Sunny – Season 1 Episode 6 “Kyoto Manjū, So Delicious” Recap & Review

Kyoto Manjū, So Delicious

Episode 6 of Sunny begins with Noriko stealing a saucy magazine from a local store. The clerk barely lifts an eyelid though and she’s not particularly happy about it. So Noriko storms back inside, stashing a whole bunch of food and drink into her basket before walking out, making the clerk watch her the whole time.

Meanwhile, Mixxy and Suzie show up at the station with their threatening note. The officer has a broken neck and it’s awkward as Suzie has to sit closer to Mixxy so the officer’s not turning his head back and forth the whole time. She gives a description for Sunny but partway through, Mixxy bails after taking a call.

The detective believes this is just a simple home-bot disappearance and not linked to the yakuza. She’s encouraged to go visit the lost and found, leaving Suzie no choice but to smile thinly and leave. 

Outside, Mixxy explains she’s got a work emergency and needs to leave. However, the little mascot, Takemaro, outside hands over a piece of Sunny and demands they show at Mizonofuchi vegetable stand in 15 minutes’ time.

Sunny is the only clue that Suzie has to her past, so she heads off to the vegetable stand despite Mixxy’s pleas not to. When Suzie gets there, she’s bundled in the back of the van and taken to Hime. She’s tied up and in a rough way but Suzie holds her own. She believes Hime is responsible for their deaths and wants answers. Hime gets under Suzie’s skin, taunting her about Masa’s job and how she’s an admirer of his work. She also points out that Suzie was just lonely and didn’t know her husband, not really, as evidenced by her lack of knowledge into his career.

The real crux of the issue here is that Hime wants to get into Masa’s laptop and as Suzie’s face doesn’t work on the recognition, Suzie stalls for time. She brings up the current coup going on in the yakuza that she overheard at the sauna, and how she should watch her back. However, Suzie refuses to help get into the laptop. That is, until Mixxy is threatened. Suzie opens the laptop and is sent back home. Sunny isn’t there though but Mixxy is safe.

The police ring that night and it turns out Noriko has been arrested for shoplifting. And just in case you didn’t get that from the opening of the episode, when the scene cuts to a wide-angle, we see the words “shoplifting, disorderly conduct” under her name. Thanks Apple.

Anyway, while Suzie is out the house, Mixxy receives another letter. Unable to get through to Suzie, she collects her stuff and leaves the house. The note reads “Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple. Now.” Sunny is there, but in a weird state as its faceplate is glowing orange. Mixxy brings Sunny back but it appears there’s something wrong with the bot. Alas, the plot thickens…

The Episode Review

So Sunny returns with another slow episode, one that brings in a bit of humour and moves the plot along but no closer for us to discover what’s actually going on. I’ve said before but the release structure for this one – drip-feeding one 30 minute episode every week – is actively harming the enjoyment of this mystery thriller. Had it released with 2 or 3 episodes a week we may be building momentum but unfortunately what we get here is a padded out story lacking definition and excitement.

It’s a shame because there’s definitely potential here but it’s squandered behind a lackadaisical story that really isn’t in much of a hurry to get to the point. As we cross the halfway point, hopefully this one will pick up steam. But judging by what we’ve seen, that does seem unlikely.