The Apple TV+ sci-fi comedy seriesSunnyhas been canceled after just one season, leaving viewers with a cliffhanger ending and concerns for the future of other streaming sci-fi shows.The ending ofSunnyseason 1left several plot points open to exploration in season 2, including a shocking main character betrayal. As Apple TV+ has confirmed that viewers will not get aSunnyseason 2, this continues a worrying trend for streaming channels.Sunnymight be the latestcanceled TV show that ended on a cliffhanger, but it is far from the first, with sci-fi shows often being affected.
FX on Hulu canceledKindredafter just one season, Prime Video’sThe Peripheraloffered viewers hope when it was renewed for a second season before it, too, was canceled. It appears thatThe OA’s multidimensional cliffhanger ending will never be resolved after six years, and huge franchises are not immune to cancelation, with theStar WarsseriesThe Acolytebeing canceled after one season. Now,Sunnyhas become yet anotherrecent sci-fi show that didn’t deserve to be canceled, making this development extremely disappointing. While a future reboot might happen, current audiences may never see a resolution to the cliffhanger.
Sunny’s Cancelation Gives The Show A Frustrating, Unresolved Cliffhanger Ending
Sunny’s Hopeful Message Suggests That Masa Could Still Be Alive
The main storyline inSunnyconcerns the disappearance of Suzie’s husband and son, as she collects clues detective-style. While season 1 ends with Suzie learning the truth about Masa’s disappearance and being reunited with Zen, there is a twist. After Suzie escapes from kidnap and stops Sunny from wiping her own memory by persuading her that the two are allies,Sunnyreveals Mixxy’s true nature. Mixxy has been working for the yakuza all along, proving Sunny right for mistrusting her. The series ends with Mixxy taking Sunny to the yakuza, and the possibility that Masa is still alive.
Masa appears to have the most secrets out of all the characters inSunny.
Masa appears to have the most secrets out of all thecharacters inSunny, including Mixxy. The series shows Suzie discovering that her husband’s job was not what she had thought, and he worked in robotics rather than refrigeration.Masa appeared to have modified Sunny with hidden features that season 2 could have explored further, and the cliffhanger ending suggests that this would have happened. Though Masa appeared to have died in the plane crash, he narratesSunny’s ending, saying “Maybe there is hope,” which could suggest that Masa would have been found alive in season 2.
Sunny’s Premise Is So Popular That The Show’s Cancelation Is Even More Of A Surprise
AsRashida Jones' best movies and TV showshave tended to be comedies, she is most known for that genre. WhileSunnyis still a comedy, the show has given her a chance to take on a different type of character, and her performance has been praised. She stars alongside Hidetoshi Nishijima, who is one of Japan’s most popular and versatile leading actors, with an extensive background in sci-fi. Pairing the two was an excellent casting choice, anddespiteSunnyreceiving a 90% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the show has not attracted the attention it deserves.
Amid the growing popularity of AI, it is not surprising that this theme has grown more prevalent.
Amid the growing popularity of AI, it is not surprising that this theme has grown more prevalent in the sci-fi genre.Love, Death, & Robotsfeatures household robots going rogue, and even the kids' movieThe Wild Robotcovers AI. The modern trends have moved away from stories likeThe Terminatorin favor of featuring AI companions who may or may not have ulterior motives.The success of the horrorM3GANand the dystopian TV showBlack Mirrorshould have meant that Sunny would have fit in with current themes, making its cancelation even more of a surprise.
Sunny’s Cancelation Is Worrying For Apple TV+’s Future Acclaimed Sci-Fi Shows
Why Did Apple TV+ Cancel Sunny?
Apple TV+ has been the home of some ofthe best sci-fi TV shows of 2024, including the sci-fi film noir,Sugar, andDark Matter, which has been renewed for a second season. Many of these shows, includingSunny, have attracted good reviews and an overwhelmingly positive reception from audiences. That said, it appears thateven a strong cast and a high Rotten Tomatoes score cannot save a show likeSunnyfrom being canceled. This may not give future audiences the incentive to watch more sci-fi shows on Apple TV+ if even the best ones can be canceled so quickly.
10 Movies & TV Shows To Watch If You Like Apple TV+’s Sunny
Sunny wrapped up its first season in style, but fans will be looking for other interesting sci-fi mysteries that examine artificial intelligence.
Apple TV+ representatives have not yet spoken about the show and none of the cast have mentioned the cancelation, so we may never knowwhySunnywas canceled after one season. That said,Sunnywas likely canceled due to low viewings, as streaming services tend to prioritize viewing figures alongside critical and audience ratings. AsSunnywas not a particularly well-known show, potential audiences may not have known that it existed, andSunnymight have benefited from greater attention paid to advertising. If Apple TV+ had advertised the show more,Sunnymight have found its audience in time.
Sunny
Cast
Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan, grapples with the mysterious disappearance of her husband and son in a plane crash. Given a domestic robot named Sunny by her husband’s company, Suzie initially resents Sunny but soon they form a unique bond. Together, they uncover the dark truth behind her family’s disappearance, becoming entangled in a dangerous and hidden world.
