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!
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