Stream on Netflix
Based on 1 season, 6 episodes · through May 30, 2024
Eric is a dark drama set in 1980s New York City. The story follows Vincent, a troubled puppet creator who searches for his missing nine-year-old son. Alongside this search, the show focuses heavily on Michael Ledroit, a gay Black detective. The series highlights many social and political themes. It features the early AIDS crisis, homophobia, police corruption, and racial inequality. These themes are very visible and play a major role in the overall story.
Why 88%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Eric.
Woke representation / casting
The show features a prominent Black gay detective as a main lead. It also highlights a Black mother fighting to find her missing son. These choices emphasize identity-driven representation. The prominent LGBTQ+ elements add substantial weight to this category under our scoring rules.
60%
Woke political dialogue
Characters frequently speak about homophobia, systemic racism, and municipal neglect. The dialogue directly critiques the police department's treatment of minority communities and gay people during the AIDS crisis. The political framing is very easy to hear.
65%
Production
Identity-driven story themes
The plot centers on multiple identity-based storylines. A major plotline involves the gay detective navigating a homophobic workplace while caring for his dying partner. Another storyline focuses on the racial bias of the media and police. This high score is due to the central focus on LGBTQ+ themes.
75%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The series presents a harsh critique of 1980s Western institutions. The NYPD is depicted as racist, homophobic, and corrupt. The local government is shown as uncaring toward the unhoused population. Traditional family life is portrayed as highly toxic and dysfunctional.
72%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Some viewers on Reddit and other online forums complained that the show felt like a modern progressive checklist. They felt that the homophobia, systemic racism, and AIDS subplots were forced into what should have been a simple missing-child thriller.
35%
Creator track record context
Creator Abi Morgan and producer/star Benedict Cumberbatch both have strong public records of supporting progressive causes. Creative producers Lucy Dyke and Holly Pullinger also have a documented pattern of prioritizing diversity and LGBTQ+ themes.
68%
