Review: 'Upload': Quirky sci-fi with a twist of satire

"Upload" (Amazon Prime series); Cast: Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Allegra Edwards; Created by: Greg Daniels; Rating: * * * and 1/2 (three and a half stars)

By Vinayak Chakravorty

If you are a binge-addict, you might be tempted to go for this one after spotting the creator's name in the credits. Satire wiz Greg Daniels has in the past rendered a caustic edge to genres as varied as the animated sitcom ("The Simpsons"), the political comedy ("Parks And Recreation"), the mockumentary ("The Office"), even non-fiction entertainment ("Saturday Night Live"). With "Upload", Daniels uses his brand of wit set up an unusual concept cocktailing sci-fi and romance.

This is not the best on OTT you will see this year, but Daniels' latest is surely one of the most original fits of imagination you have come across in a while.

"Upload" is a quirky show that takes its time to build up. Despite being conceptually different it may not grip you right away, but if you hang around, the overall deal at the end of 10 episodes is imaginative, intelligent.

Utopia and dystopia, the overall underlying themes of this story, are familiar notions in science fiction. But these ideas are almost always executed with a dash of the sombre. Daniels and his battery of co-creators (five co-directors and seven co-writers) go for a fresh and funny approach.

The story takes us to the year 2033, when human beings can 'upload' themselves into a preferred virtual heaven of their choice in the afterlife -- for the right amount of money, of course. Nathan (Robbie Amell), after an accident, agrees to be uploaded, mostly on the insistence of his rich girlfriend Ingrid (Allegra Edwards) who agrees to fund his uploading to the expensive virtual zone of Lakeview, mostly inhibited by the affluent.

A new turn of events awaits Nathan when he meets Nora (Andy Allo), his handler in the afterlife.

Notably, the year is 2033 -- not very far away from where we are today. With adequately set up cinematography and CGI, the creators have managed to set up a world of the future that is distinct but not drastically different.

The Nathan-Nora romantic track could have grown tedious had it not been for some good acting. Robbie Amell as Nathan is especially impressive. Together with Andy Allo's Nora, he manages to prevent the love story from becoming soppy mush.

"Upload" imagines it characters with a sense of subtle self-humour, which works in favour of the characters (and by extension, actors) in a large way. Without giving away spoilers, the story does not really run to a definite end -- which throw open the possibility of these characters returning in a second season.

(Vinayak Chakravorty can be reached at vinayak.c@ians.in)

Tags: Cinema, Showbiz, Quote Unquote