Amazon Prime’s new show Upload has become widely popular in a short period of time. The show takes place in the not-so-distant future and advancements in technology have resulted in the ability for individuals to “upload” themselves into the afterlife of their choice if they can afford it.
The show features a wide range of characters with a host of different experiences. As people can live forever in their virtual afterlives, there are a number of characters from different time periods and locations. This eclectic group of characters has a range of skills and knowledge. Let’s take a look at the main characters of Upload ranked by their intelligence.
A.I. Guy
For a highly programmed AI assistance for a high-quality Upload afterlife, this character isn’t too helpful. He seems to annoy the guests more than help them and always seems to be overwhelmed.
He regularly glitches and fails at accomplishing tasks, such as stopping Dylan, Nathan, and Luke from passing into the dark web and gaining entry into Nathan’s funeral.
Dylan
Though Dylan appears as a young boy, he shares that had he lived he would have been 19. Dylan considers himself to have matured, though this is not evidenced through his actions. He engages in juvenile pranks and often makes poor choices.
His short-sighted decisions almost result in him being permanently erased and he accidentally transforms his avatar into a woman.
Luke
Luke is an immature military veteran who is desperate to be liked by Nathan. He makes many poor decisions and is determined to manipulate the system. He comes up with clever ways to outsmart the programming but is always caught by Aleesha, his angel.
He enjoys frustrating Aleesha and encourages her to engage in a battle of wits with him. Though he acts entitled, it seems as though his actions are really just a clever way to get attention.
Aleesha
Aleesha is Luke’s angel and a close friend of Nora. She receives poor ratings at work as she doesn’t have the patience required to please her clients. Still, Aleesha is smarter than she appears.
She doesn’t fall for Luke’s tricks and is determined to outsmart him. Her sharpness is evidence through her sharp-tongue and quick-witted responses. Aleesha provides advice to Nora, advising her to proceed with caution and assisting her in her schemes. Like many intellectuals, Aleesha doesn’t believe in following rules that don’t make sense to her.
Lucy
Lucy runs the afterlife center in which Nora and Aleesha work. She regularly catches her employees violating the rules and threatens them into compliance. She seems to be connected with some highly powerful individuals and is definitely involved in something shady.
Lucy is analytical and clever. In an attempt to destroy Nora and Nathan’s relationship, she enters the afterlife in Nora’s avatar and rejects Nathan’s advances. Lucy has the potential to become a major antagonist in future seasons.
Nathan
Nathan was a programmer working on creating a free afterlife that would be available to all individuals. His project threatened powerful individuals and Nathan was murdered.
It is clear that Nathan is academically intelligent and particularly skilled at engineering. He is fascinated with the coding in the Lake View afterlife and is ecstatic when Nora acquires a coding pen for him. When Nora is in danger, he is able to hack into the nearby technology and use it to assist Nora in escaping her would-be captor.
Nora
Nora falls for Luke while working as his angel. When she notices that his memory files are damaged, she begins to investigate. She notices some inconsistencies that lead her to believe that his damaged memory is no accident. When her first attempt at restoring his memories are unsuccessful, Nora continues to research new ways to retrieve his memories.
Nora is stealthy while investigating the circumstances surrounding Nathan’s death as she believes he was murdered. She takes advantage of distractions to gain new information, searching for her boss’s computer while she is out. During the work party, she brings a date to manipulate Lucy into believing she is over Nathan. Nora is successful in sneaking away from the party to communicate with Nathan and in securing a way to sneak back into the facility after hours. When Nora learns that Nathan has left Lake View, she tracks down Ingrid and comes up with a ploy to protect Nathan. All of these actions prove Nora’s intelligence.
Ingrid
Ingrid is one of the most complex characters on the show. Though she initially appears to be an air-headed heiress, it is revealed that Ingrid is so much more than that. Ingrid is highly skilled at manipulating others. When she discovers that Nathan is in danger, she sneaks into his car and changes the settings in an attempt to protect him.
Ingrid is highly organized and detail-oriented. Though her style and preferences may differ from Nathans, she effectively manages his afterlife account and funeral. She controls the perceptions that others have of her and uses her power to influence others. In the finale, it is revealed that Ingrid has uploaded and though she says it is to be with Nathan, fans know there must be more to the story. It is clear that Ingrid is much more intelligent than she initially appears.
Ernie
When Nathan tries to destroy his consciousness, he is mandated to complete animal therapy. Much to his surprise, the dog therapist he selects happens to be an avatar being controlled by an actual therapist named Ernie. Ernie is a skilled therapist who treats both Nathan and Luke.
He asks thought-provoking questions that allow these two characters to process and reflect on their emotions.
David
David Choak is Nathan’s successful and wealthy neighbor. Davis is a successful businessman and entrepreneur who built himself an empire in life. It is clear that he is innovative and manipulative. Choak mocks Nathan for being naive and is the first one to suggest that Nathan was likely murdered.
Though this character was a supporting character in season 1, it seems likely that he will return in a big way in season 2.
