Summary
- "Eric" features a soundtrack full of 70s and 80s songs that set the mood for the 1980s New York setting.
- The show's focus is more on eerie scenes and dialogue, with music playing a supporting role to establish the era.
- The large cast of characters brings the crime drama to life, including a giant puppet that serves as a symbol throughout.
This article contains spoilers for the Netflix show Eric.
Netflix’s 2024 limited series Eric plays mostly period-accurate songs, following the search for a missing child in 1980s New York. The soundtrack contains many songs from the 70s and 80s, with only a few outliers. Eric doesn’t focus much on its music compared to other period dramas, opting for the eeriness of quieter scenes and dialogue. Despite this, the songs Eric does use manage to engage the audience and help establish the show's era. Almost all the songs on the soundtrack came out before the show is set, making them tunes the characters would potentially know.
Eric’s large cast of characters helps bring the crime drama to life. Set in New York City in 1985, Eric follows puppeteer Vincent Anderson (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his wife Cassie (Gaby Hoffmann), who search for their missing son, Edgar (Ivan Morris Howe). Assisting them is Officer Michael Ledroit, who investigates The Lux nightclub, a shady establishment run by Gator. Rounding out the cast is the giant real-life puppet Eric, who both exists as Vincent’s subconscious and as a puppet for his television show, Good Day Sunshine. Original theme music and melodies were created for this show within a show, adding to the Eric soundtrack.
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All Songs in Eric | Artist | Year | Episode # |
“I’m Not In Love” | 10cc | 1975 | Episode 1 |
“Supernature” | Cerrone | 1977 | Episode 1 |
“Vitamin C” | Can | 1972 | Episode 1 |
“Crucify Your Mind” | Rodriguez | 1970 | Episode 1 |
“These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)” | Billie Holiday | 1956 | Episode 2 |
“I’m So Hot For You” | Bobby O | 1983 | Episode 2 |
“A Forest” | The Cure | 1980 | Episode 2 |
“Love And Affection” | Joan Armatrading | 1976 | Episode 3 |
“Ask Me” | Carol Jiani | 1982 | Episode 3 |
“Gloria” | Laura Branigan | 1982 | Episode 3 |
“Meet Me In The Morning” | Bob Dylan | 1975 | Episode 4 |
“Killing Moon”* | Roman Remains | 2017 | Episode 4 |
“Tupelo” | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 1993 | Episode 4 |
“Heroin” | The Velvet Underground | 1967 | Episode 5 |
“900 Miles” | Terry Callier | 1968 | Episode 5 |
“Who Knows Where the Time Goes” | Fairpoint Convention | 1969 | Episode 5 |
“These Days” | Nico | 1967 | Episode 6 |
“I’m Not In Love” | 10cc | 1975 | Episode 6 |
“Killing Moon” by Roman Remains is a cover of the 1984 song “The Killing Moon” by Echo & The Bunnymen.
Eric Episode 1 Songs
“Episode 1”
“I’m Not In Love” by 10cc - After a tense morning at home, Vincent decides Edgar is old enough to walk himself to school. As Edgar wordlessly leaves the apartment, passing by his arguing parents, “I’m Not In Love” by 10cc plays. The scene follows Edgar down the street, with the audience seeing that he is being watched by a suspicious figure in a truck.
“Supernature” by Cerrone - The Lux nightclub plays “Supernature” by Cerrone, as Detective Ledroit enters to investigate Edgar’s disappearance. From the reactions of the patrons and employees in the club, it is clear Ledroit is a regular at the club.
“Vitamin C” by Can - Vincent goes through Edgar’s room at home, finding all his drawings of Eric, drinking, and creating his own sketch of the puppet. “Vitamin C” by Can plays while shots of Vincent’s drawings are intercut with Ledroit listening to an audio tape from The Lux and Cassie meeting up with her lover.
“Crucify Your Mind” by Rodriguez - Alone in his son’s room, Vincent drinks more, contemplating his family, while “Crucify Your Mind” by Rodriguez plays. Meanwhile, a police officer seen earlier in the episode drunkenly leaves The Lux and gets hit by a car. The song pauses when Vincent is suddenly woken up from his sleep in his son’s bed by a large furry puppet. The song resumes in the last shot of the episode: Edgar’s recognizable jacket lying in the street.
Eric Episode 2 Songs
“Episode 2”
“These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)” by Billie Holiday - When Detective Ledroit returns to his apartment after work, looking for his boyfriend William, “These Foolish Things” is playing on their stereo. This song later becomes William’s theme, as a distorted version briefly plays over a flashback of Ledroit and him in "Episode 5."
“I’m So Hot For You” by Bobby O - Against the police chief's warnings, Ledroit returns to investigate the Lux. Various club patrons dance to “I’m So Hot for You” by Bobby O when Ledroit enters. The song quiets as Ledroit walks away from the dance floor, looking for Gator in the backroom.
“A Forest” by The Cure - At the end of the second episode, “A Forest” by The Cure plays over a montage of the characters. Vincent goes to the Good Day Sunshine studio to create the Eric puppet. Ledroit watches CCTV footage of the day Edgar disappeared. Cassie goes through memorabilia and phones Detective Ledroit on a hunch. Finally, a man matching the appearance of a character in one of Edgar’s drawings is seen walking down a dimly-lit hallway.
Eric Episode 3 Songs
“Episode 3”
“Love and Affection” by Joan Armatrading - With Vincent in jail and Cassie alone in the apartment thinking about her family, “Love and Affection” by Joan Armatrading plays. Overcome with emotion, Cassie dances around the living room, nearly delirious.
“Ask Me” by Carol Jiani - As Vincent and the Good Day Sunshine team celebrate successfully pitching the Eric character to the network, “Ask Me” by Carol Jiani plays in the background at The Lux.
“Gloria” by Laura Branigan - Drunk and high, Vincent dances in a daze while “Gloria” by Laura Brannigan plays at The Lux. His victory dance is watched disdainfully by those close to him who are watching his inappropriate behavior.
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Eric Episode 4 Songs
“Episode 4”
“Meet Me In The Morning” by Bob Dylan - The camera spins to show the remnants and paraphernalia of Vincent’s wild night at the end of the previous episode while “Meet Me In The Morning” by Bob Dylan plays. Meanwhile, Cassie sits at a diner, sullen, looking at the phone number of Cecile (Adepero Oduye), the mother of another missing child.
“Killing Moon” by Roman Remains - Edgar explores his captor, Yuusuf (Bamar Kane)’s dwelling, as “Killing Moon” by Roman Remains briefly plays. After finding various art supplies, Edgar begins to sketch on the wall.
“Tupelo” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - After Yuusuf’s partner Raya (Alexis Molnar) talks with Gator’s corrupt associate at The Lux about the potential of selling Edgar to them, “Tupelo” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds plays as she descends back into the sewers.
Eric Episode 5 Songs
“Episode 5”
“Heroin” by The Velvet Underground - “Heroin” by The Velvet Underground plays as Cassie waits in the phone booth for what she believes will be the safe delivery of Edgar and Vincent searches the subway tracks, following a path he believes Edgar left for him.
“900 Miles” by Terry Callier - As the police tear apart the encampment in the sewers, “900 Miles” by Terry Callier plays. Vincent, who is also in the broken-up encampment, is knocked over in the shuffle. Edgar and Raya run away in an attempt to escape to the surface.
“Who Knows Where the Time Goes” by Fairport Convention - At the end of the episode, “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” by Fairport Convention plays as Cassie continues waiting in the phone booth for Edgar, Ledroit kisses Gator in The Lux backroom, and Vincent passes out in the sewers.
Eric Episode 6 Songs
“Episode 6”
“These Days” by Nico - The song “These Days” by Nico scores the conclusive endings to many character arcs. Edgar, now safely home, draws a picture; Cecile gives a speech about her missing son, begging for change in the city; and Ledroit packs up his apartment and mourns William’s death.
“I’m Not In Love” by 10cc - Contrasting the song's use at the beginning of the series, “I’m Not In Love” by 10cc plays in the Eric season finale, as Vincent and Edgar, who is wearing the Eric costume, sit on the Good Day Sunshine set.
Eric (2024)
TV-MA
Drama
Thriller
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
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Creator(s)
- Abi Morgan