Netflix viewers slam major issue in Benedict Cumberbatch's new show Eric: 'Dangerous'

Netflix viewers have slammed Benedict Cumberbatch's new show, Eric, over one main issue they have found in the miniseries. In the show, which is set in the 80s, Benedict stars as Vincent, a puppeteer for a show similar to Sesame Street in an unhappy marriage whose nine-year-old son Edgar goes missing after walking to school on his own.

Vincent is dealing with substance abuse issues and begins hallucinating and seeing a puppet, Eric, who he believes can help him bring Edgar back home.

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Netflix audiences seem to be enjoying the show, which received a 7/10 rating on IMDb and a 70 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, some have pointed out a major issue in the show.

'One main issue with the show'

One Reddit user wrote that their "one main issue with the show" is the reaction to Edgar's disappearance. In the show, many people question why Vincent would let Edgar walk to school alone, with fans arguing that this was commonplace at the time.

"It's a show set in the 80s yet people are shocked a 9-year-old walked to school without his parents," they wrote. "We are called the latchkey/forgotten generation because we all used to walk to and from school ourselves (maybe not all, but it was a common thing). The show is taking modern parenting expectations and pushing them on a time things weren't like that. They could easily have set the show in modern times and it would have had zero impact on the main story."

"I walked or rode my bike to school alone. Was never a big deal in the 70s and 80s," one user responded.

"I walked to school by myself in kindergarten like everyone else in the neighbourhood," another said. "15-minute walk included a tunnel that went under a highway and smelled like p**s. By grade 5 or 6, I'd come home after school and watch TV until my parents got home...unless I forgot my key and had to wait outside.

"After dinner, we (me and most other kids) were sent outside till the streetlights came on. We went everywhere! Construction sights, other neighbourhoods. Parents had no clue where we were. This was all totally normal then."

"In NYC? It was dangerous there until Giuliani cleaned it up around 95 or 2000," a third said.

Others thought it made sense, with one user writing, "I think it is totally believable. The media has always loved to whip up a storm to make stories more interesting, and it was media coverage and accusations in the show that made people question the parents."

"People have ALWAYS loved blaming the parents when something happens to a child - it has happened for years. People don't like to think of the same thing happening to their child so they will look for any way that the parents could have avoided it."

"While true, in this instance, it was beyond normal back then. Like no one would bat an eye," another responded.

'Is it worth watching?'

Others questioned whether the show was "worth watching", with several users sharing their thoughts.

"I really enjoyed it. It was weird, gritty and gave me just the right amount of anxiety," one user said.

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"I enjoyed it a lot—it wasn’t one of those shows you feel compelled to instantly rewatch, but it was a fun watch," another agreed.

"I think it’s worth it. The ending really got me in the feels though, you’ve been warned if you have daddy issues/are a dad," a third added.

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