Take Three: Upload

Upload: Season 1, Episode 3 “The Funeral” (B+)

I had a feeling when that first download started and was being broadcast to the entire tech-connected universe that something was going to go horribly wrong, and to see it go from his nose bleeding one second to head popping the next was indeed horrifying. We didn’t see any interactions between our budding couple of Nathan and Nora at all in this episode aside from his brief excitement seeing her behind his row of ex-girlfriends from college, and instead saw just how self-involved Ingrid is. She was more concerned with the imprint the goggles left on her face before the funeral than anything else, and the fact that she somehow thought it was acceptable to pay tribute to the failed download and not even mention Nathan was absurd. Telling her that it was the best funeral ever and having her agree was a true sign of her self-involvement. I can only imagine how angry she’ll be when she finds out that Nathan is flirting with Nora, and she came pretty close to deleting him at his own funeral just because she could. I appreciate all the technological references, like the remote screen for New York viewers in a basement chapel to watch that was far less decorated, and the AI not comprehending how to select the squares with cats in them. This funeral concept definitely needs work, namely the montage of random memories mostly involving porn. Luke is definitely obsessive, but he’s a far more generous friend than Derek ever was, especially considering his unapologetic attempts to pick Ingrid up at the funeral itself. I also enjoyed learning that Fran is not an investigator but Nathan’s cousin, who is helping Nathan’s mom to sue and might, hopefully, be able to take over Nathan’s upload file someday.

What I’m Watching: The Detour

The Detour: Season 3, Episode 9 “The Funeral” (B+)

I watched this episode a few days ago, but I know that the season finale is airing less than two hours after this review posts. This season has felt like a rollercoaster, mainly because of its irreverence and uncertain plot direction, and I have no idea whether a fourth season is in the cards. On a show like this, it’s not as if it would offer any real resolution or anything close to that, but half-hours like this one demonstrate its capability for entertainment. Robin continued to be completely unsupportive of Nate’s heroic attitude when he crash-landed the plane in the woods, rolling her eyes repeatedly and refusing to endorse any of his notions. I liked that Nate made a list of things that could kill them which Jareb constantly wanted to add snakes to, and then couldn’t understand why quicksand was presented as a danger by Nate since it wasn’t on the list. The family debating identity politics while Nate was sinking was pretty hilarious, and naturally they all got stuck when they tried to help him. This was a wonderful example of drugs being taken as a vehicle for comedy, with Jareb purporting to be a time traveler because Nate was repeating himself and asking Nate to dare him to throw his leg off the mountain. Nate was smart to test Robin’s faculties by suggesting that she relax, and she took it much further by telling the kids that drugs were fine and then trying to have sex with Nate in front of them. Edie’s team is hot on the trail, and the fact that they think that the Parkers murdered Sleepy suggests what counts as an intense confrontation on this show in the finale.

What I’m Watching: Grace and Frankie

Grace and Frankie: Season 1, Episode 4 “The Funeral” (B-)

This episode was a bit more gimmicky than the ones that came before it, using a funeral to set the stage for both Grace and Frankie to behave inappropriately and Robert and Sol to steal the spotlight by coming out to all of their befuddled and confused friends. I read an article on Gold Derby recently that this show makes a case for the rare instance of the half-hour drama, which I can see in a sense, though I still think this show is more of a structural comedy in its overarching plot. Robert breaking down and crying at the sight of Grace looking so put together and Frankie later getting into the car with Sol before she realized that it wasn’t actually her ride coming at that very crucial moment definitely support the dramatic argument and work well to make this show an empathetic study of divorce at its most difficult. Those tender moments outdid their setting, a funeral which provided a few funny quips but little else in the way of practical development. Though Coyote was referenced, none of the adult children were seen, which is a shame, since I think that shows like this are even better when they expand beyond their prime focuses and incorporate more of the ensemble. Meeting Robert’s sister, who was so warm to Grace before letting her down by informing her that she was no longer a prime guest at her daughter’s wedding, was enlightening, and I definitely did not recognize Christine Lahti as the actress portraying her.