Netflix has had a thrilling year with shows, such as rating juggernauts Baby Reindeer and Ripley. Now, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Eric is looking to join the roster.
Eric, an original story from writer Abi Morgan, follows an arrogant puppeteer Vincent (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose son (Ivan Morris Howe) goes missing. Intersecting plotlines are present throughout the show, as the child’s mother Cassie (Gaby Hoffmann), a detective (McKinley Belcher III), and Vincent search for the missing child in a race against time.
Even in its most basic form, the show has an interesting premise that’s not only tried and true but is pliable enough to be refreshing. The twist on the premise adds a level of wackiness that doesn’t change the tone due to its roots in some tough subject matter.
As the aforementioned twist, Vincent suffers hallucinations of his son Edgar’s puppet concept Eric, a 6-foot tall monster that somewhat resembles Sully from Monsters Inc. The show leaves it a bit up to interpretation as to why these hallucinations begin, as Vincent suffers from drug abuse, grief, and insecurities following a rough childhood and relationship with his parents; contributing to his arrogance.
It’s definitely a lot to unwrap throughout six episodes, but they manage to pull it off quite successfully, even if it does come across as messy and unguided in parts. This is, of course, without focusing on the added injustices facing other characters, such as Belcher’s Michael Ledroit, a gay black detective who tries his best to resolve others’ injustices whilst battling his own. Cassie too battles her own demons, as well as having to deal with Vincent’s alcoholism.
Of these three leads, I enjoyed Belcher’s portrayal the most. It was nuanced, relatable, and provided a somewhat sensible lead between the three leads. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Vincent did eventually feel slightly comical, too regressive in his characterization at times, but the conclusion to his arc allowed me to forgive that, sealing the deal on this show for me.
The cinematography of the show is stunningly beautiful. Director of Photography Benedict Spence gave us some really interesting shots of New York, giving personality to both the city and the characters within. In contrast, I did not find the score very recognizable, and I think this show could benefit with a more out-there score, akin to something like Ripley.
Eric balances its incredibly dark story by alleviating the tension with splashes of comedy, creating a palatable series. With a number of great performances and some decent technological aspects, Eric is sure to be a hit on Netflix.
Eric stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent Anderson, Gaby Hoffmann as Cassie Anderson, McKinley Belcher III as Michael Ledroit, Dan Fogler as Lennie and Ivan Morris Howe as Edgar Anderson. The series begins streaming on Netflix on May 30.
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