Upload Review
By Sioph W. Leal
Seeing that a final season is only four episodes can make someone think why bother? A short few episodes to wrap up a season can normally be impossible but Upload is a rare case where it was allowed to end gracefully instead of being cancelled. Four episodes may seem like a short time to wrap everything up but it does. Some things seem rushed but not in an impactful way and the overall heart and message of the series remains.
Even with the recap at the beginning, it’s hard to remember what happened in the previous season. Upload has always been a delight to watch with its absurd but oddly topical comedy and surprising existential themes that make it one of the deeper shows from Amazon but overlooked. It was a satire on capitalism and technology and how our everyday lives were impacted by both, and controlled by them, with a fun premise and a comedic approach. It’s always been about that commentary but as the show grew, so did its themes and criticism of the very things it had its focus on. The final season is no different and even though, at times, the theme and message can come across as being lost, it's more that it is growing to its end.
Every side of the show is honoured from the romances, the comedy, the critiques on our lifestyle but sped up in order to reach its conclusion. Uploaded New Nathan (Robbie Amell) is still with Ingrid (Allegra Edwards) and the two are about to be married and start their lives together while Real Downloaded Nathan is presumed dead when in fact he is being kept as a test subject for a future project against his will. The first episode can be a bit of a struggle to get back into since it's been so long and there’s a lot of setup but it's a good start where we see the characters and what the mission is this season.
The biggest upgrade this season is Aleesha (Zainab Johnson) who is actually a spy which, although random, works perfectly and keeps the season on focus. She has trained AI, as requested, to work for the humans in the Upload after life and it has worked too well with AI Guy (Owen Daniels) doing whatever it takes to save the humans over the corporate need. AI Guy even wants to feel human after watching Ingrid and Nathan’s wedding, creating an AI Girl to be with after unsuccessfully proposing to the other guests. Daniels shows off how perfect and versatile he is for the role when he also takes the role of Evil AI. This version is a very on the nose criticism of AI, an AI Guy is trained to maximize profit and when he absorbs all the good out of AI, he almost corrupts the entire world. The resolution to this is the only part that feels rushed. Even with the understanding that its the final episode, the solution is very fast and loses some of the impact aside from one character death but it doesn’t deter from the overall message and heartfelt moments.
Those heartfelt moments are carried by Nora (Andy Allo) in all aspects of the relationships. From the friendship with Ingrid to the relationship with Nathan and the support she has for Aleesha, Nora continues to be the heart of the series. Her grief in the beginning is raw but she’s still there for those she loves and moves the plot along in perfect harmony with Aleesha. It’s right that Nora ends the show and when it does end, it's a perfect ending that feels deserved and hits all the beats that the series was trying to convey. The end scene in particular can only be described as a peaceful grieving and acceptance but shows how when someone or something is gone from our lives, it remains and we carry it with us. Literally.
Upload Season 4 comes to Prime Video on August 25th.