Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for Eric episodes 1-6 on Netflix.
Summary
Benedict Cumberbatch’s new TV show,Eric, is officially streaming on Netflix — andthe series flips hisSherlockrole in an intriguing way.Ericis set in 1980s New York, and the Netflix series chronicles the disappearance of nine-year-old Edgar Anderson. Cumberbatch plays Eric’s father, Vincent Anderson, who has a tense relationship with his son when the series opens. Vincent is a puppet maker, and he’s haunted by one of Edgar’s designs after he disappears. Ultimately,Eric’s titular puppetdoes help bring Edgar home. But much more happens before Edgar and his father reunite.
AlsoheadliningEric’scastis McKinley Belcher III, who plays Detective Michael Ledroit, the man assigned to Edgar’s case. In terms of personality, Ledroit is far different from Vincent, and he also plays a major role in getting Edgar back to his family. With Ledroit working the cast, Netflix puts the perfect spin on Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes role.
Is Netflix’s Eric Based On A True Story?
Eric’s realistic 1980s setting and gritty true crime elements make it feel like a true story, but how much of the Netflix series is based in reality?
Eric Perfectly Reverses Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Role
Benedict Cumberbatch Isn’t The Clever Detective This Time
Although Cumberbatch’s character searches for his son inEric,he’s no longer playing the clever detective role he takes on in Netflix’sSherlock.In fact, Vincent’s efforts to find his son are sloppy bySherlockstandards. While he’s right about Edgar’s map and where it leads, it takes a long time for him to get there. He’s too busy trying to get his son’s puppet on TV, and he also spends much of the series inebriated. Even when he follows Eric’s map, he misses him. His character may have cockiness in common with Sherlock Holmes, but that’s where the similarities end.
His character may have cockiness in common with Sherlock Holmes, but that’s where the similarities end.
Ledroit is more like Sherlock in Netflix’sEric,as he’s the one tasked with solving the mystery of Edgar’s disappearance. Believing it could be connected to a previous case, Ledroit becomes obsessed with determining what happened to Edgar and Marlon Rochelle. Despite interference, he eventually pieces both cases together, proving he’s an impressive detective. His sleuthing is far more on par with Sherlock’s than Vincent’s.
Why Eric Is A Great TV Show For Sherlock Fans
The Mystery Elements Will Appeal To Them
Erichas a very different tone from Netflix’sSherlock,but those who enjoy the mystery elements of the series — and Cumberbatch’s acting — will likely appreciate the other show.Sherlockoffers the opportunity to follow more intriguing casesand see the actor play a completely different type of character. It may not be up everyEricfan’s alley, but it’s worth giving it a shot. And the timing couldn’t be better.Sherlockhas a new streaming home, with the series dropping on Hulu this March, years after its departure from Netflix. It’s the perfect chance to pick it up after watchingEric.
Eric
Cast
A gripping psychological drama set in the turbulent 1980s New York City, following Vincent, a talented puppeteer whose life is shattered by the mysterious disappearance of his son, Edgar. As Vincent spirals into a world of despair and obsession, he channels his anguish into his puppet, Eric. Eric becomes more than a mere creation, serving as a conduit for Vincent’s pain and a guide through the shadows of his troubled mind. As Vincent delves deeper into the city’s underbelly in search of his son, the line between reality and delusion blurs, uncovering dark secrets and testing his grip on sanity
