Sunny
Speaking of crazy, if there is one thing Sunny knows how to get right, it’s a cold open that hooks audiences in before they even see anything.
This was the second episode that started with the sound of bloody screams before anything was visually depicted.
It’s a simple but effective strategy that immediately piques the interest of anyone watching, and to couple it with the introduction of Hime was pure genius!
First of all, in case you missed her name, as I did, I’m referring to the crazy blonde lady with the fake pinky at the beginning and end of the episode.
We’re glad the series writers aren’t afraid to throw a little camp into the mix because listening to Hime discuss finger replacements while Takumi was being tortured was priceless.
How in the world did the other actress talking to Hime not crack up every second?
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I could not stop laughing every time Takumi screamed while Hime kept chatting away.
Unlike other series, like Land of Women, where the bad guys seem like bumbling idiots at best, the ones on Sunny seem fully cognizant and dangerously competent.
But with a show like Sunny, it’s impossible to know where any character will end up by the end, especially in a show where there are underground Bot fights, among, well, other things.
Seriously, Don’t Have Sex With the Robots
You know precisely what I’m talking about when I say “other things” because while it was hinted at in Sunny Season 1 Episode 2, it was solidified in this episode.
Although, hearing about it and seeing it were two different things, probably because the robots that are having sex with humans actually look like robots.
Sure, sex robots are something that is actually happening in our own time, but they aren’t sentient AI.
This isn’t Westworld, after all.
The bots on Sunny were clearly never designed for that, considering there are so many safeguards to keep robots from engaging with owners that way.
Considering how human-like Sunny appears to be, it would be very unnerving and disturbing to watch her engage in that kind of activity.
It would be easier to watch her bloody up some bad guys because Sunny is one of the series’ highlights.
She might be among the most advanced Bots if she can throw shade and sarcasm without missing a beat.
Related: Land of Women Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Chapter 3
She’s a petty robot, and there’s no coming between her and Suzie.
It’s still too early in the season to speculate about the show’s future, especially given its nature.
Anyone and everyone, including Sunny, could be lying to Suzie in a giant conspiracy cooked up by Masa, whose plane crash survival is, ironically, still up in the air.
The one thing we know for sure is that we will be at the edge of our seats to see what happens next to Suzie and Sunny!
Do you have any theories about what is happening with Suzie, Masa, and Sunny?
Which parts of this comedic yet intense episode did you enjoy the most?
Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we review Sunny’s next episode!