Breaking Down the Progression of Nathan and Nora's Romance in Season 3 of Upload
Robbie Amell and Andy Allo delve into the captivating and ever-changing love story between Nathan and Nora in season 3 of the beloved Prime Video series, Upload
Robbie Amell (Nathan), Andy Allo (Nora). Liane Hentscher/Prime Video
Robbie Amell and Andy Allo, the stars of Upload, reflect on the progression of their characters' relationship throughout three seasons.
"In Season 1, Nathan and Nora had an incredible relationship, but Nora would go home at the end of the day. It was like dating someone without the risk of living together or spending too much time together," revealed Amell, 35, in an exclusive interview with We while discussing Season 3 of the Prime Video series. "In Season 2, you see us trying to reach the point where Nathan can be downloaded, and then in Season 3, it's like we've moved in together and are experiencing a deeper connection than ever before."
Amell acknowledged that after a remarkable three seasons, the adored couple is now in a space where they don't have to pretend to be "perfect" all the time, and surprisingly, that's a positive development.
"While it can be intimidating at first, you also grow to cherish those imperfections and discover new aspects of the other person," he added, giving credit to series creator Greg Daniels and the talented team of writers for skillfully creating authentic relationships within a hilariously unconventional comedy.
"They excel at uncovering those poignant instances within a science fiction satire," he remarked. "They manage to uncover genuine moments of truthfulness between individuals, simplifying our roles significantly. Allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the performance."
Premiering in 2020, "Upload" revolves around Nathan (Amell) as he transitions into the afterlife, where his consciousness is digitized and placed in a virtual realm. As he navigates this new dimension, he forms a bond with his Angel (Nora) and their connection gradually evolves into a romantic relationship.
Season 3 of the series saw the long-awaited reunion of Nathan and Nora. After Nathan's successful transfer into his physical body at the end of season 2, he returned to the real world. However, Horizon was unable to locate the original Nathan, so a second backup copy was uploaded into Lakeview. While "meat Nathan" continued his relationship with Nora on earth, the "new" Nathan, lacking any memories of Nora, rekindled his romance with his ex-fiancée Ingrid on a "factory" setting.
Liane Hentscher/Prime Video
Despite Nathan's inability to remember his past relationship with Nora, there is undeniable chemistry between them, which Allo, 34, believes is crucial for the characters to delve into.
"New Nathan and I both recognize that there will always be a strong connection, but he has made a conscious decision to be with Ingrid," she shared with Us. While teasing that a part of Nathan will always belong to Nora, she emphasized that the development of the "old" Nathan is what sets their relationship apart and makes it extraordinary.
“Yes, Nathan still has a desire for a certain level of body fat and all that stuff — but it's not the main focus anymore," she jokingly remarked. "It's not about appearances, it's more about what's truly inside."
Despite the fact that both Nathans are only six months apart in terms of memories, transforming them into distinct characters could be a daunting task for any actor. However, the exceptional writing made Amell's job more manageable, even though filming occasionally became quite intense.
Amell explained that they had an acting double present during filming. He would read both sides of the dialogue to the double to demonstrate how he planned to deliver his lines. Then, the double would read the lines off camera for Amell, who would put on an earpiece and perform the dialogue as if he was talking to someone, although he was actually speaking to no one. This allowed him to maintain the timing and rhythm of his own words. Despite the unusual process, Amell described it as a fun experience and Edwards, who played his love interest, also enjoyed reconnecting with him on set.
"It had this sense of familiarity, like reconnecting with an old friend, which was a unique experience for Allegra and Robbie while playing their roles together," Edwards revealed, referring to the scenes featuring the former engaged couple. "Up until that point, Ingrid and Nathan hadn't shared a particularly deep bond, but there was a noticeable shift in their behavior, both physically and emotionally, as they became a bit more carefree and vulnerable around each other."
For Edwards, the authenticity of the scene where "old" Nathan and Ingrid get intoxicated and nearly fall asleep together captured the essence of two ex-lovers reuniting after a period of separation.
"It had the same depth of emotions as one would experience with an ex-partner, despite no longer being in a romantic relationship," she recounted. "There was a distinct quality to it. It wasn't about appearances. It was simply two friends connecting and being genuinely truthful with one another, and it felt incredibly authentic."
Edwards playfully mentioned that their on-screen chemistry was enhanced by the less-than-ideal filming conditions. "Being in a shabby, poorly ventilated room, sitting on the floor, added to the authenticity," she quipped. "We were sweaty, so sweaty, and, oh my, there was just a hint of body odor," she continued, bursting into laughter.
Season 3 of Upload is now streaming on Prime Video.
