Eric (2024)

We watched episode one of this limited series on Netflix, last night. It is a mess of the worst of 1985 NYC: AIDS is killing people; homosexuality is bordering on pedophilia; kids go missing and parents are fighting a losing battle with alcohol. Even, in this case, a successful children’s program creator is under pressure to become more relevant with modern children. The Sesame Street vibe is evident here.

My title for this post isn’t in quotes, because I have paraphrased the essence of the show. Monsters exist everywhere, and they aren’t always invisible friends who comfort children; sometimes they’re invisible friends who comfort (and cajole) adults, too. I guess it depends on how much imagination is at work.

At any rate, I suspect we’ll carry on with the rest of this six-part series on the weekend. A happy ending is the preferred outcome.