“Netflix’s upcoming series Eric is a gritty yet campy portrayal of a child kidnapping case, but its perplexing stakes may leave some viewers confused.”
Benedict Cumberbatch has ventured beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe to take on the role of a father searching for his missing child in Netflix’s Eric, which is already being hailed as one of the top TV series of 2024.
The streaming service’s limited series delves deeply into the setting of a gritty, 1970s-era New York City, as Vincent (Cumberbatch) and his spouse search for their lost son amidst a collection of interconnected plots.
Despite the captivating central premise and blend of genres in the series, the overall stakes of the show may be somewhat perplexing, ultimately impeding the main message of Eric.
A Desperate Dad with a Lackluster Special Skill
Eric revolves around Vincent and Cassie Anderson, parents whose nine-year-old son Edgar unexpectedly disappears on his way to school one morning.
Despite initially being portrayed as a kind and quirky puppeteer on a show similar to Sesame Street, it soon becomes apparent that Vincent is a volatile alcoholic who uses his creation, Good Day Sunshine, as an excuse to mistreat those around him.
Despite the disappearance of Edgar, Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Vincent remains highly unlikable due to his selfish and arrogant nature, making it difficult for the audience to sympathize with him.
Despite having only one Liam Neeson-esque special skill, he possesses the remarkable talent of creating remarkably realistic puppets. Surprisingly, he attempts to utilize this skill in locating Edgar, who has been missing for 48 hours.
It is intriguing to see a detestable character placed in one of the most distressing predicaments that viewers can envision. While you may not wish for Vincent to have a favorable outcome, this contradicts your longing to witness his family come together again.
Too much story, not enough focus
Despite focusing on Eric and the Andersons’ search for Edgar, the story also explores various subplots involving members of the Black, brown, and queer community in 1970s New York City.
Although the subplots effectively depict the constant struggles faced by these communities under the oppressive government-led police state, they seem somewhat disconnected from the overarching kidnapping and fantasy puppet storyline.
Despite Eric’s attempts to incorporate these subplots into the main storyline, the result is a disjointed feeling as if two or three separate shows were combined into one.
The experiences of these communities are worthy of their own dedicated show, allowing for thorough exploration of important topics such as race, class, queerness, and white supremacy.
Michael Ledroit (played by McKinley Belcher III), the Black police officer at the center of these subplots, is a multifaceted character, particularly due to his personal life, but unfortunately his talents are underutilized in Eric.
Despite the show’s commendable effort to bring attention to these issues, the main issue remains that they only made an attempt to touch upon these topics.
Eric takes itself too seriously for a show with puppets
It can be inferred from the previous statement that the mention of Eric having numerous storylines also contributes to the show’s second major problem: its tendency to take itself too seriously.
Despite the heart of the show being a child kidnapping case, the abundance of campy elements on the surface may not be well received by viewers and could result in them feeling a sense of whiplash.
Without giving away too many details about the series, it is revealed that the character of Eric is actually a puppet created by Edgar and imagined by Vincent as a way to deal with the loss of his son.
When Eric shows up and engages in conversation with Vincent, it’s quite comical and somewhat blunt, since Eric is not your typical puppet from Sesame Street.
Their interactions and conversations provide insight into Vincent’s psyche, allowing audiences to understand how he became the unreliable and broken man he is.
Although the Eric scenes are entertaining, they ultimately clash with the gritty tone of the rest of the show, which may cause some viewers to feel conflicted.
Eric could have benefited from focusing on just one genre, which would have given the series the space it needed to fully develop and convey its message. Alternatively, the series could have made a greater effort to smoothly transition between tones, making it easier for audiences to follow.
A solid mystery with a weak execution
While we won’t give away the ending of Eric, the fundamental mystery of the show is well-crafted. However, the way in which the audience is guided towards the ultimate resolution could use some improvement.
Despite our confidence that you will not be disappointed with the conclusion of the series, you may still have questions and desire further clarification on some of the smaller mysteries that are connected to the main ones.
Eric relies on red herrings and false leads in his mystery show to keep the audience engaged, which is a common tactic. However, he may have overdone it, causing some viewers to feel frustrated. Part of the excitement of a mystery is piecing together clues, but when they consistently lead to nowhere, it diminishes the enjoyment.
Despite successfully concluding its larger mysteries, Eric does tend to waver in certain areas throughout its six episodes, which could have been eliminated during the editing process.
Eric review score: 3/5
It is both exciting and devastating to come across a project with a one-of-a-kind concept, such as a kidnapping case intertwined with a puppet show, only to find that the idea is not fully realized.
If you are a fan of mysteries, puppets, or Benedict Cumberbatch, then you are sure to enjoy watching Eric from beginning to end. However, it is important to note that you may feel slightly disappointed as some of your questions may remain unanswered.
Make sure to catch Eric streaming on Netflix now, and stay updated on all the new shows available this month.
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