Upload – The Future Is Still Far from Sight
If we think about how life on earth will be after 50 years from now, we may not anticipate the true face of it. Technology, as we know is advancing at a shooting rate and many things, we never have imagined happening are now irreplaceable parts of our lives.
Upload is an American science-fiction drama series created by Greg Daniels. The series premiered on May 21, 2020, on Amazon Prime and is currently renewed for a second season.
The story is depicted to take place in 2033 where humans can ‘upload’ themselves to an artificial environment to live, after their death. When the protagonist Nathan meets a premature death due to an accident, he is being uploaded to one of the most expensive and luxurious afterlife facilities by his girlfriend, Ingrid. But he was under the control of Ingrid as she paid for his stay and it caused him discomfort. That was the time he met Nora, his living customer service representative who takes care of him as a customer. They later become friends and Nathan develops feelings for Nora which leas itself to a series of events following. The first season ends with an amazing surprise and a possible storyline for the sequel.
Main cast and characters
Robbie Amell is the lead male actor who portraits Nathan Brown, a 27-year-old computer engineer who was dead and got uploaded to the digital afterlife. He is confused and bewildered by the afterlife and wishes to go back to life at the beginning of his stay.
Andy Allo is playing Nora, the lead female character who works at the afterlife company where Nathan says. She takes care of him and consoles his worries by her loving and considerate nature.
Allegra Edwards as Ingrid Kannerman, Nathan’s girlfriend who pays for his stay in the ‘heaven’ and hence controls him. She is a mysterious character and we sometimes get the idea that she has something to do with Nathan’s death.
What ‘Upload’ says
The story not only depicts technology and love but shows the business nature of the world and its pathetic transformations after years from now.
The show depicts several ‘heavens’ or afterlife facilities according to marketing and economic standards. The heaven in which the protagonist lives is known as Lake View and it has all the advanced facilities. The number of facilities available will depend on the ‘package’, as in if you have more money, you can take a hot bath or eat amazing food. Just like life on earth, everything is branded and compiled. The same Lake view facility has an additional option for people with less money known as 2 Gig where people get only 2 GB data per month to live and when that is over, they become statued human beings.
The show also creates an atmosphere that real food can be afforded only by rich people in the future and others will have to eat printed food. There is a scene in which a girl from a middle-class family has dinner with an upper-class family and wonders that there are bones in chicken leg. It is a frightening reality that has almost every possibility of coming real where people will be marginalized based on money even for food, life, and death.
The show itself is deeply human and sarcastic to the face of capitalism and privacy.