Ep 1. Welcome to Upload

Welcome to Upload is the first episode of the American science fiction comedy-drama series, Upload. The show is created by Greg Daniels and premiered on Amazon Prime Video in May 2020.

The episode opens in the year 2033, where we meet Nathan Brown (played by Robbie Amell), a young and successful computer programmer. Nathan and his girlfriend, Ingrid Kannerman (played by Allegra Edwards), are on their way to a mountain resort when they get into a self-driving car accident. Ingrid immediately calls for help, and Nathan's life hangs in the balance.

We then jump to the year 2033, where we see that Nathan's consciousness has been "uploaded" to a virtual afterlife called Lakeview. Lakeview is a digital world created by Horizen, a company that offers "digital heaven" to those who can afford it. Nathan finds himself in a luxurious apartment, checking out the stunning views and settling in. He is greeted by his customer service representative, Nora Antony (played by Andy Allo), who helps him navigate his new world.

Meanwhile, Ingrid, who is still alive in the real world, is overwhelmed with guilt and grief. She quickly agrees to foot the bill for all of Nathan's expenses, but soon realizes that taking care of a dead person is much more complicated than she anticipated.

Back in Lakeview, Nora explains to Nathan that he can communicate with the real world through an app called "1033." She also introduces him to the various features of Lakeview, from food and drink to entertainment and activities such as virtual bowling alleys and nightclubs. Nathan quickly realizes that everything in Lakeview costs "uploads," the virtual currency of the afterlife.

As Nathan begins to explore his new life, he discovers that he's not alone. He meets a group of residents who are all in various stages of coming to terms with their new existence. He befriends a man named Luke (played by Kevin Bigley), who is in a wheelchair in the real world but can walk in Lakeview. Luke introduces Nathan to the concept of "Purgatory Points," a reward system in which residents can earn more uploads based on how much good they do in their virtual lives.

As Nathan tries to adjust to Lakeview, he starts to realize that his memories from the real world are not entirely intact. Moreover, Nora is not just a customer service representative, but she is also a part of Horizen's programming team. Thus, Nathan begins to question the extent of control that the company exerts over the residents of Lakeview.

Welcome to Upload sets up a world that is both fascinating and ominous. It deals with the question of what happens when technology provides a new form of afterlife. In a world where death doesn't seem like the end, what does that mean for morality and ethics? And what happens to humanity when it can live forever in a virtual world?

Overall, Welcome to Upload is an engaging and entertaining opening episode that sets up the series nicely. With its blend of science fiction, comedy, and satire, the show has a unique tone that sets it apart from other shows in the genre. If you're looking for a show that explores the future of technology in a thought-provoking and humorous way, then Upload is right up your alley.