Fans were excited for the return of Upload via its second season on Amazon. The show beautifully demonstrates the terrifying reality of technology allowing consciousness to be uploaded into a virtual world after death. Nathan is a young man yet he trying to navigate an eternal existence with seemingly more drama than when he was alive.
Season 1 focused mainly on Nathan and Nora, along with the people they interacted with, like Luke, Ingrid, and Aleesha. The main characters all return for season 2, but there are a few notable new characters that made the second season shine.
Ingrid’s Pet Therapist
Only in one scene, the pet therapist is a woman who appears in Lake View as a dog. She is seen in a therapy session with Ingrid, trying to explain to her that her actions and words could be a manifestation of not feeling loved. Of course, the therapist is right but Ingrid doesn’t want to believe it.
The funniest part of the role, however, is when the therapist, back in the real world, comes out of her office laughing that Ingrid wants to get a digital baby. Sure, one of the things fans didn’t love about Upload season 1 was the early treatment of Ingrid. Still, the very thought of the selfish, rude, arrogant, spoiled woman wanting to take care of a child, digital or not, had the office in stitches because it wasn’t coming from a genuine place.
Detective Sato
Detective Sato only appears here and there as he inserts himself into Lake View as one of the 2Gigs, people who only have very limited data to communicate with others in the real world, and no access to buy upgrades. He works at Horizon in hopes of investigating a murder case and seems to be inching closer and closer to the truth each day.
There’s plenty of room for Detective Sato to develop as a character, and chances are he will if the show returns for a third season. For now, he remains someone who might stumble upon a bigger picture.
Prefera
Prefera is a hilarious character, a digital A.I. posing as a beautiful young woman, ordered to be the girlfriend of billionaire David Choak. In Choak’s true fashion, he had her designed to look exactly like his ex-wife with one change: she knows exactly what he wants and when, feeds on his ego, and effectively serves as the perfect partner.
Present in the funny dinner party scene, she answers questions for David, proving that she knows exactly what he wants and likes at all times.
Pastor Rob
Pastor Rob’s role wasn’t developed enough for him to be ranked at the top of the list when it comes to new characters. Chances are if the show is renewed for a third season, he’ll have a bigger part to play.
For now, he was simply the surly leader of the Luds, the group fans wanted to see in season 2 of Upload. The name is likely a play on the word Luddite as they shun any type of technology, instead choosing to live off the land. Not only that, but they have made violent moves towards taking down the facilities that allow for the afterlife to exist for the wealthy. Pastor Rob seems adamant and steadfast in his beliefs, and he comes across as a man who is not to be crossed.
Mildred
Mildred did appear in the first season of Upload, but she was played by a different actor in season 2 so that makes the character worthy of this list. In season 1, she was played by Hilary Jardine (depicted here), and in season 2, by Vic Michaelis.
Vic’s portrayal of the elderly woman who uploaded in her younger form, which made her black and white, is hilarious. In a casual relationship with Luke, she seems to be a feminist of sorts, sexually promiscuous and free and enjoying reliving her youth for all of eternity. Because she makes some people blush and others cringe, she is one of the most fun characters to watch.
Tinsley
After Nora disappears and Aleesha gets promoted, she is given the go-ahead to hire an intern for assistance with her demanding client load. She brings on the young Tinsley, who has no idea what she’s doing but is eager to learn.
Tinsley quickly picks up the job and embraces her role, even creating a fun avatar for herself (and spicing up Nora’s avatar with a blue streak of hair when she had to temporarily use it). She seems to have a crush on Nathan, though she tries her best to deny it to others.
Matteo
Matteo, a member of the Luds, initially comes across as a sweet, nice guy who would make a perfect match for Nora, even though fans loved the Nora and Nathan romance in season 1 of Upload. But he quickly presents as someone who is controlling and more interested in using her to further his goal of taking down Lakeview and other companies like Horizon.
He orchestrates several attacks, including having Nora upload a glitch to the system that takes over Lakeview with the Luds’ ominous messages about getting rid of the rich. While he might be a villain of sorts, however, he’s the most multi-layered new character on the season.
Boris Netherlands (A.K.A. A.I. Guy)
A.I. Guy and his many forms have been on the show since season 1, the dutiful Lakeview employee who does every job, from cooking to cleaning, guest relations, sales, and more. He is the least intelligent main character on Upload, but he’s also one of the funniest. Able to multiply himself at the drop of a hat, he sometimes comes across as goofy and unaware, just as one might expect the human form of an A.I. to be.
In season 2, fans are introduced to the real man behind the face, Boris Netherlands. A member of the Luds, the former actor is scruffier and less jovial than the A.I. that uses his likeness. It was a clever introduction of a new character who, once able to enter Lakeview, has the power to do a lot of damage because he can easily go unnoticed.
