Upload (TV series)

Upload (TV series)
Upload is an American science fiction comedy-drama television series created by Greg Daniels. The series premiered on May 1, 2020, on Amazon Prime Video and was renewed for a second season. The second season premiered on March 11, 2022; it had seven episodes, three fewer than the first. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on October 20, 2023.
Premise
In 2033, humans can "upload" themselves into a virtual afterlife of their choosing. When computer programmer Nathan Brown dies prematurely, he is uploaded to the very expensive Lakeview, but then finds himself under the thumb of his possessive, still-living girlfriend Ingrid. As Nathan adjusts to the pros and cons of digital heaven, he bonds with Nora, his living customer service rep. Nora struggles with the pressures of her job, her dying father who does not want to be uploaded, and her growing feelings for Nathan while slowly coming to believe that Nathan was murdered.
Cast and characters
Main
Robbie Amell as Nathan Brown, a 27-year-old computer engineering grad and newly deceased computer programmer who is uploaded to the digital afterlife Lakeview.
Kauis Lowe portrays a young Nathan (guest season 1)
Andy Allo as Nora Antony, a living woman who is Nathan's handler in his afterlife
Allegra Edwards as Ingrid Kannerman, Nathan's materialistic, obsessive girlfriend
Zainab Johnson as Aleesha Morrison, Nora's coworker who is Luke's handler
Kevin Bigley as Luke Crossly, a former army corporal and Lakeview resident who befriends Nathan and is dating Mildred
Andrea Rosen as Lucy Slack (season 2–present; recurring season 1), Nora and Aleesha's domineering boss
Owen Daniels as A.I. Guy (season 2–present; recurring season 1), a virtual employee at Lakeview who can appear in many places at once. Daniels also portrays Boris Netherlands, an unemployed actor who was paid for his likeness to be used in Lakeview.
Josh Banday as Ivan Spelich (season 2–present; recurring season 1), Nora's coworker
Recurring
Jessica Tuck as Viv Brown, Nathan's mother
Chris Williams as Dave Antony (season 1; guest season 2), Nora's father
Jordan Johnson-Hinds as Jamie Arpaz (season 1), Nathan's best friend and business partner
Megan Ferguson (pilot), Hilary Jardine (season 1), and Vic Michaelis (season 2) as Mildred Kannerman, Ingrid's centenarian grandmother who resides in Lakeview, and whose avatar was based on an old black and white photograph
William B. Davis as David Choak, a wealthy man living across the hall from Nathan
Elizabeth Bowen as Fran Booth (season 1), Nathan's awkward cousin who is investigating his car accident
Rhys Slack as Dylan (season 1; guest season 2–present), a child who lives in Lakeview after falling into the Grand Canyon and is trapped in the form of a 12-year-old despite being uploaded six years prior
Brea St. James portrays an Older (female) Dylan (guest season 1)
Matt Ward as Byron Titley (season 1; guest season 2–present), Nora's casual sex partner
Andy Thompson as Lionel Winters (season 1; guest season 2–present) (identified only as "the Professor" in the first season)
Barclay Hope as Oliver Kannerman (season 1; guest season 2), Ingrid's father
Yvetta Fisher as Batia, Nora's coworker
Ryan Beil as Craig Munthers (season 2–present; guest season 1)
Paulo Costanzo as Matteo (season 2; guest season 3)
Mackenzie Cardwell as Tinsley (season 2–present), a temp hired by Aleesha
Jeanine Mason as Karina Silva (season 3), a charming new Horizen executive in charge of new product development and cybersecurity
Guest
Christine Ko as Mandy (season 1), Nora's roommate
Wayne Wilderson as Zach (season 1)
Matt Braunger as Brad (season 1)
Chloe Coleman as Nevaeh, Nathan's niece
Luvyna Ward portrays a younger Nevaeh (season 2)
Justin Stone as Dan the Orbit Gum Guy (season 1)
Julian Christopher as Ernie Lampsterman, a Horizen therapist whose avatar in Lakeview is a Labrador Retriever
Scott Patey as Josh Pitzer (season 1), an executive hoping to buy Nathan's and Jamie's software
Creed Bratton as Rupert Tilford (season 1)
Teryl Rothery as Dawn Kannerman (seasons 1–2), Ingrid's mother
Lucas Wyka as Jack Kannerman (seasons 1–2)
Alex Kliner as Nathan Greenstein
Philip Granger as Uncle Larry (season 1), Viv's brother and Nathan's favorite uncle
Gigi Gorgeous as Jordan (season 1)
Larry Wilmore as Kamyar Whitbridge (seasons 1, 3)
Peter James Smith as Mauricio (seasons 1, 3), a digital afterlife salesman
Phoebe Miu as Yang
Jennifer Garner as Officer Jennifer Garner (season 2)
Hiro Kanagawa as Detective Sato (seasons 2–3)
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2020)
Season 2 (2022)
Season 3 (2023)
Production
Development
On September 8, 2017, Amazon announced it had ordered a pilot for a new single-camera comedy series created by Greg Daniels. On July 28, 2018, Amazon announced it had given the production an order for a first season of ten episodes. Daniels and Howard Klein are executive producers, and the series is produced by 3 Arts Entertainment. On May 8, 2020, Amazon renewed the series for a second season, which premiered March 11, 2022. On May 11, 2022, the series was renewed for a third season. In October 2023, Daniels mentioned in an interview with Collider that he was hopeful for a fourth season and that the writing process would begin during November 2023.
Casting
In January 2018, it was announced that Robbie Amell and Andy Allo had received the pilot's male and female lead roles.
While the series was filming its second season in February–March 2021, Paulo Costanzo and Mackenzie Cardwell were cast in recurring roles. At the release-date announcement, it was also confirmed that Amell, Allo, Allegra Edwards, Zainab Johnson and Kevin Bigley would return; and Josh Banday, who recurred in Season 1, was promoted to a series regular.
Filming
Season 1's principal photography took place from March 5-May 10, 2019, in Vancouver, Canada.
Some exterior photography for the Lakeview virtual reality world was shot at Mohonk Mountain House and Preserve in New Paltz, New York, including images of the hotel, groundskeeper, and lake. A small number of interior shots, including rooms at the hotel, were also filmed on location.
Season 2 was filmed from January 25-April 15, 2021.
Season 3 was filmed from August 15-November 2, 2022.
Reception
Upload received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 88% with an average score of 6.9 out of 10 based on reviews from 56 critics. The website's critical consensus is, "Though Upload at times suffers from tonal overload, witty writing and a winsome cast make it an afterlife worth living." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 67 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
The second season holds an approval rating of 100% with an average score of 7.4/10 based on 10 critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The website's critical consensus is, "Upload’s sophomore season goes into sleep mode just when it's revving up, but even a truncated installment of this techno afterlife makes for terrific comedy." Meanwhile, on Metacritic it received a weighted average score of 72 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
The third season has received an approval rating of 88% with an average score of 7.5/10 based on eight critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
See also
San Junipero, an episode of Black Mirror that first aired in 2016 has a similar premise
References
Further reading
External links
Official season 2 finale screenplay
2020 American television series debuts
2020s American comic science fiction television series
2020s American satirical television series
English-language television shows
Fiction about consciousness transfer
Amazon Prime Video original programming
Television series by 3 Arts Entertainment
Television series by Amazon Studios
Fiction about the afterlife
Fiction set in 2033
Fiction set in the 2030s
Transhumanism in television series
Television series set in the 2030s
Television shows filmed in Vancouver
Television series created by Greg Daniels
Television shows set in Los Angeles
Television shows set in New York City