Review: Upright

DVD & Digital: Upright (2019 – )

Despite beginning in 2019, I’d never watched any episodes of Upright, so of course the new Series 1 & 2 DVD box set is a great way to catch up on everything (or revisit if you’re already familiar with it).

Starring Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock as Lucky and Meg, an unlikely pairing of characters who quite literally “bump into each other” in the very first episode, their journey across Australia is filled with humour, pathos, and an insight into how no matter what differences people may have, there are always connections to be made….oh, and also a piano.

Minchin is great as the laid back older character of Lucky whose views on life often clash with the younger and more vibrant Meg, with Milly Alcock superb as a bundle of unbridled energy who has no problem expressing her views to Lucky. Each episode brings more adventures across the beautifully captured Australian landscape, while also giving an insight into the characters pasts, all which draw you ever deeper into the wonderfully written narrative.

With a lot of season one’s appeal being the chance meeting and slow relationship building between Lucky and Meg, season two was always going to be a harder sell, with Lucky now having found fame and Meg knocking on Lucky’s door asking him to take her to Queensland to look for her mum.

While the 2nd season was enjoyable enough, it didn’t “hit me in the feels” as much as the 1st season, with the humour not quite landing with me as often and my empathy for the characters now wearing a little thin. Having said that, I was still invested enough to want to know how everything panned out, though I think their journey should now come to an end.

Review by Dave from discs kindly supplied by Acorn Media International via Aim Publicity.