'Upload' Review: A heart-tugging futuristic series with themes of death and laissez-faire capitalism
Greg Daniels is back with a futuristic series that blends comedy, humanity and is a heart-tugging affair. The sci-fi comedy series, 'Upload' comes after Daniels' scintillating works— 'The Office' and 'Space Force'. This Amazon series is in stark contrast but is just as riveting and enjoyable as the others. There's a sense of drama and soap-style serialization that also brings in a theme of laissez-faire capitalism.
Set in 2033, 'Upload' says afterlife is a sure possibility and it is a business venture that rakes in the moolah big time. The cutting-edge tech allows just anyone to "upload" their consciousness (read 'soul') to be sent on a digital platform at the time of death so as to still be alive for loved ones. They are much akin to a large number of files stored in an endless memory bank.
Robbie Amell's Nathan Brown is an app developer in a relationship with Ingrid (Allega Edwards). Now, Ingrid is rich and the opening episode does hint he loves her much. Things go wrong when Brown finds himself close to death when he suffers a deadly and freaky self-driving car accident. With an opportunity to upload, he does so on Ingrid's family's wealthy heaven. The takeaway message: No matter where you are in the future or in whatever state, money is always the key to determining your status in society.
This afterlife might be heaven, but what it really is a sort of place that gives you a chance to pay for what you want. There are ads, purchase possibilities and all of it charged to your account. In this case, Brown's. In Nora (Andy Allo), Brown has an angel in the afterlife who oozes charm but is a level-headed mature woman from New York. An honest friendship begins between the two.
'Upload' is a visual delight and right from the start there's a sense of realization that for all the happiness it promises, it comes at a cost and not everyone gets a chance to be part of heaven and bourgeois community. Daniels manages to bring in topics of income, capitalism that plays essential roles in determining if you deserve an afterlife.
Cast performances add to the deserving watch. Amell, blessed with some innate good looks is excellent in his role as Brown. There are shades of love, a bit of nonchalant arrogance, and at the same time, some humanity that makes him a relatable character while Allo comes in as a woman who's part rebel attitude works beautifully in the show. 'Upload' just says this is a possibility. After all the world as we know, is data and AI-Driven. And with money and business being central to our lives, heaven coming at a price shouldn't be all that surprising.
'Upload' has its moments where the viewers think there is a bit of a lull, but it's made up for with a storyline that's humorous, crisp and emotional at the same time. Sensitive souls might even shed a tear or two considering the overarching theme being death and the life after.
'Upload' is definitely binge-material and can be added to your list of weekend watches. It debuts on Amazon Prime on May 1, 2020.
