The rising popularity of wacky reimagined period drama...Bridgerton VS Dickinson. What is it that is SO ADDICTIVE?

Bridgerton. We have all heard of it. It has taken Netflix by storm as the most watched television programme ever. Surely yet another lockdown isn't to blame, is it? No, I don't believe that's why. Following a pretty dismally received latest season of The Crown (mainly because of the lengthy debate over what is true or false) I feel the need for something that people can't tear to shred for accuracy has emerged like a hatched chick. Bridgerton does have its historical truths. Of course it does. Because we wouldn't be able to recognise it as history or the regency period. But what it does so well is it delivers not only that, but the ludicrously and soapy drama that Jane Austen films always bring without meaning to but this time on purpose. It is simple, but subtly genius. 

Themes such as female empowerment, being able to choose who you marry is an idealistic perspective. Bridgerton almost acts as the past we wish had happened. We want the characters to speak how they feel, and get the justice they deserve but we still want the frigidness of society there. And oh does it have it. As silly as it makes it, we all still heavily believe in the story. Nothing reflects this better than the colour-blind casting. Queen Charlotte is dripping in jewels, beautiful but historically inaccurate fabrics, and here's the kicker- lots, and lots of power. We know it is not true of the early 1800s that a queen would have been black. Slavery wasn't even fully abolished by this time. Far from it. But the fantasy of this is really effective on the viewer. In a world full of pandemics, riots at The Capitol and Black Lives Matter marches; we just need a break and to imagine otherwise. This isn't harmful and distracting; it's just doing a good deed to all of our doom-scrolling eyeballs, you know?

The same goes for Dickinson. I watched this for the first time last week and just like Bridgerton there is a heavy use of modern songs layered throughout the episodes. Strangely, it doesn't take you out of the time period because it makes us think more deeply about the characters and the kind of music they would like in a different era. Emily Dickinson definitely classes herself as someone that would like the music. It doesn't seem completely wrong. The fakeness of that kind of makes it more digestible for teenagers who aren't into the whole period drama thing. Sometimes not everyone can relate to people of the past, and this is like a step-ladder to doing so and I like that. 

The language and phrases used in Dickinson is full of "sups" and modern lingo and it does it in a really self-aware way. The show isn't lying to you. It's just presenting the humour of seeing that transcend centuries that highlights the hilarity and attitudes of the time. It can be grating at first but the comedy grows on you. It's just all dynamic, and smart in a way that isn't praised by critics and I think that it is a great shame to label Dickinson as rubbish because it is geared towards teenagers and doesn't have the most strong ties to fact. Yet, there are characters that are very much real and documented. Just what the show does with them is speculative but that is what is so fantastic. It is an extremely loyalty to the character of Emily Dickinson and the unlimited bounds you can give to telling someone's story. A quote from the Dickinson creator Alena Smith summarises their vision well:

But I think the key is less to do with “this happened and this didn’t,” and it’s actually more of a question about the techniques we used in telling Emily’s story. In other words, we are really pushing the boundaries of surrealism in season two. I wanted to set that introduction up so the audience themselves can be open to perhaps blurring the lines or losing the distinction between what is real and what is a dream state of a great artist."

Also I would just like to shout out how incredibly fabulous the treatment of Emily Dickinson's suspected sexuality was represented in the show? If I could compel you to watch it just because of that I really would say you should. I think we all need to watch this space on how many shows may follow the lead of Dickinson and Bridgerton. We are all thirsty for the surreal and when it comes to history there is a playground of material to do this too. Both of these shows are very camp and theatrical. Who doesn't crave that? Anyone remember The Favourite? That film definitely was ahead of its time. In any case I am just living for this kind of thing and fingers crossed this trend lasts!

Is the first episode of Channel 4's "It's A Sin" SINcere or SINful in its representation?

 

As a fan of director Russell T Davies and his ability to craft characters made me feel that whatever way the first episode went; it would be well written characters. It certainly isn't his first rodeo. Queer As Folk as relevant as it will always be seems to fade away the more years go by, and even Russell's work on Cucumber and Banana from 2015 also seem oddly old as the face, and the pace of LGBTQ+ experience continues to run in bounds and strides among Millennials and now Generation Z who expect to be represented well, consistently, and properly. Gone are the days are well all just "happy with what we can get"! It is a new world for us all seize what we deserved in the past of when It's A Sin was set and what we deserve now, and always.

So, onto my perspective on the slice of the act that is It's A Sin. Sometimes gay characters can fall into the pitfall of binge carbon copies of each other but that's not what we're served on a gay London scene platter. These young people are vastly different and are all at different stages of exploring the world of sexuality. Nice. Cracking start so far. We meet Ritchie who has moved to London for university who attends clubs, and rapidly sleeps around confidentially and seems to be a fish in water for the London scene. Colin is a clean-cut reserved boy from Wales who longs for a boyfriend but doesn't pursue it, merely takes sneak peeks at men and has moved to London for a new job at an up-market Savile Row store. Roscoe is a boy escaping the wrath of his deeply religious African family and culture. I'd say these are the three we see the most of in the first episode, though there are many more I am sure we will hear more from later.

Films and television have covered being gay in the 80s and the aids crisis a lot. This is a fact and made me feel anxious that another one would be stale. This isn't to say that there aren't recent, fresh takes on a very important period in the last few years. One great example is BPM released in 2017. (I truly recommend a watch if you haven't). But It's A Sin feels different from the get-go and isn't hitting too many stereotypes as it leads us through the narrative. It doesn't glamorise every gay experience in a rose-tinted way because yes, it is a very romantic, fulfilling time getting to finally getting to live your truth but sexual experiences can be messy and I appreciate that from Russell T Davies. This is shown when Ritchie encounters his first-time and Ash, brash as anything tells him truthfully that "Your ass. It needs a good wash." Nothing like the reality being presented more, eh? I feel like that is great especially when young LGBTQ+ people are watching dramas and relying on them for accuracy to shape their perspective on who they are and how their lives are going to be when they are older.

What is a gay drama without Neil Patrick Harris working at Saville Row, slick and donning a moustache? He becomes a mentor to Colin and takes him under his wing by helping him normalise his feelings especially by introducing Colin to his home and his partner of decades Pablo. The relationship is sweet, non-toxic and a realistic portrayal of the different ways you can come to accept yourself with the help of others. We see Colin get a pep in his step from this, as do we see in Ritchie who has made a female best friend who he takes home with him to help "come out" to his family. Spoiler-alert: you think that he is going to come out as gay but, really, he tells his parents he is switching from a law degree to a drama degree. There is humour in that because as a viewer you sigh with relief, but also see it as a stepping stone for Ritchie because his parents are still very angry about this. I like that it shows that it is not just sexuality, but gender-norms which were a huge struggle at the time.

The fact that it is set in the eighties isn't thrown at our faces like Luke-warm water. It doesn't dominate everything like some period dramas can do. In fact, the show delivers it in ice cold doses in a glass and a kiss on the cheek every time they do. It's organic, and natural. Every scene is easy and pleasing on the eye and I was looking forward to every frame. We slowly see Colin lose touch with Henry (Neil Patrick Harris) who has become ill alongside his husband. We watch this unfold with a slow knot of unease build up in our stomachs. Contextually, we know what this means, but the world and Colin have no idea as to event is about to have its firm grip around the population. Colin doesn't give up and eventually is able to visit Henry in hospital and we see lots of tender exchanges that come from this but that is all I will say about that to prevent spoilers!

All the characters meet together towards the end of the episode in a dysfunctional but a warm introduction to what life can be for Colin. Roscoe is almost the leader of the pack and their flat is called 'The Pink Palace' and it is a busy, safe place that hosts crowds. It takes Colin barely five minutes to ask if he can rent a room there. Seeing all the different personalities come together is heart-warming. Starting to see their daily life together begin and seeing them all get ready in the morning is homely and feel-good. I can't wait to see more of that and see this develop more. Each episode seems to jump two/three years in time which is going to be a really fascinating experience and the way things change dramatically between each jump will be interesting to see.

See ya next time,

The Serial Television Watcher

The first episode of 'The Luminaries' is a nugget of pure bingeability!

'The Luminaries' has been in the works for quite some time so it made me as cheery as the sun on a June morning to find the whole series available to watch on BBC Iplayer! If you have ever been anywhere near any bookshop in the last few years you will be familiar with the front cover in its book form. It is a series based in 1865 New Zealand where hundreds of people are flocking to benefit and set themselves up for life from the goldrush that is occurring there at this time. We get into this story through the viewpoint of Anna. We meet her in the darkness of night. She is disorientated and her pink dress is tattered, yet glowing like she is somehow bleeding gold. She is being followed by two men. The situation is ominous and there is a dead body close to where she was. She is arrested and is assumed a prostitute and taken to jail where she watches what then happens to the body.

The episode changes pace and the setting switches to a brighter, more beautiful day. Anna is now free and wearing a reasonably pricey striped Edwardian dress looking out at beautiful landscapes of the kiwi coast. There is a man splayed out on the deck who wakes up and walks up to join her. He introduces himself and they hit off and the flirtation in the air is thick, and innocent. It is both of theirs's first sea voyage. There is a level of virtue to both of them yet it almost seems like they both have secrets that suggest this is not the case. They are both bound for New Zealand to dig for gold. Anna gives him a button for his vest which has lost one. He is impressed by this kindness and they arrange to meet at his hotel to get to know each other later in the day.

We are then back to just following Anna and the mystery shrouding her as she embarks in this new place - travelling alone, unmarried, illiterate yet has some means in the form of money and clothing. Her purse is stolen by a thief as soon as she gets onto land.  A woman named Lydia Wells played by Eva Green stops him and makes him drop it. Eva Green maintains her feminine powerhouse type of character that can install fear yet slithery trust in any character she takes under her wing. She is fantastic as that, but equally fantastic is Anna's mistrust of her. She discovers that Lydia reads fortunes and obviously does well looking at the embroidered dress that she is wearing.

People gather in the town square as nuggets of gold are valued and counted. Anna watches on in total curiosity and we are gently reminded of the ominous way her dress had twinkled in the flashbacks. Anna then goes on to try to wait for Emery at the hotel she thinks he is at but is she is cornered and intimidated by men who ask her if she is buying or selling in a classic sexist vulgar way of the decade. We see Emery having funny conversations with his friends who are mocking him for wanting to meet Anna and his sweetness of his character is revealed further by when compared to Romeo, he says "I'd rather be Juliet. Way better lines." He is not a typical man of the period especially due to the colour of his skin, unfortunately. 

Anna escapes to the only contact she has made apart from Emery who is obviously Lydia. Lydia offers her a room. A room her husband clearly is never there to stay in. She has many quirky, expensive items related to planets that Anna looks at in admiration. There is a lot more to Lydia than meets the eye and Anna realises that in these moments that she might be a dangerous but good asset to have.  These are two starkly different women in their outlook, yet deeply similar at the same time. There is much to learn about both of them and the episode does well at portraying that. 

It definitely seems like a stylishly generated show that has potential to hook you in if you love a good period drama.

I will share more TV goodness with you very soon readers!

The Serial Television Watcher

Quick Fire Review: 'Can You Hear Me?' Episode 1

I saw this show in the 'what's coming next week' section on Netflix. I look at that quite often and I was truly interested by 'Can You Hear Me?' had to offer. It is about three friends from a low income neighbourhood who find humour and comfort within each other. I grew up quite poor and I found this subject really relatable and I like shows about friendship that cut through the bullshit and show real strife and reality. Each episode is around twenty-two minutes long and it is a perfect bite of content. It almost has a web-series vibe to it because it comes across more authentic and less sensational. There is such a cute stop animation intro scene which leads into the song 'The best things in life are fee' by Janet Jackson starts. The editing introducing the setting is fun and engrossing and there is a youthfulness to the way areas are being shown in such high energy.

The song mentions money and "that's what I want" and that is an easy, simple way of conveying the character's situations. We meet the first girl who is called Ada who is wearing a nineties-style choker and blagging her way through her therapist meeting. She looks at a chart of an emotional scale and seems to lie and be completely disinterested in being there. Flashbacks show her being the opposite calm- screaming, shouting, whacking people. There is funny editing showing her doing so. I like how this slightly trivializes what she does and shows how non severe she sees her behaviour. We meet another character sat in a car, not answering texts and reading Agatha Christie. Her name is Caro and her car horn doesn't work. She seems more subdued compared to Ada who leaves the therapist's room and presents her middle finger to the people she does not know in the waiting room. She seems very brash and thrill-seeking as she leaves without a car in the world and jumps into the car with Caro.

Initially we see these two young woman as  quite rude characters. Ada gets out of the car and gets a woman who has stopped in her car to move and uses quirky phrases like "move, you big strawberry". This reminds me of the british TV show Skins which uses language like that which actually sound as if young people actually use them. They arrive as a burrito fast food chain and  there is a sadness to Caro because she can't decide on what to eat and you get the feeling it's not just food that she is indecisive about. Perhaps it is her life too. They get shouted at by an employee but  we discover that she is putting on a pretence of what her boss would want to see and she is actually their friend - Fabiola. Ada and Caro sit with their food. Ada steals bites from Caro's meal and the quiet personality with the robust personality makes entertaining and nice viewing. I like the dynamic a lot and even more so when Fabiola gets off her shift and joins them. The trio are three vastly different people and is very representational of different women in society which is a massive "thumbs up" from me if I want to do a "Simon Cowell"!

Fabiola gives them brownies but professes she is on a diet. She is bigger than the other two so she definitely seems to have insecurities about that. They return to Fabiola's flat where her mother is (who appears very ill) and they lounge and chat like regular young girls and they have conversations about pay checks and welfare checks and whether they count as being paid. They don't all agree, but get along so well anyway which is refreshing and realistic.

They go out to the subway and sing together for money with no instruments just acapella voices that don't necessarily go together. The songs being about Jesus is the only way  Fabiola agrees to it. It goes well and they acquire money pretty easily. They are clearly hacking the system and are really resourceful people which excites me about the plots to come. The episode ends with them lying on a train track, running when a train comes and Ada ends up renting movies by showing her breasts to a video store guy. Caro later has a panic attack when reading a text from "Keven" who she has been avoiding. Ada and Fabiola react in different ways but one thing is certain - they both care very deeply for her. I, for one, am exciting to see where this show goes and it is shaping out to be one of my favourites I have seen during lock down!

Have you given this Netflix series a watch yet?

Over and out,
The Serial Television Watcher

Let's get into 'Snowpiercer' episode 1 and what it's all about!

'Snowpiercer' stormed into my Netflix unexpectedly and it made me want to watch it straight away. Most of the shows that I have been watching recently are lacking serious adventure and sci-fi and it seemed like 'Snowpiercer' could shake things up a bit for me like a hurricane in a snowglobe.

The first episode gives you a lot to unpack in its early beginning. It offers you samples of detail that the world has become uninhabitable (a trope, yes, but not a bad one if done well) and we are shown a train of biblical proportions like an ark that towers over the dying landscape like The Polar Express gone wrong. It is 1,001 cars long and like the titanic; there is only so much space. Which leaves a mass of people attempting to board it in desperation. Some people manage to get on the train but the train conductors want to throw them off. A lot of them are butchered apart from those who could hide. The viewer is left to wonder what it is that entitles passage on the train and the biggest answer seems to be class and money like any high value travel or luxury now.

The episode flashes six years forward to the future. The train is full of different parts like classrooms, cafes and poverty areas where people are starving with half rations. In my naïve consuming content brain I was hoping that everybody once on the train would be treated the same but it is not the case. We see the carriage full of the original stowaways which is full of dirt, overpopulation and rising tension. It gives me a bit of 'The 100' vibes mixed with 'Lost In space' but with a train not a spaceship. Times are hard and the situation is cruel and crass as we see that the other areas of the train are starkly different. Bright colours, fancy music...the whole works! It is a utopia of making the best of a situation. Yet there are still political tensions between the different nationalities of people so it's not all perfect but everything is ten times more petty.

We grow attached to the people that are known as The Tails. Andre- an ex-homicide detective is at the forefront of the community and he is encouraging a boy who wants to be an engineer to pursue his dreams of moving up in the train. The community plan to hijack one of the cars in an attempt to rebel from the lack of food and in a way, try and take control of the situation which feels so hopeless. A wrench is thrown into this plan because Andre is taken away and separated from his girlfriend. They take him away from the part of the train that is all he has ever known and experienced there. The budget on this show seems pretty good. There is a cable car which transports people to different carriages which adds dimension to a show that could feel more forced and unbelievable to house so many people. But it all works and seems like a never-ending train which it is supposed to be.

Andre looks outside for the first time at the world that is engulfed in snow and ice. It is terrifying yet it's beautiful with the sun shining down on it and you can see how grateful he is to see it. He almost cries seeing a splice of bread. I like how this shows his humanity and gives more character development to back up his uprising actions. The reason they have brought him out of The Tails is to solve a murder. You don't expect it to turn into murder on the orient express but...it sort of does. Just with less jazziness. But I am not mad at it. However, Andre is and insists to go back at every turn which is annoying as a viewer but endearing to a degree. I feel bad because I agree with the higher ups who believe he should want to get out of where he is. And I think that is a very privileged viewpoint and is exactly what the show intends to target.

One of the people involved in the murder used to be in the The Tails but got a job and got out of it. Her and Andre were in a relationship but it is clear that he resents her for leaving. It raises some interesting questions and the politics of survival and betrayel. The world of the train is fleshed out more by Andre getting see parts of the train which are covered in growing flowers and fruits which is meant to stretch for 130 cars! It is a sight to behold and it feels like as much of a fantasy to me as it does Andre because the way it looks is so different compared to The Tails. Though it is incredible, Cavill brings him back to earth by telling him that it isn't as much as it looks. Though, it is more than he and his community get.

With further research I discovered that 'Snowpiercer' was a film released a few years back starring Chris Evans. I enjoy that this is a prequel to that and better yet, it has been diversified a lot by looking at the cast list of the original film. 'Snowpiercer' has a lot of right elements and it has all the right parts to keep a steady show. I worry that it might become a little lacklustre but it is so hard to tell right now. I like details like how the now oldest man on the earth in the The Tails carriage. It is an interesting detail that makes you think. There are only two episodes up currently because of a delay because of the Coronavirius but I will definitely be checking out the second episode to see how things progress.

Have you seen 'Snowpiercer' yet? Does it "pierce" your heart in a good or bad way?

In a bit,
The Serial Television Watcher

In Review: Little Fires Everywhere Episode 1

Whispers of this show and it's watchability has been travelling through the TV world pipeline for quite some time so I have been anxious to get ahold of it. I have never read the book but I have seen the front cover in the windows of various bookstores and it is popular for a reason that I think comes across very well in the first episode. Let me tell you why.

The episode literally starts with a fancy looking house ablaze and consumed by smoke and fire. And the impression is that many relationships and family ties are also being fried to ash too. It pans to Reese Witherspoon holding her gown closed with eyes swimming with tears. She is a cool contrast to the fire. Her blue eyes are the water that you can see that she wants to put out what has been done, but does not know how. The fire was set with little fires all over the house and a character called Izzy is being blamed.

The first episode is called "The Spark" and the episode goes back in time to four months before. It is 1997 and we see Reese's matriarchal character keeping her busy all American family under wraps during breakfast. She has kids going to orchestra camp. She seems to have everything in a tight schedule. She goes to work but on her way there she sees a car with a woman sleeping in it so she reports it to the police. We see that it is not just one woman but two. They are a mother and a daughter who are getting by and who is shown being careful with money and washing themselves in a public bathroom. They are a completely different family unit to that of Elena's and her brigade of  assumed perfection.

Elena meets the women in person when they come to the house viewing of a place that Elena is renting out. She does this at a lower price and even knocks off a little rent even more for them. The mother, Mia is naturally suspicious and untrusting of Elena, and the suburb in general. We find this easy to understand especially when they are given a book with town history and town rules. It is a very white, and middle-class town. Mia is an artist and doesn't seem to take authority and convention very well. Her daughter Pearl is optimistic and starry-eyed over being able to have her own bedroom. We get lots of scenes that show they are very close, yet very different in their perspectives. They discuss 'finding a bed' in a skip while lying in bed and we feel that like Elena. Mia only wants the best memories for her child.

Themes build up such as class when Elena's husband criticises Elena's charitable acts when he quizzes her with the proclamation "you rented to a homeless person?". Meanwhile while Pearl is putting together her salvaged bed in the front lawn Elena's son Moody comes over to meet her and they strike up a friendship. There is a lovely montage of them picking paint and painting the house together. Though, Pearl only ever paints one wall. As they move a lot and it is easy to revert back, she explains.  Elena's relationship with her children isn't as good as it initially seems. She is disconnected with her youngest daughter Isabelle who prefers to be called Izzy. In TV tomboy style she sets her hair on fire because her mum said it is her best feature and wants to wear black all of the time.

The tension brews like a hot cup of spiked tea between Elena and Mia who meet in the street after Mia finishes work at her part time job. Elena attempts to offer her work at her house like cleaning and Mia is offended by that. Elena also tries to encourage Mia to take up portrait photography as this would be popular in the neighbourhood but it is not the type of photography Mia does. She likes to "show people as they really are" and her voice is shrouded by meaning towards Elena and the mask she seems to wear. Elena means well but she has underlying racism she doesn't realise she has and this is an enticing plot device I look forward to seeing more of. The differences between them are highlighted more and more as the episode continues. The knife is shoved deeper into Mia's insecurity as Pearl gets on very well with Elena. Isabelle longs for no rules whereas Pearl almost wants them and is missing the structure. Both daughters find that in their alternative mothers.

The episode ends with trouble. Moody gets Pearl a bike and he takes her to his den in an old van in a junkyard which they get in trouble for being at. Izzy refuses to play at the orchestra and writes "not your puppet" on her forehead. There is a lot of room for some really interesting developments. I am pumped to see Elena and Mia come to blows, but eventually find more common ground and realise their love for their daughters is exactly the same. I am excited for all of the tension in between. All in all there are eight episodes and I might just binge it all now.

You can delve into 'Little Fires Everywhere' on Amazon Prime!

With love and television buzz,
The Serial Television Watcher

Should you upload "Upload" to your "to watch" list?

I'm not going to lie. I was a little dubious about 'Upload' because I feel like I have seen many different versions of the afterlife in shows like 'The Good Place' and there is a show last year I can't remember the name of which had a man who is quite depressed is cloned and he has to life with his happier alter-ego. 'Upload' is definitely a merge of shows like this and I've got to say that I wasn't really looking forward to it. But woah-ho, I was wrong!

It starts with a short haired girl sat next to an older lady watching '50 First Dates' in a hologram version on a tram. An advert for an idyllic place called 'Lakeside'. She jumps off the tram and runs to work which seems to be the tech agency that provides and manages 'Lakeside' which is more than just the retreat that it seems. In fact, it is an afterlife that you can purchase and be uploaded to when you die. Seconds later, we meet a man racing through the streets and controlling his car with a game controller. So we know who the immediately who the two main characters are going to be.

Police stop him but not in the typical 2020 way. The police officer is not real person. It's a drone with what looks like an iPad attached to it. It is really cool, yet really funny. The show and its lore and the way things make sense doesn't seem too serious which is easy for a sci-fi to slip into. We see such a well laid-out image of how the futuristic world is. With details like seeing bicycles drive themselves home after people get off them and how there are "prioritise occupant" or "prioritise pedestrian" options for your car. It's concepts that are the world is close to now, but still far away enough to feel immersive and cool to watch.

We find out that the man's name is Nathan and we join him at thanksgiving with his family...and his girlfriend who he doesn't want to commit to. A conversation about a relative who is dead comes up and the question "which heaven?" is asked. His girlfriend replies "Lakeside". It is so fascinating that you can pick your own heaven and you don't get the default. It makes me wonder about all of the ways ethics will play into this as the series goes on. The show throws out fun little sweets for the viewer to gather and stuff into their cheeks with  details like how classical dance is now considered to be twerking. It's a jovial experience.

Nathan is scanned at the grocery store and it discovers what you like "You like Cayan. Buy some spinach!" which is so humorous. Shortly after, he dies of a punctured lung because his automated car won't stop. It is hinted that it may have been tampered with. Nora, we discover is a handler who helps people adjust to being uploaded to the afterlife and she is given Nathan to upload. She sees that he is forced to upload by his girlfriend. He is put into a hospital room. He leans forward to see his mother and his head is lasered off to be uploaded to the digital afterlife. It is a ruthless act but it is made better by Nora adjusting his settles and it shows how his appearance can be edited by the person uploading him to heaven. Like fixing his uneven hair. Which she chooses not to.

Nathan is finally uploaded to 'Lakeside' and Nora is there to guide him. She explains how his room is  classic Americana  but to Nathan it appears outdated and they slowly start to warm up to each other and joke together. Nora is the optimism to Nathan's pessimism and it works beautifully. He calls her an angel and in a way she acts in the way because as he lies down and cries when she is gone she comes back and has the ability to send him to sleep. So although they get along so well; they are not equals and this could get messy later.

Nathan settles into his afterlife with items such as fridges you can "swipe left" on like Tinder so it can take you to a new selection of crisps and drinks and a dial that changes the weather outside. There are two men who are high school sweethearts next to him on rocking chairs on the balcony over who uploaded together at the same time. It's all so cute and perfect and we see Nathan try and grapple with why it doesn't feel perfect to him. 'Upload' is very smart because it shows adbots who are personified and walking around the hotel lobby. There is a character in the lift who is in black and white. It is because they uploaded her using a photo from 1961. I enjoy that immensely.

Nathan continues to have a hard time. He can't remember what his job was and his now very much alive girlfriend is possessive and has control of his afterlife account. She tells him she loves him because she can't scare him off now. We see Nora back at home. Her dad is using a food printer which is like a 3D printer. He instantly creates a Jamie Oliver recipe through it and Nora comments that "the fat cartridge might be low" which is hilarious. Her dad seems to be ill and believes in the original heaven because he is convinced that is where her mother is much to Nora's protest.

The dark side of the afterlife is portrayed in so many ways. There is talk about "sui-scan" which is suicide by uploading yourself by scanner. Nathan finds a guy is reviewing Lakeside in front of the lake for his YouTube channel. He explains how the frame rate drops because there are millions people in the same place. Nathan approaches the data torrent so he can die properly however Nora is there just in time to talk him down. She tells him details she is not supposed to and it sets up a strong foundation for where their relationship is bound to go from there. Overall, I am riddled with surprise about 'Upload' and I really, truly believe you shouldn't miss out!

Watch 'Upload''s ten episodes on Amazon Prime!