Benedict Cumberbatch’s New Netflix Show Completely Flips His Sherlock Role

Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for Eric episodes 1-6 on Netflix.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s new TV show, Eric, is officially streaming on Netflix — and the series flips his Sherlock role in an intriguing way. Eric is 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 puppet does help bring Edgar home. But much more happens before Edgar and his father reunite.

Also headlining Eric‘s cast is 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.

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 in Eric, he’s no longer playing the clever detective role he takes on in Netflix’s Sherlock. In fact, Vincent’s efforts to find his son are sloppy by Sherlock standards. 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.

Ledroit is more like Sherlock in Netflix’s Eric, 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

Eric has a very different tone from Netflix’s Sherlock, but those who enjoy the mystery elements of the series — and Cumberbatch’s acting — will likely appreciate the other show. Sherlock offers the opportunity to follow more intriguing cases and see the actor play a completely different type of character. It may not be up every Eric fan’s alley, but it’s worth giving it a shot. And the timing couldn’t be better. Sherlock has 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 watching Eric.

Eric (2024)

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

Cast

Benedict Cumberbatch , Gaby Hoffman , Jeff Hephner , McKinley Belcher III , Amy Louise Pemberton , Donald Sage Mackay , Erika Soto , John Doman

Release Date

May 30, 2024

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Abi Morgan

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