REVIEW: Upload Is an Entertaining, Fully Realized Vision of the Future – CBR – Comic Book Resources

Upload plunges viewers into a future that seems almost disturbingly plausible. Advertising is everywhere, self-driving cars zoom along on the highways, mobile-device screens appear at the flick of a wrist and food is printed instead of cooked. Given some version of all these things is already with us, the idea that the technologys been perfected and accepted in the future doesn't seem so far-fetched. Add to this the idea that people are wearing face masks on crowded public transportation (although the show was shot well before the coronavirus pandemic), and the show's vision of the future feels downright prescient. So the idea that people can upload their consciousness to a corporately created version of the afterlife -- as long as they do so moments before they die -- fits within the shows premise. Upload is the story of one man's experience uploading to the posh, girlfriend-approved digital afterlife Lakeview, and the highs and lows that come with it.

After 27-year-old Nathan(Robbie Amell) is badly injured in a freak self-driving car accident, his girlfriend, Ingrid (Allegra Edwards), insists he upload to her preferred destination. There are many digital afterlife options at just as many price points, but Lakeview is the only place Ingrid lets Nathan consider. Under pressure and not especially capable of making well thought-out decisions, Nathan agrees. Soon he finds himself in a rigid, well-manicured world. Its beautiful, but its not exactly real life, especially since any extras -- in-room dining, better golf clubs, a cold have a price, and Ingrid holds the password to Nathans account. Although Nathan initially has trouble adjusting to his new circumstances, he quickly bonds with his "angel," Nora (Andy Allo), the customer support rep responsible for him. He also learns that his death may not have been so accidental, setting up a mystery that helps drive the plot along.

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Yet, Upload has more on its mind than the exploration of its digital afterlife or the mystery of what happened to Nathan. From its first episode, the series has a strong undercurrent of social commentary about class. While it never hits viewers over the head with it, the series often returns to themes about haves and have nots. Before his untimely demise, Nathan and his partner were working on an open-source digital afterlife that would have enabled anyone to create their own ideal post-death experience, regardless of means -- a project that would have challenged the extremely lucrative paid digital afterlife industry.

Just like Upload's depiction of the future, its social commentary feels pertinent to our current day and age, but that doesnt make the show feel heavy or difficult to watch. This is a Greg Daniels show after all, and the man who created The Office and Parks and Recreation still knows how to land a joke. That said, this isnt as uproariously funny as Daniels' past comedies. The humor here is more wry, although there are some laugh out loud moments (including when a newly uploaded Nathan learns he'll never miss the toilet again). Plus, the characters are a lot of fun to spend time with, and even the unlikable Ingrid shows her endearing side by the end of the first season.

Part of the credit for that goes to the cast. As Nathan, Amell comes across as a less quirky Jason Ritter, and despite being vain and a bit reckless, his good-guy status is never in doubt. Meanwhile, Kevin Bigley as Luke, Nathan's friend at Lakeview, and Zainab Johnson as Aleesha, Nora's friend at work, fill in the digital and real worlds and offer a counterpoint to the two leads. Also, The X-Files' William B. Davis is a delight in a small role as Nathans billionaire neighbor who enjoys dining on endangered species.

However, the biggest standouts are Allo as Nora and Edwards as Ingrid. Allo brings nuance to the down-on-her-luck Nora, and makes it easy to understand why Nathan immediately gravitates to her. And although Edwards is playing a character that the audience is meant to root against, as the show continues, new and different parts of Ingrid are revealed that make her more sympathetic, even as she maintains her entitled attitude.

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The other shows Daniels is known for were workplace sitcoms, of course, and there is some of that in Upload as well, especially in the real world Nora occupies. She navigates a difficult office environment on a daily basis, including a demanding boss and eccentric co-workers. Yet the inner-workings of the company that runs the digital afterlife are not the shows main concern.

While The Office and Parks and Recreation found absurdity in the mundane, the world presented in Upload is anything but ordinary. Thats part of what makes the show so enjoyable -- it presents a fully realized vision of the future whose characters are grappling with that reality just like we grapple with ours. Upload is layered and engaging, and while it brings up some big ideas, its consistently entertaining. If the show continues for additional seasons, it has the potential to become just as beloved as Daniels' other classics.

Created by Greg Daniels (The Office), Upload stars Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Allegra Edwards, Zainab Johnson and Kevin Bigley. The series premieres May 1 on Amazon Prime Video.

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Freelance writer and pop culture enthusiast living in Los Angeles. Co-author of the books Mad Men Unzipped and the recently released Finding Truth in Fiction, about audience's positive responses to fictional stories.

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REVIEW: Upload Is an Entertaining, Fully Realized Vision of the Future - CBR - Comic Book Resources