So you have three days, what can you watch? Have you checked out Amazon Prime yet? Because there are some extraordinary shows that have been out lately. The new show Upload has been a bit of a delight! I’ve always loved a good sci-fi, philosophical thought experiment kind of show. So what if in the near future, we could upload our brains into a virtual world? So when our bodies can no longer function, but we didn’t get to finish things we started, then we could upload our brains into a virtual retirement home, and carry on with our projects, our relationships and the rest of our lives? During this pandemic, this idea seems a bit of a dream, particularly because we live our lives virtually through our laptops but with the harsh reality of it’s limitations.
The virtual reality idea has been a concept played around for a very long time, since the holodeck days of the Star Trek Enterprise. It’s also very much originally the brain in the vat concept studied in undergrad philosophical studies. There are heaps of ethical considerations to make and Upload certainly toys around with many of the questionable situations that might arise should a fantasy like this ever become a reality! The show has some fantastic special effects and there’s sprinkles of sex and nudity that made our kids cringe and run away, but the humour is light, the plot is mysterious, and the acting is actually not that bad. The casting is somewhat diverse. The main character, Nathan is one of those all American types who seems to fly by in life with the usual white privilege, but he is challenged by his very wealthy and beautiful model like girlfriend, Ingrid and their economical differences often come between them. In death, Nora comes along, an ‘Angel’ behind a help-desk that guides Nathan through his new world. A love triangle somehow ensues but I can’t help thinking the racial differences are obvious and stereotyped in this show. Nora, clearly mixed race is working class and lacking in so many of the privileges that Nathan has, despite them coming from nothing. It’s a little uncomfortable and not necessarily addressed but privilege is definitely a main theme running through the show. Definitely worth watching to pick apart all the what if scenarios in such a fantasy.
I’m really looking forward to more Amazon shows that have come out, such as Little Fires Everywhere, and the new season of Homecoming. But over on Netflix there are definitely a few shows not to miss. The second season of Dead To Me was well worth bingeing all week! Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini play unlikely friends, Jen and Judy. This may not be the most diverse cast but the bizarre friendship between the women is simply sublime. Jen has lost her husband in a hit and run accident, and Judy meets her at a grief counselling group. Judy’s mysterious past leads to a very extraordinary circumstance but without giving too much away, the second season provides many twists and turns and the coincidences keep on coming but to the most endearing moments of friendship I have ever seen as screen. In true Thelma and Louise style, these two women go through so much together that pushes them closer and inevitably makes them stronger. I have much to admire about Christina Applegate, particularly in bringing her experiences with breast cancer and her double mastectomy to the story line, giving some very passionate and edgy performances to the show.
Finally, I’m a few weeks late writing up about Never Have I Ever, but Mindy Kaling’s production about a young Indian American girl going though her teen years with the loss of her father and her burgeoning sexuality is definitely worth watching. Breaking stereotypes everywhere, I truly enjoyed every moment of this show. Might not be for all of you but if you want to have your expectations about young teen romance and what it’s like to be an immigrant in the US, then watch this, if only to broaden your mind a little.
I’ve also enjoyed Working Moms, and I’m tempted to move to Canada because of it. One more mention has to go to Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist which I absolutely adored. When Zoey has an accident she is screened at her hospital and a magical MRI machine gives her the power to hear people sing what she calls heartsongs. Basically, if something is troubling someone she senses it by seeing them sing great big song and dance numbers that express how they are feeling deep down inside. It makes you think about how much people keep too much inside. Though we usually see this sort of thing happen in musicals without thinking it odd, in this, the reality clashes very hard but somehow the show works and we see some really moving scenes as Zoey deals with her dad’s degenerative disease and how her family come together to deal with their very difficult situation. It’s an incredibly moving show with some epic singing and performances.
So plenty of suggestions from me on what to watch. Have a lovely long weekend and do tell me what you’ve been watching!
Jessie Square-Eyes 