Eric – Episode 6 Recap, Review & Ending Explained

Episode 6

In Eric Episode 6, City Hall faces criticism for its evacuation of the subways and tunnels because people have now been forced into the streets.

What happened to Marlon Rochelle?

The morning after their hook-up, Gator and Michael mention having a history. Gator then hands him a tape he got from TJ and tells him to fast-forward to the point where Marlon shows up on it. It shows Marlon being made to give Richard Costello a blow job when Nokes shows up, pulls Marlon away, and beats him until the teen dies. Kennedy reprimands him afterward. Later, Misha and Alexander from sanitation show up to pick up Marlon’s body and throw it in the garbage truck.

When Michael shows the others in his department the tape of Marlon’s murder, Cripp orders him to shut it off. But Michael ignores him and orders others to bring in the guilty parties. Michael tells Cripp this is his investigation, and he wouldn’t want internal affairs to know how he stood in the way of it.

What keeps Vincent from his search?

Eric wakes up Vincent, who then finds Yuusuf grabbing his stuff next to Edgar’s paintings. Yusuuf insists that he helped his son, telling Vincent Edgar didn’t want to go home because he was scared of his father.

He then takes Vincent to the drain where Edgar would have gone. But Eric tries to stop Vincent, grabbing hold of him to tell him he’s the real monster under the bed. They tousle for a while until Vincent gets the better of Eric, shouting at him to die.

Who is arrested in connection to Marlon’s death?

Police arrest Nokes, Alexander, and Misha. When Michael enters Misha’s place, he finds newspaper clippings about the missing kids, along with Marlon’s borrowed jersey. They then arrest Richard Costello and Di Bari.

No one they’ve arrested will talk except for Misha, who says he disposed of Marlon’s body on Bruno Di Bari’s orders. Richard speaks up as well, claiming he didn’t want them to kill him and that they had him cuffed so he couldn’t stop it.

What happened to Raya?

The police find Raya’s body after she died by drowning. Still, there’s no sign of Edgar. Meanwhile, Edgar struggles to make his way out of the sewers on his own.

Does Edgar come home?

Vincent eventually snaps out of his fight and continues to search for Edgar. He makes his way up through a grate and, seeing a TV broadcast about protests taking place outside City Hall, he runs to get somewhere.

While Cassie makes her way to the protests, Vincent arrives at the Good Day Sunshine studio. He gets the Eric costume and puts it on to help him find Edgar.

He goes to City Hall to talk to Edgar on TV. Hoping his son is somewhere he can see his message, he says he’s sorry and that everyone deserves a home where they are safe–a message that goes hand in hand with the protests on behalf of New York’s unhoused people.

Vincent then says he let Edgar down, but he wants to do better. Meanwhile, Edgar sits in a diner and listens to the broadcast while Vincent takes off the mask and quotes Tolstoy: “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves.” This time, instead of weaponizing the quote, he applies it to himself.

He then grabs a mic and tells him he’ll race Edgar home. Edgar and Vincent start running home at the same time, and this time Edgar wins. Cassie isn’t far behind either. 

Later, Cassie and Vincent put Edgar to bed. Vincent decides to go to rehab and says he’ll call when he’s allowed family. He’s recognized how toxic he’s become to their family and knows it’s time to rectify that.

Does Lennie die?

Lennie watches the news broadcasts about Marlon, which leaks that a creator (himself) of a famous children’s TV show was one of The Sierra’s former clients. Rather than confront his involvement, he jumps from his window, committing suicide.

What does Cecile say about Marlon?

After learning of her son’s death, Cecile tells the press about Marlon’s wonderful qualities. “But this isn’t a fair world and these are not fair rules.” She says that while the world betrayed Marlon, she won’t give up on the love and hope that her son believed in.

Later, Michael cries while packing up William’s things. He then shows up at Cecile’s with groceries and joins her for a meal.

How does Eric end?

Months later, Robert meets Vincent at the park, who’s out of rehab and on the mend. Vincent reminisces with him about the good times they used to have with each other at the zoo. Robert used to make time for him, but Vincent had forgotten. He says he used to admire and respect them. “But not anymore.” 

Unwilling to reckon with his failures as a father, Robert insults Vincent. He tells him the park he loves so much was made by ordering immigrant people to leave Seneca Village. He calls that progress. But Vincent disagrees, calling it theft.

Next, Vincent goes to work, where he plays Eric on Good Day Sunshine. Edgar, a pregnant Cassie, and Sebastian show up to watch the show about how Eric isn’t alone and has others by his side.

Edgar is excited to spend the day with Vincent for the first time since his dad got out of rehab. He sneaks off to put on the Eric suit, then speaks to Vincent in a gravelly voice and shakes his hand–like they are meeting for the first time.

The Episode Review

Finally, Eric ties its many storylines and themes together to give us a mournful portrait of ‘80s New York and of those (like Marlon and William) who suffered from the city’s corruption and deep-rooted biases.

The fairly dark series gets a fitting and serious, but still hopeful, end. And yet–the concept of Eric (the titular character!) never finds its place in the show. I understand he’s there to represent the worst and best of Vincent as a person and father. But it seems the puppet holds Vincent back from fully developing as an in-depth character. All in all, Vincent’s battle with Eric is one-dimensional, his journey flat, and his redemption fairly abrupt. His history with mental illness (brought up so frequently by his mother) is never even explored. It’s odd that, as the lead role, so much of his character feels like an afterthought.

Rather, it’s Detective Michael Ledroit who carries much of this series and does well to tie together so many of Eric’s themes surrounding prejudice and fighting for what’s right despite the personal sacrifices that takes. It’s been quite a journey.