'Sunny' on Apple TV+: Is Masa Sakamoto alive? Fans develop interesting theory amid slow burn mystery
Contains spoilers and speculations for 'Sunny'
KYOTO, JAPAN: Based on Colin O'Sullivan's novel 'The Dark Manual', Apple TV+'s latest series 'Sunny' keeps audiences intrigued with its slow-burning mystery.
With five episodes of the series released, the creators have yet to reveal any hints about the direction of the story.
All we see is Suzie Sakamoto (Rashida Jones) experiencing an emotional breakdown as she delves into uncovering her husband's secrets, with occasional glimpses into Japan's crime world.
What happened to Masa Sakamoto in Apple TV+'s 'Sunny'?
Masa Sakamoto (Hidetoshi Nishijima), who was married to Suzie, disappeared after a plane crash. He was accompanied by their son, Zen, who also became a victim of the tragedy.
Suzie struggled to process the news, especially since the remains of her husband and son were never recovered. However, aware that the chances of their survival were virtually nonexistent, she has been struggling to cope with the void left behind.
Fans believe Masa Sakamoto might be alive in Apple TV+'s 'Sunny'
Since Masa and Zen's remains were never found, some fans speculate that they might still be alive. One intriguing theory suggests that Masa might have staged his disappearance out of fear for his life.
On Reddit, one fan wrote, "My theory is that Masa developed illegal codes for robots and sold them on the dark web during his hikikomori. He then got recruited at the company that we’ve seen, but it turns out they’re controlled by Yakuza, and Masa was forced to develop codes to hack robots and have them do bad stuff. But when he witnessed that robot in the test room kill someone, Masa wanted out.
The fan added, "He was fleeing with his son when he somehow found out last minute that the Yakuza were going to take down the plane to kill him. So he went into hiding instead of boarding the plane."
Another fan comment reads, "I was thinking Masa staged his disappearance. that the violent robot attack at the beginning of episode one was Masa's company wanting to tweak the robot for either home defense or military contracts. i think the watershed for Masa developing these robots was to aid the hikikomori after his long bout with depression and isolation."
One fan predicted, "To your second point what if Masa didn’t go into hiding but was abducted by the Yakuza who then still crashed the plane as a staged death cover for him having disappeared? Innocent casualties presumably aren’t an issue for them."
Did 'Sunny' Episode 5 hint at Masa Sakamoto's survival?
Having followed the show closely since its premiere, we also suspect that Masa might still be alive. Additionally, we have a growing suspicion about his mother’s potential role in the unfolding narrative.
While we see Suzie having an emotional breakdown several times, Noriko (Judy Ongg) has been rather calm.
She sure has moments of loneliness, but it seems she has been hiding something. She has saved someone's number in her cellphone as 'Do not answer' and attempts to call twice.
When Noriko calls the enigmatic person in Episode 5, the scene cuts into an unfamiliar setting that shows a man taking a bath in his wooden cabin while there's another robot at the house.
Could it be Masa hiding somewhere to avoid a threat from Hime (YOU) and her gang? It's certainly one of the most exciting cliffhangers, prompting us to continue watching the show.
'Sunny' Episodes 1 to 5 are now available to stream on Apple TV+.