Netflix’s new drama Eric is full of monsters hiding in plain sight
Plus: Ron Howard's new Disney+ documentary about the wonders of Jim Henson and why Dawn French really is a twat.
After diving head-first into the giddy reality TV chaos of Married at First Sight NZ last week, it was great to sink into something much darker and grittier this week. Eric is Netflix’s new prestige drama, and if you’re a fan of complex thrillers that pull you into a certain time and place (in this case, New York in the mid 1980s), don’t miss it. Yes, there’s a giant puppet, but it’s… fine? Speaking of puppets, my must-watch for this long weekend is the new Disney+ documentary about Jim Henson’s muppet genius. Why are there so many songs about rainbows? Can’t wait to find out.
Don’t let your puppet issues put you off Benedict Cumberbatch’s intriguing new crime thriller
What’s all this then?
Eric is Netflix’s new psychological drama created and written by Welsh playwright Abi Morgan (Suffragette, The Iron Lady, The Split), and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Gaby Hoffman and McKinley Belcher III. Cumberbatch plays Vincent, a talented New York puppeteer whose son Edgar goes missing on his way to school one day in 1985. As the police search for Edgar, a grief-stricken Vincent becomes obsessed with bringing his son’s drawing of a monster named Eric to life, convinced that if he can get the monster to appear on his TV puppet show, he’ll be reunited with his son.
What’s good?
This is a show full of surprises. I came in expecting a weird puppet drama, but Eric is darker, grittier and more richly imagined than that. Yes, it’s a show about a troubled puppeteer who works on a cheery Sesame Street-type kids show called Good Day Sunshine, but there’s nothing quirky or whimsical about Eric. This is a serious crime thriller with moments of the surreal, and if you’ve been put off the series by any pre-disposed puppet issues, think again.
Cumberbatch is hugely compelling as Vincent, a father hell bent on self-destruction. After failing to walk his son to school on the day he disappeared, Vincent’s mental health unravels the point where he starts to see visions of giant puppet Eric, who follows him around as a constant reminder of his guilt and self-loathing. Cumberbatch isn’t the only strong performance here (although he is the only one doing a lot of wacky voices); Hoffman gives a heart-wrenching portrayal as Edgar’s anguished mother Cassie, while Belcher is quiet and stoic as the detective investigating the case.
Ultimately, Eric is a show of contrasts: sunshine and shade, hope and sorrow, life and loss. Vincent's cheery puppet show is the antithesis of his cynical, miserable real life, while the detective investigating Edgar’s disappearance is forced to hide his sexuality from his homophobic colleagues, his partner slowly dying of AIDS at home. Edgar’s mother Cassie has her own secrets, too. Everyone in this show is wearing some kind of disguise, and they’re all hiding something. Only one of them is yelling at a blue-horned monster named Eric, though.
What’s not so good?
There’s a lot going on in Eric, and the show takes us in too many different directions. This is more than just a missing-person story – it’s also a family drama, a police procedural, a crime thriller and a surreal psychological drama. It touches on police corruption, political corruption, racism, homophobia, the AIDS epidemic, homelessness, alcoholism and mental illness (monsters everywhere, get it?), all woven into a gritty 1980s New York landscape that feels so realistic, Eric could also be a true crime series.
But in the show’s efforts to recreate this rich and layered world, we’re taken far away from the original plot of Edgar’s disappearance, and I’m curious to see if all these themes can be convincingly pulled together by the end of episode six.
Verdict: Watch it
Don’t miss this one. Eric is a dark and intriguing drama filled with compelling performances and rich storylines that will surprise you. Cumberbatch should get his good suit ready for award season.
Eric is available to stream on Netflix.
Introducing The Spinoff Welly 500
Over 300 people have already joined our new community of supporters, and we are grateful for your tautoko of our Wellington coverage.Last August, The Spinoff hired Joel MacManus as its first-ever Wellington editor. Wellingtonians have always supported us, and Joel coming on board has meant we’ve been able to start returning the favour with a dedicated focus.
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Why you should watch: Dancing for The Devil: The TikTok Cult (Netflix)
An intriguing new true crime watch for people who are into cults, viral trends and internet culture. The blurb is pretty simple: “after TikTok dancers join a management company and its associated church, unsettling details about the founder and their dark realities come to light” – but a quick scroll of the comments section on YouTube reveals there might be even more internet drama within the drama. We suggest you tie yourself to something before diving into this rabbit hole, for there may be no return. / Alex Casey
From The Spinoff: Dawn French is a Huge Twat (touring around the country)
Having grown up on a steady diet of French and Saunders and Absolutely Fabulous, I was keen to find out what Stewart Sowman-Lund thought of British comedian Dawn French’s live show. “The country has gone French-mad,” Sowman-Lund wrote in his review. “Last night was the first of four shows in Auckland, which followed three each in Wellington and Christchurch, and a multi-date Australian tour as well. In short, while a lot of the 66-year-old comic’s most memorable work was decades ago – as she reminded the audience by introducing herself as an “80s comedian” – her popularity hasn’t dampened.
“French’s latest show is one part stand-up, one part book tour, one part theatre. It’s consistently funny, though not always belly laugh funny, with video snippets from her career in show business interwoven with personal stories about, well, why she’s a mega twat.”
More pop culture news from The Spinoff:
As Married at First Sight NZ (Three) returned, Alex Casey caught up with MAFSNZ season one couple Brett and Angel and then wrote some delicious power rankings for week one. And if you can’t bring yourself to watch the show but are experiencing MAFS FOMO, check out our recap of episode one.
As NZ Music Month comes to an end, don’t miss our new Saturday column about a New Zealand musician’s perfect weekend playlist. Troy Kingi kicks things off beautifully.
There’s lots of great options in this week’s new to streaming, while actor Sara Wiseman reveals why Sir David Attenborough is the most stylish person on TV in this week’s My Life in TV.
Before you watch the Aotearoa Music Awards (TVNZ+), be sure to check out some of the most memorable moments in the event’s six decade history.
Why you should watch: Jim Henson: Big Idea (Disney+): If you prefer your puppet content to be a little more on the whimsical side than Eric, Disney’s much-anticipated Jim Henson documentary arrives this week. Director Ron Howard pieces together the fascinating origin story and limitless imagination of the Muppets visionary, blending archival footage with present day talking heads. Packed with inspiration, nostalgia and ending with an allegedly “heart-shredding finale”, this is for anyone who can’t make it through ‘Rainbow Connection’ without sobbing. / AC
Before we pop off…
NZ On Screen celebrates wahine Māori director, writer, producer and mentor Merata Mita with the launch of a special collection that showcases her career and legacy.
A couple of big trailers dropped this week: Moana 2 (out at the end of November) and season three of The Bear (dropping at the end of June).
In a TV crossover that not even Mrs Mangel’s ghost saw coming, Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause has joined the cast of Neighbours.
A new podcast ‘It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time’ sees Rachel Ashby and Rowan Evans take a deep dive into the last 20 years of Auckland’s well-loved music den The Wine Cellar.
Lego fans should check out a futuristic new exhibition at Auckland Museum. Created by Australian Lego Masters Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, the exhibition is set in 2530 in a world where Lego minifigures have taken over the earth.
After the huge success of Bridgerton (Netflix), the controversial 18th century diaries of the real-life inspiration for Lady Whistledown are about to be republished.
That’s it for Rec Room for this week. If you liked what you read, why not share Rec Room with your friends and whānau.
