Benedict Cumberbatch’s New Netflix Show Continues His Trend Started By a 2018 High-Rated Drama
Both series are heading to Netflix later this month.
It’s definitely time for Benedict Cumberbatch fans to celebrate as the actor’s two very similar shows are coming to Netflix at almost the same time later in May. The streaming will first release the 2018 drama miniseries Patrick Melrose which will be followed by Cumberbatch’s brand new show Eric.
Apart from the fact that the actor stars in both shows, the series have much more in common than they initially seem to.
Back in 2018, Patrick Melrose got to be Cumberbatch’s first big dramatical role since the actor rose to international prominence due to his breakout role in the BBC crime drama show Sherlock.
Based on Edward St Aubyn’s semi-biographical novels, Patrick Melrose follows an eponymous aristocrat whose wealthy family’s facade hides his big childhood trauma caused by Patrick’s abusive father, which later leads to Patrick’s severe substance abuse and struggles in adulthood.
Six years after Patrick Melrose, Cumberbatch seems to be adapting the same type of character in Netflix’s upcoming psychological thriller show Eric. Also being a miniseries, it revolves around Vincent, a puppeteer living in the 1980’s New York City.
One day Vincent’s nine-year-old son Edgar mysteriously disappears. After vain attempts to get his son back home, Vincent turns to substance abuse which leads him to believe that his puppet Eric may help him to reunite with Edgar.
With all the plot details that both series share, they also come as a two-part proof of Cumberbatch’s ability to handle versatile dramatical roles. The actor’s range is indeed very vast, be that his Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Strange or even theatrical roles in Shakespeare’s plays.
Still, Patrick Melrose and Eric stand out here as a specific pattern of a character with a complex and tough personality which is often a real challenge for any actor, even the most experienced.
Patrick Melrose is set to be released on Netflix on May 29, while Eric’s arrival at the platform is planned for May 30.