In the emotional thriller “Eric”by playwright and screenwriter Abi Morgan, the true monster is not a large, blue creature, but something far more malicious.
The show follows the journey of Vincent, a puppeteer played by Benedict Cumberbatch, as he searches for his young son in 1980s Manhattan. It delves into the devastating impact of structural inequality, the AIDS crisis, white collar crime, and addiction on the city.
Is the character of Eric based on a true story?
Despite not being based on a particular news story, the kidnapping in the story was influenced by Morgan’s experiences as a nanny in 1980s New York, where she witnessed firsthand the effects of homophobia and the AIDS epidemic.
“Upon my arrival, I resided in a dilapidated hostel filled with a peculiar mix of international backpackers, low-income families, and drug addicts,”she recalls. As a nanny, she navigated the city with children and witnessed the urban issues through their innocent perspectives.
Many years later, Morgan recalls a day when she observed a group of parents and their children queuing outside what seemed to be a television studio, eagerly awaiting to attend a taping of a popular children’s show. This memory served as the inspiration for Good Day Sunshine and even made its way into the finale as a notable scene.
2. Was The Lux a real place?
The Lux nightclub may not exist in reality, but it served as a source of inspiration for Morgan as she delved into the edgy nightlife of New York and London in the 1980s. During this period, the city had a grim and desperate atmosphere.
According to her, the club exuded an amazing energy and excitement that could be felt by anyone who walked through its doors.
Eric and Morgan shared a goal to sensitively explore the experience of witnessing discrimination and the effects of AIDS within the LGBTQ+ community. Morgan reflects on her upbringing in an accepting, liberal environment, but acknowledges the harsh reality that exists beyond that bubble.
The Lux pays homage to the underground clubs that provided a safe haven for all, especially members of the LGBTQ+ community. Despite facing vilification and indifference, this community found solace in these spaces as they battled against the ravages of a deadly disease. The Lux embodies this sense of community and offers a sanctuary for those who are forced to live in the shadows.
The majority of the production occurred in a Budapest studio, making use of a New York set that was previously used in Guillermo del Toro’s film Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
The director of the series, Lucy Forbes, explains that The Lux was the ideal setting for the show due to its run-down appearance. “I was drawn to the concept of using an old cinema,”Forbes states. She also notes that Budapest’s lack of modernization allowed the team to discover stunning period interiors.
3. Did people experiencing homelessness reside in the subway tunnels?
Morgan and Forbes were inspired by the 2000 documentary Dark Days, where filmmaker Marc Singer immersed himself in the lives of a community living in the deserted Amtrak tunnels that run from Penn Station to north of Harlem.
According to Morgan, the subway serves as the structural foundation for a city. It was a logical development that in 1980s New York, the subway would become a haven for people in need of refuge.
4. Will the Leopard Tribe be able to reunite?
As the final episode commences, Vincent is at his lowest point both physically and mentally. He is found unconscious in the subway tunnels, where he had been desperately searching for Edgar. According to Morgan, Vincent has experienced a severe psychotic episode and has become lost in his own mind.
After regaining his composure, he notices a drawing on the wall and immediately realizes that it was created by his son. Morgan explains, “This experience is a reminder for Vincent to confront the true source of the monster within him.”
When Vincent encounters Yuusuf, the same man that Edgar had been following underground, he is reminded of his previous encounter with him. As he stumbles upon Edgar’s drawings in the tunnels, his determination to get Eric the puppet on television is reignited. He hopes that by doing so, Edgar will see him and return home.
Upon his epiphany, Vincent makes his way to the studio and takes Eric’s costume without permission. He quickly slips it on and rushes to a massive protest, where he positions himself in front of a camera. In character as Eric, he pleads to his son in hopes of reaching him. According to Morgan, “We witness Vincent’s mental collapse, but we also begin to understand his understanding of his own involvement in his son’s vanishing.”
As the crowd cheers, Vincent beheads Eric and addresses the television cameras. According to Morgan, he sends a message to Edgar, using their secret code, “Race you home.”Through their shared code, Vincent learns that he has never let Edgar win and this realization leads him to understand that it is time to try and let his son win.
Does Edgar live?
As Edgar was enjoying his French toast at the diner, he caught a glimpse of Vincent’s portrayal of Eric on live TV. Suddenly, he rushed out of the diner upon hearing the announcement to race his father back home. Vincent, still dressed in most of his Eric costume, also hurried towards their home.
According to Cumberbatch, Vincent was facing the challenge of completing his odyssey while running in only half of the Eric suit, as puppeteer Olly Taylor wore the suit for the remainder of filming.
The actor clarified, “The purpose of this bucket harness is to support the thickness and width of the legs. It restricts your ability to run using your natural gait, so you have to twist your hip with each step. It was quite a challenge, especially during the hot month of June in New York.”
As Vincent rounds the corner, he spots Edgar rushing towards home. After a long separation, father and son are finally reunited. According to Morgan, this particular moment symbolizes Vincent’s journey of not only reclaiming his son, but also rediscovering himself.
“As he prepares to enter rehab, there is a significant moment when he bids farewell to Cassie and utters, ‘I am the toxic element. It is me.’ While others were focused on finding the source of Edgar’s actions, the true motivation and culprit lies within Vincent, who identifies himself as Eric.”
6. The Disappearance of Marlon Rochelle
Despite searching for Edgar, Ledroit stumbles upon a shocking revelation of a widespread scheme of sexual exploitation that involves not only nightclubs but also the police force. Unlike Edgar, fourteen-year-old Marlon has been missing for 11 months but did not receive the same level of media coverage.
Ledroit secures a VHS security tape that solves the case after working together with Alex Gator, the owner of The Lux and his former partner.
Morgan states that according to Ledroit, Marlon, a high school student and basketball player, who had been missing, was “simply a New York kid who was likely struggling with his sexuality”and had been working as a prostitute at The Lux nightclub.
7. Do they ever find Marlon’s body?
As the episode nears its conclusion, we see Ledroit standing alongside Cecile, Marlon’s mother played by Adepero Oduye. They gaze out over a vast landfill just outside of New York City, both aware that Marlon’s body is somewhere within its expanse.
Cecile stands in front of the 27th Precinct and delivers a moving speech. She declares that she will never lose faith in love or hope as long as she is alive. She believes that her son, along with all the other sons, deserved to live in a city that truly cared for them. Cecile’s message is clear – she pleads for the city to do better. Forbes observes that for Cecile, justice will only come through meaningful change. As the series concludes, there is a sense of bittersweet hope that change will eventually happen.
How does Eric end?
In the concluding scene of the series, we witness Vincent, now sober, excelling in his new role as he dons the Eric costume. As Good Day Sunshine is being taped, Cassie, Sebastian, and Edgar are among the audience. Afterwards, Cassie and Sebastian have a friendly encounter with Vincent.
At the start of the series, Cumberbatch explains that Vincent has severed ties with his wife and son. However, by the end, it is heartwarming to witness these relationships being reconnected, resembling a beautiful fairy-tale ending. Nonetheless, it is also a difficult and truthful first step in Vincent’s journey towards personal growth.
Following this, Edgar crosses the bridge on the set while dressed in the Eric costume. Cumberbatch describes this act as reclaiming something that was originally created from his child’s imagination. He sees it as a poignant representation of fatherhood, passing on the baton to the next generation.
From the balcony, Eric, the imaginary monster keeps a watchful eye over the two of them.
9. About Eric
Eric is a six-part British psychological thriller television miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch, created for the streaming service Netflix. The series was released on 30 May 2024.
In 1980s New York, Vincent, a puppeteer, is searching for his missing nine-year-old son, Edgar. His erratic actions drive a wedge between him and his loved ones. Struggling with substance abuse, Vincent becomes fixated on the idea that his seven-foot-tall puppet, Eric, can help him find and reunite with Edgar.
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