Loveday Writing

The job of a season premiere is to establish new story arcs for the season and continue any arcs established in the previous season’s finale. Upload’s final season is in a unique position with this job description of doing this well, even with arguably, one of the shortest TV seasons to work with, as it will only consist of four episodes.

The main question on every viewer’s mind, which Nora herself asked in the final moments of the previous season’s finale, is which Nathan was destroyed. The answer to that question is ostensibly the Real Nathan.

The season premiere kicks off with Real Nathan and Nora’s wedding, only for it to be quickly revealed that the wedding is a simulation loop that Nora has been subjecting herself to for a while, revealing Real Nathan’s fate to the audience. Aleesha and Ingrid check in on her, clearly concerned, and try to clean her bedroom as she stays in her simulated world. In a rare moment of being back in reality, Ingrid takes the opportunity to invite Nora to her bachelorette party in Lakeview. It’s also revealed that Ingrid, Nora and Ivan are living with Aleesha in her apartment.

At Horizen, it’s revealed that Ingrid is now working there as an angel and Aleesha wasn’t fired but promoted to Executive Vice President (EVP). When Ingrid asks Aleesha if she is going to her bachelorette party, Aleesha dismisses her, telling her she has a meeting on the seventh floor. However, once Aleesha is in the elevator, she leaves the building and goes to Oscar Meyer Intel (OMI) where she gives her handler, Babatunde, energy bills from Horizen-Betta locations, as OMI wants details on their new secret project in download technology. Babatunde reveals to the audience that Karina begged him to bring Aleesha on, implying that she too was an undercover agent, although he also tells her that Karina “had to be killed.” Later in the episode, Aleesha provides him with Horizen-Betta data on ring drives, he gives her sunglasses that warns her about armed hostile agents, and she undergoes Bojutsu training.

Meanwhile in Lakeview, both Backup Nathan and Ingrid have their respective bachelor and bachelorette parties. Ingrid struggles to have a good time with Lucy, Tinsley and Batia in attendance, however Aleesha does eventually show up to bring the party to life.

Throughout the episode, Nora hears Nathan calling her name and then he later appears to her as a “ghost.” Nora then finds a Maid of Honour hug suit that Ingrid has left for her. When Ingrid wakes up the next morning, Nora tells her that she will come to the wedding. The wedding, whilst quirky, with Ingrid’s vows coming from a children’s book and Luke officiating whilst dressed as the Pope, goes off without a hitch. When Ingrid’s hug suit’s frayed cord causes a glitch during hers and Backup Nathan’s wedding dance, Nora gives her the cord from her hug suit so she can enjoy her day.

When Nora leaves the bathroom, she finds Nathan waiting for her, although only half of him is visible. This leads to them discovering that he’s not a ghost but a projection, which means he’s digital, which means that he is still alive. Nora asks him where he’s projecting from, but he tells her that he can only hear a noise similar to ocean waves but could see a torrent, revealing that he is stuck in Lakeview somewhere. Nathan asks Nora to find him.

Overall, I felt that this was a solid start to the season. The Karina-Aleesha story arc from last season was resolved, and Real Nathan’s fate was revealed. Real Nathan being destroyed wasn’t really an option if you think about it, as the show has mostly revolved around his character development and his relationship with Nora, they couldn’t really end the show without it. Him still being alive but being detained somewhere makes sense, now it’s just a matter of where he is, how to find him, and why he is being detained. I’m also looking forward to seeing where Aleesha’s spying takes her this season.

I’m looking forward to reviewing the season and seeing where it takes us, and ultimately, how the season will bring the show to a close.

Stray Observations:

Running gags: Everyone telling Nora to shower, and Ivan being kicked out of “shared spaces” in Aleesha’s apartment.

-Luke has planned four outfit changes for Backup Nathan & Ingrid’s wedding and was apparently sewing a fifth.