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It seems all our best homegrown TV writers are jumping the BBC ship in favour of American streamers and their deep pockets. First, Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright made swashbuckling fantasy Renegade Nell for Disney+, then Russell T Davies sold his soul to Mickey Mouse to get his reinvigorated Doctor Who on the same platform. Now, it’s Abi Morgan – writer of The Split and River – who has gone over to the dark side with her new crime thriller Eric , streaming on Netflix .

Thankfully, a bigger budget suits her. Set in 80s New York, all grubby streets and honking yellow taxi cabs, Eric introduces us to the Anderson family. Top of the tree is Vincent ( Benedict Cumberbatch ), a depressed, alcoholic son of a property magnate who has made his own living and found fame as the creator of children’s TV puppet show, Good Day Sunshine (an obvious homage to Sesame Street ).



Vincent’s married to Cassie (a scene-stealing Gaby Hoffman), who is at her wits end with their expletive-laden arguments and having an affair with a nicer, calmer man. Their young son is Edgar (Ivan Howe), a quiet boy who spends most of his time in his bedroom avoiding his parents’ screaming and drawing up his own puppet ideas. But after a particularly vicious argument between Vincent and Cassie, Edgar sets off for school and never returns.

Soon, missing persons detective Michael Ledroit (McKinley Belcher III) is on the streets hunting down clues to what happened to Edgar and uncovering New York’s s.

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