Backed by Netflix’s deep pockets, Eric looks as good as any prestige miniseries out there. As a portrait of pre-gentrified New York, it feels so detailed and lived in you can almost smell the garbage cans collecting in the corner. And this seedy atmosphere ties well with the show’s dark themes and complicated mysteries, making Eric far from the worst thing you could watch on the platform. But there’s something about Cumberbatch’s Vincent that makes him difficult to follow. Perhaps his performance is more excessive than the script calls for, or perhaps his anti-hero character is too underwritten to sympathize with. Or maybe it’s both. Whatever it is, he’s not a strong enough lead to pull the series through, though thankfully, he’s surrounded by far more interesting and involving characters, particularly Hoffman’s Cassie and Belcher III’s Ledroit. If you’re looking for a serious thriller filled with compelling (if at times overdramatic) performances, Eric is your weekend show.
Synopsis
A desperate father, alongside a tenacious cop, battles his own demons on the streets of 1980s New York as he searches for his missing nine-year-old son.
Storyline
In 1980s New York, the lives of troubled puppeteer Vincent Anderson (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his wife Cassie (Gabby Hoffman) are upended when their son goes missing. Meanwhile, Detective Michael Ledroit (McKinley Belcher III) is convinced the case is part of a larger network of crimes plaguing the city.
TLDR
One publication called it “Sesame Street by way of The Jinx” and I honestly cannot think of a better description.
What stands out
I know “New York is a character” is a cliche at this point, but here New York really is a character stealing our attention with how detailed, nostalgic, and period-accurate she is.