Eric
the performances in Eric are another standout aspect of most David Lynch productions. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a troubled puppeteer whose son vanishes and McKinley Belcher III as the ambitious detective assigned to his case. While the six-episode RatPark has structural problems, the series overcomes them with its fascinating themes, as well as some outstanding performances.
- First episode date: May 30, 2024
- IMDb RATING: 7.0/10
- Producer: Holly Pullinger
- Production companies: Sister; Little Chick
- Written by: Abi Morgan
Eric: “Promising Premise in Eric”
The new Netflix miniseries, “Eric,” stands out for its stunning performance by Benedict Cumberbatch and a fascinating twist in the plot. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Vincent Anderson, a strange puppeteer who appears to have little relationship with his son Edgar (Ivan Howe) and wife Cassie (Gaby Hoffmann), although they all love art. When on that morning Edgar disappears on his way to school; it sets in motion a series of events that will change the lives of the Andersons’ family and others.
Vincent’s Descent and the Haunting Puppet “Eric”
During his search for his child, Vincent plunges into alcoholism and addiction, which makes him see a 7-foot-tall puppet called ‘Eric.’ This is not any ordinary puppet-it was made by Edgar in an attempt to save his father’s failing show. “Eric”, who starts haunting Vincent, represents the memory of his son as he brings back all that entails him being an unsuccessful dad besides being an unfaithful husband without any moral character. The tale of finding Edgar becomes entangled with Vincent’s journey to healing from childhood abuse enhanced by the dilapidated city where he resides.
The City of Corruption Unveiled
In Eric, New York City is presented as rotting from within with corrupt police and politicians at every corner. The story evolves as other disappearances are unveiled leading up to Edgar’s disappearance which has been covered up. The supporting characters are more representative of institutional decay than the main ones themselves. Still while engaging this shift sometimes hampers getting involved with Vincent and his family.
Detective Michael Ledroit’s Breakout Role
As Eric unfolds itself, Detective Michael Ledroit played by McKinley Belcher III emerges as one of the most attractive characters in this series. Driven by an unsolved missing person’s case, Michael’s all-consuming search for Edgar leads him to a seedy nightclub called Luxe and its mysterious owner Ali Gator (Wade Allain-Marcus).
Belcher III manages to bring an old Hollywood swagger into every scene he is in, which makes Michael seem tough on the outside; however, when it comes to his ailing partner William (Mark Gillis), he easily snaps into a protective mode. The peeks into Michael’s life as an AIDS-era gay Black cop make up the most gripping subplot of the show as we watch him struggle with these facets of his identity. Michael’s character stands out as the best in “Eric” due to Belcher III’s exceptional performance.
Pacing Problems and an Early Reveal
Though it is at its best when following Ledroit’s storyline, Eric’s pacing gets frequently put off by this constant shift of perspectives. Vincent’s point of view starts getting repetitive as the main mystery unwinds; besides that, the big twist happens too soon leading to some loss of momentum. Though the penultimate episode is thrilling enough to gain back attention one can’t help but imagine if 10 episodes could have been used to maximize Vincent and Michael’s arcs’ balance to build up towards a more gratifying resolution.
Final Verdict on “Eric”
“Eric” is a strangely divided series: its scarce streaming episodes contrast with first-rate acting and current themes. There are moments like Belcher III owning it that make it worth watching for fans of dark moody mysteries. Nevertheless, some viewers may feel there should be room for improvement and development in Eric so that it truly lived up to its potential.
It will be the whole of “Eric” on Netflix from May 30th.