Greg Daniels’ job on Prime Video’s “Upload,” the sexy sci-fi series he created whose third season streams Friday, is one that’s never listed in the credits.
“I’m the showrunner, which means that’s the equivalent of the director of a movie. In the sense that I approve all the scripts, all the cuts, all the visual effects. You know, I hire everybody. So I’m very involved in the show.”
A hit from the start – “It’s the number one, most viewed half-hour on Prime Video,” Daniels, 60, noted in a Zoom interview – “Upload” slots as a one of a kind original. Clever, satirical, romantic, mysterious, it’s set in 2033 where when humans die they can “upload” themselves into a virtual digital afterlife.
Computer programmer Nathan (Robbie Amell), just 27 and too young to die, finds himself uploaded to the ritzy Lakeview afterlife. His handler Nora (Andy Allo) finds herself falling in love with him.
“It’s a very fruitful concept — and it’s really fun because of the two worlds,” Daniels said. “Between the digital world of someone who has died and the real life world of people wearing the VR goggles to interact with them, a really strong romance can develop. I love writing romance stories and trying to find weird obstacles for them. There’s opportunity to do satire — because it’s the future — and I’ve always wanted to do a murder mystery. So I added that.
“But at the base is this romance and the poignancy of it.”
As the series progresses, complications – and complicated characters – ensue.
“We’re in Season Three now and I love Season Threes in general for TV shows,” he said, speaking from experience with “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office.”
“It’s just like everything’s hitting on all cylinders and some of the other characters are coming to the fore with their own storylines like, of course, Ingrid.”
That’s Ingrid Kannerman, Nathan’s girlfriend, who many might see as the “Upload” villain, rich and demanding, she’s played with both vulnerability and imperiousness by Allegra Edwards.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of negative qualities,” Daniels allowed. “She has this desire to end up with this guy — that’s her dream. And it pulls her into doing things that she probably shouldn’t be doing.
“But when you think about what’s motivating her — it is this intense love for Nathan, who’s a likable guy. And now that he’s a digital version of himself of course, he falls in love with Nora. And a triangle is born!
“So I don’t necessarily approve of everything she’s up to, but I understand her.”
“Upload Season 3” streams on Prime Video Friday
