🎥 TV Review – Eric: Monster see, monster undo

Benedict Cumberbatch crackles and pops in Eric on Netflix. But the puppetry is the big, blue star of the show.

A drunk man spiralling out of control wearing a giant puppet head has become a trope these days—think Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory or Cousin Greg in Succession. In Netflix’s Eric, Benedict Cumberbatch has got in on the act as a boozed-up puppetmeister, Vincent Anderson. However, this time, the puppet is in his head rather than him being in the puppet’s… as Vincent hallucinates his 7-foot tall, blue puppet friend: the eponymous Eric.

Vincent is the creator of the long-running children’s show, Good Day, Sunshine!, and his worn-down crew of puppeteers put up with a lot. An unhappy marriage to Cassie (Gaby Hoffman), alcoholism and depression mire his world as he self-sabotages his way through his work and personal life. Then, his son Edgar (Ivan Howe) goes missing and Vincent has to look past himself and think about what really matters to him.

Edgar came up with the idea for the monster Eric, quickly shot down by his listless dad. But when Edgar goes missing, Vincent brings Eric to life on Good Day, Sunshine! to appeal for his return. As Vincent spins out of control, he and Eric go on an NYC walkabout to find Edgar. Physicality wise, it’s hard not to compare Eric to the lumbering, silent Ludo from Labyrinth, but Eric being the embodiment of cynical Vincent there’s a gruff surliness that trudges through him too. Gravelly voiced by Cumberbatch to perfection.

Set in 1980s New York, back when it was less chi-chi and more shamelessly grubby, contrasting the sunny puppet vibe with an undercurrent of griminess. Plot wise, there’s a lot more of the police procedural underbelly than the children’s telly angle initially suggests… but the touching story of the closeted policeman Michael Ledroit (McKinley Belcher III) adds another unexpected tone to the palate. Visually, the dark side of Sesame Street has never been this much of a mess with underground communities living in the sewers, it makes Oscar the Grouch’s deal look pretty cushy.

A deep seam of miserable puppeteers have already been explored, most notably Jim Carrey’s weird and prickly Jeff Piccirillo unravelling in Kidding. A touchstone of where creativity and male fragility meet. But where Kidding was sad and hopeless, Eric is sad and hopeful as Vincent’s journey to reconnect with his son Edgar builds up to a dizzying, celebratory and colourful It’s a Wonderful Life conclusion.

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Meet the makers: Stitches and Glue

Netflix did a brilliant job getting into the intricacies of how the puppet metrics work and the people involved. Find out more and discover the team who pulls the strings.

If you’re curious about the dynamo Stitches and Glue team that brought the empathetic Eric to life, here’s a behind-the-scenes look.

Enjoyed this? Read more of Charlotte’s telly reviews and general cultural chit chat at Bring me sunshine.