Diving into the Dual Dimensions: An Interview with Director Sarah Boyd on Crafting Multiple Versions of Nathan with Robbie Amell
Discover the creative process behind 'Upload' Season 3 as director Sarah Boyd delves into the intriguing challenge of portraying two distinct versions of Robbie Amell's character Prepare for a mind-bending journey in this highly anticipated installment of the Prime Video series
Robbie Amell (Nathan), Owen Daniels (A.I. Guy). Liane Hentscher/Prime Video
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Season 3 of Upload introduced two distinct versions of Robbie Amell's character, Nathan. Director Sarah Boyd eagerly embraced the challenge presented by this storyline.
Boyd exclusively revealed to We that she found it incredibly enjoyable and intriguing to witness the divergence of the characters. Filming the third season of the Prime Video series allowed her to showcase how Nathan's experiences in the digital afterlife and his return to the real world shaped him. Furthermore, the introduction of a different persona like Ingrid allowed for a completely different dynamic in their relationship. Boyd expressed her delight in observing the unique development of these two relationships.
Boyd, who directed episodes 8 and 9 of season 3, remarked on Amell's seamless handling of the dual roles of two different Nathans. "Robbie really understood the distinctions between the two Nathans. He's fully aware of their individualities," she mentioned. However, things got a bit tricky when they had to keep track of the story's sequence while shooting scenes out of order.
Upload's third season premiered in September, reuniting viewers with Nathan and Nora (played by Andy Allo). At the end of season 2, Nathan was successfully transferred into his physical body and brought back to the real world. However, a backup copy of Nathan was uploaded into Lakeview when the original couldn't be located by Horizon. The "original" Nathan continued his relationship with Nora on earth, while the "new" Nathan, lacking memories of Nora due to a "factory" reset, reignited his romance with his ex-fiancée Ingrid (played by Allegra Edwards).
In the season 3 finale, it is discovered that there are two versions of Nathan, leading Horizon to eliminate one of them. Although one Nathan manages to survive, it remains unknown which one it is, a question that even Boyd cannot answer.
"I purposely made the visual aspect of Nathan unclear so that it could be interpreted either way," she informed Us. "Fortunately, Nathan maintains the same physical appearance, particularly from the neck up."
The director deliberately selected a "gray" background for Nathan's concluding scene, creating an ambiguous setting that could be interpreted as a holding cell in either location. She emphasized uncertainty, stating that fans' hypotheses could be either correct or incorrect, resulting in a 50-50 probability.
Nora and Ingrid would surely be eager to learn about the survival of their respective partners. Ingrid, who had recently agreed to marry the "new" Nathan, and Nora, who had planned a romantic getaway with the "original" Nathan to Montreal, both have a strong interest in knowing their partners' fate.
The long-awaited happy ending for Nora and Nathan has been eagerly anticipated by viewers since the series debuted in 2020. Boyd attributes the popularity of their on-screen relationship to the undeniable chemistry between Alloh and Amell, as well as the creativity of the writing team. "I believe that the likability and support for Nathan and Nora stem from both the exceptional writing and the genuine personalities of Andy and Robbie as individuals and as actors," she explained. "There's just an irresistible pull towards watching them. They exude incredible charm. It may sound superficial, but you can't help but be drawn to this couple and root for them, especially as their characters develop deep emotional connections over the course of the seasons."
Boyd suggested that the gradual development of the couple's relationship is what captivates viewers.
"Their love story unfolds gradually. There isn't a specific scene that stands out and captures it all," she clarified. "It's a process. So my role is more focused on assisting them in delivering the best possible version of each scene."
Upload season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video.
