“The Knick” is a period drama that doesn’t waste time on exposition. Set in the early 1900s, it follows Dr. John Thackery, a brilliant surgeon at the Knickerbocker Hospital in New York City, as he battles addiction, professional jealousy, and the dawn of modern medicine. Created by Steven Soderbergh, the show is a masterclass in visual style and moral ambiguity. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a compelling one.
Trailer, via Cinemax.
Early 1900s New York
The show is set in the early 1900s, a time when hospitals were chaotic, dirty, and dangerous. Doctors operated without anesthesia, sterilization, or antibiotics. Patients died from infections that today are treated with a simple pill. The Knick is a private hospital that caters to the wealthy, but it also serves the poor and the desperate. The contrast between the two groups is stark, and the show doesn’t shy away from showing how class divides treatment.
The city itself is a character. Filmed in Pittsburgh, the streets are gritty, the buildings are grimy, and the light is always harsh. The show uses a mix of color and black-and-white photography to distinguish between past and present, and the effect is immersive. You feel the heat, the dust, and the danger.
Clive Owen’s Thackery
Clive Owen plays Dr. Thackery, a man who is both a genius and a wreck. He’s a heavy drinker, a cocaine user, and a womanizer. He’s also a surgeon who performs groundbreaking procedures and a doctor who can’t connect with his patients. Owen is magnetic in the role, giving a performance that’s raw and controlled in equal measure. He’s the kind of lead actor who makes you want to watch every episode, even when the plot slows down.
The supporting cast is equally strong. Ethan Hawke plays Dr. Algernon Edwards, Thackery’s rival and friend. He’s a brilliant African-American doctor who faces racism at every turn. His scenes with Thackery are the emotional core of the show. Jessica Lange plays Cornelia Robertson, a nurse who runs the operating room with a stern hand. She’s a woman who has learned to survive in a man’s world, and her arc is fascinating. And Michael Angarano plays Tommy the janitor, a young man who becomes Thackery’s unlikely confidant. He’s the heart of the show, even though he’s not a doctor.
Medical Episodes
The medical drama is the show’s main draw. Each season features a major surgical procedure, and Soderbergh films them with a documentary-like realism. There’s a cesarean section, a gunshot wound, a mastectomy, and a lobotomy. The gore is graphic, but it’s never gratuitous. It’s there to show how fragile life is, and how far medicine has come.
The show also explores the ethical dilemmas of the era. Thackery performs experimental surgeries on patients who don’t consent. He uses cocaine to stay awake during operations. He treats rich patients better than poor ones. The show doesn’t judge him, but it doesn’t excuse him either. It presents him as a flawed human being, not a hero.
Historical Detail
The production design is meticulous. The costumes, the furniture, the street signs, and the advertisements all look authentic. The show recreates the era with a fidelity that’s rare in television. It’s not just a costume drama; it’s a historical document. You can see the progress of medicine in the props and the sets. The show also captures the social changes of the time, from women’s suffrage to immigration to urbanization.
The music is a mix of ragtime, jazz, and classical. It’s used sparingly, but it’s always effective. The score is by Cliff Martinez, and it adds to the tension and the atmosphere. The show is a visual feast, and it rewards careful watching.
Season Structure
The show has a sprawling narrative that spans two seasons. It covers the years from 1900 to 1910, and it touches on many events. There’s a polio outbreak, a hurricane, a strike, and a murder. The show weaves these threads together with Thackery’s personal story, and it creates a sense of continuity that’s rare in modern television. Each episode builds on the last, and the finale brings everything together.
The show also has a political subplot. Thackery is involved in the fight for a new hospital building, and he clashes with the city’s politicians. This subplot is less interesting than the medical ones, but it adds texture to the story. It shows how medicine is tied to power, and how doctors have to navigate the system.
Critical Reception
The show has been praised for its writing, its direction, and its performances. Critics have called it a masterpiece of television. The show has a Metacritic score of 8.5 out of 10, which is a strong rating. The show has won several awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Miniseries.
Some critics have argued that the show is too dark. They say it’s a bleak portrait of a brutal time, and that it doesn’t offer enough hope. Others have said that the show is too slow. They say it spends too much time on dialogue and not enough on action. These criticisms are valid, but they’re minor compared to the strengths of the show.
Lasting Value
“The Knick” is a show that deserves attention. It’s a period piece that’s relevant today, and it’s a drama that’s emotionally honest. It’s not a show for everyone, but it’s a show for anyone who wants to see history done well. The show is available to stream, and it’s worth watching in one sitting. It’s a dense, demanding experience, but it’s a rewarding one.
The show’s final episode ends on a note of uncertainty. Thackery is left alone, facing his demons, and the viewer is left wondering what happens next. It’s a fitting ending for a show that’s always been about the unknown. The show doesn’t offer answers, but it offers questions. That’s a rare quality in modern television, and it’s a quality that makes “The Knick” special.
- The medical procedures are filmed with documentary realism.
- The period detail is meticulously researched.
- The performances are uniformly excellent.
- The show is visually stunning.
- The show is emotionally complex.
The show is a reminder that television can be more than entertainment. It can be art, and it can be history. “The Knick” is both. It’s a show that you’ll remember long after you’ve finished watching it. It’s a show that you’ll think about when you hear the name of a hospital, or when you see a doctor in a white coat. It’s a show that deserves its reputation. It’s a show that earns its 8.5 out of 10.
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