- SUMMARY
- In Eric, Vincent’s son Edgar runs away from home.
- Eric, the representation of Vincent’s psyche, appears as a guiding figure, taking him on a transformative journey.
- The show’s visuals, with their grainy cinematography, reflect 1980s New York while complementing the gloomy, psychological undertones.
- Benedict Cumberbatch’s depiction of Vincent, as well as his voice work for Eric, is particularly noteworthy.
- The supporting cast, which includes Gaby Hoffmann and Dan Fogler, deliver outstanding performances that heighten the tension and drama of the show.
- We’ve reviewed and rated various aspects of Benedict Cumberbatch’s new thriller Eric below.
What is Eric about?
Netflix’s psychological thriller Eric centers on Vincent, a creative and skilled puppeteer. We get a glimpse of Vincent’s troubled family dynamics, which ultimately leads to Edgar, his son, running away from home. Furthermore, now that things are already gloomy for Vincent, his already tense marriage has hit rock bottom.
In his professional life, Vincent works as a co-creator of a children’s show with two other partners. However, Vincent’s bitter demeanor and self-centered tendencies have driven his coworkers away from him as well. This eventually leads him to be on the edge of losing his career, all while dealing with his son’s disappearance.
What challenges do the characters face in Eric?
In this Odyssey-style psychological thriller, the manifestation of Vincent’s psyche (Eric) guides him through dangerous waters as he searches for his son. On the road to redemption, Vincent must face his childhood trauma, which he had buried under a web of substance abuse that threatened his relationships with those closest to him.
Along with the main plot, “Eric” focuses on Michael Ledroit, a detective from the New York Police Department’s Missing Persons Bureau who is trying to solve the case of Edgar’s disappearance. Throughout the six episodes, we also follow the challenges he faces, and how he conducts his investigations. In his spare time, Ledroit frequently visits a club and investigates a narcotics dealer named Gator, who has recently served his sentence and may have ties to a ring that traffics children.
The Storyline in Eric: Reviewed & Rated
The first episode of Eric draws you in with its compelling primary storyline. Edgar, Vincent’s son, goes missing and this riveting drama holds your attention in the opening episodes. When the story follows the multi-faceted protagonist, Vincent, and his struggles with substance abuse, hallucinations, and traumatic experiences in his formative years, it piques your interest even further.
The show’s secondary storyline centers on detective Michael Ledroit and his efforts to solve the case of Edgar’s disappearance while also providing us with societal commentary on his challenges. Unfortunately, this storyline is not up to par and it feels quite unnecessary. Furthermore, it appears as though the secondary plot takes away from the main plot rather than adding to it. I had high hopes for the show, but unfortunately, the storylines felt like two separate stories crammed into six episodes. This resulted in the storylines coming off as quite rushed, unrelated, and inconsistent.
Score: 2/5
The Drama in Eric: Reviewed & Rated
Dramatically, “Eric” shines with its primary plot, which keeps you captivated with its numerous unexpected turns. Things get off to a gloomy start, and they keep getting worse, so the drama is at an all-time high. This plot, which includes Vincent’s problematic marriage, his son’s disappearance, his substance abuse, childhood trauma, and professional downfall, is riveting to watch unfold.
On the other hand, the show’s secondary plot doesn’t enhance the main plot and detracts from it. The plot is disorganized and lacks depth and screen time, making it difficult to relate to detective Michael Ledroit’s circumstances.
Score: 3/5
The Visuals in Eric: Reviewed & Rated
The gorgeous grainy cinematography in “Eric” is an artistic treat that will take you back to New York in the 1980s. Furthermore, the visuals brilliantly complement the show’s dark and grim theme, and it feels like a character in and of itself.
As an added layer of complexity, Eric, the blue puppet is quite vibrant compared to the eerie settings and even the characters themselves. I was curious about the potential harmony between these components while watching the trailer, but they really do complement each other. The fact that Edgar took inspiration for Eric’s blue design from Vincent’s eye color gives the visuals even more depth, and it’s incredible to see how everything fits together.
Score: 5/5
The Performances in Eric: Reviewed & Rated
Eric also left a mark owing to several brilliant performances throughout the show. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Vincent is an extremely complex character, and the Sherlock actor delivers a jaw-dropping performance. Vincent is a multi-faceted character who is difficult to root for. However, as the episodes proceed and we learn about his past traumas, he grows on us, and we root for him. This character is tough to portray, but Benedict Cumberbatch does an excellent job of bringing him to life.
Benedict Cumberbatch also voices the puppet Eric, and he delivers a spine-tingling voiceover here. At first, Eric seems like a straightforward character who is a figment of Vincent’s imagination. However, as the episodes progress, we see that Eric is the most primitive part of Vincent’s personality which has manifested itself in the form of a hallucination. This was quite difficult to pull off, but Benedict Cumberbatch’s voiceover is simply brilliant.
Among the many outstanding performers in Eric are Gaby Hoffmann, Ivan Howe, Dan Fogler, Bamar Kane, and McKinley Belcher III. The show’s suspenseful elements truly come to life thanks to these performances.
Score: 4.5/5
Our Verdict
As a whole, Eric is an intriguing dark thriller, whose main plot keeps you on the edge of your seat. The show’s visuals and performances are also top-notch. However, the thriller loses its appeal about halfway through the show because the side story doesn’t complement the main story and it becomes an unwanted distraction. In addition, the show’s tone isn’t always consistent, but it finds its groove as it speeds up to wrap up the loose ends.
Score: 7/10
