The Knick (Review)
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
In the mid-2010s, television was undergoing a radical transformation toward "prestige" content, but few shows were as daring, gruesome, or visually distinct as The Knick. Created by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, and directed with surgical precision by Steven Soderbergh, this American period medical drama transported viewers to the year 1900 in New York City. Centered on the fictionalized Knickerbocker Hospital, the series served as a visceral window into the dawn of modern medicine—a time when innovation was often indistinguishable from horror. Starring Clive Owen in a career-defining performance, The Knick remains a haunting exploration of addiction, racism, and the relentless drive for scientific progress.
Production Background and Vision
The Knick is a product of the United States, originally releasing on the Cinemax network. The series premiered on August 8, 2014, and ran for two seasons, totaling 20 episodes before its conclusion on December 18, 2015. One of the most remarkable aspects of the production was the involvement of Steven Soderbergh, who not only directed every single episode but also served as the executive producer, director of photography, and editor. To maintain his prolific output, Soderbergh used his frequent pseudonyms: Peter Andrews for cinematography and Mary Ann Bernard for editing.
The show’s commitment to "gritty realism" was bolstered by the use of The Burns Archive. Dr. Stanley Burns served as an on-set medical adviser, ensuring that the antiseptic atomizers, early X-ray machines, and surgical procedures were historically authentic to the era. This dedication to detail allowed the production team to painstakingly render the squalor of the Lower East Side alongside the opulent lifestyles of the hospital’s wealthy patrons.
Synopsis: The "Circus" of 1900s New York
The series' plot focuses on the staff of the Knickerbocker Hospital as they struggle against the staggering limitations of medical knowledge to minimize patient mortality. The story begins with a tragic failure: the suicide of the hospital’s chief surgeon, Dr. J.M. Christiansen, following a fatal placenta previa operation. This leaves a power vacuum filled by his protégé, Dr. John W. Thackery.
The hospital, nicknamed "the circus" by Thackery, is a place of constant high-stakes experimentation. While the surgeons strive for medical discovery, the institution itself is perpetually on the brink of financial insolvency. This forces the hospital manager to court wealthy donors while navigating the city's corrupt social and political hierarchies.
Character Profiles: The People of the Knick
The strength of The Knick lies in its complex, often "pugilistic" and "shadowy" characters:
• Dr. John W. "Thack" Thackery (Clive Owen): The brilliant, arrogant chief surgeon. Partially based on historical figure William Stewart Halsted, Thackery is a visionary in the operating theater but a slave to his severe cocaine and opium addictions. His addiction is so advanced he must inject drugs into his toes because his other veins have been terminally abused.
• Dr. Algernon C. Edwards (André Holland): A Harvard-educated Black surgeon who trained in Paris. Despite being more qualified than his peers, he faces constant racism from the all-white staff. He operates a secret, after-hours clinic in the hospital basement for the Black community, who are often turned away from the main wards.
• Cornelia Robertson (Juliet Rylance): The head of the social welfare office and daughter of the hospital’s benefactor. She is a progressive force who insists on Edwards’ hiring and shares a complicated history with him.
• Herman Barrow (Jeremy Bobb): The "sleazy" manager of the Knick. He mismanages hospital funds and finds himself deeply in debt to ruthless mobsters.
• Lucy Elkins (Eve Hewson): A nurse from West Virginia who becomes fascinated by the "dark and unpredictable" Thackery, eventually becoming his confidante and lover.
• Sister Harriet (Cara Seymour): An Irish Catholic nun who runs the hospital’s orphanage but secretly performs abortions on the side.
• Tom Cleary (Chris Sullivan): A foul-mouthed ambulance driver who steals from the patients he picks up. He forms an unlikely and "intriguing" alliance with Sister Harriet.
• Dr. Everett Gallinger (Eric Johnson): A surgeon who deeply resents Dr. Edwards, viewing him as an intruder who took the position Gallinger was promised.
Themes of Innovation and Social Conflict
The Knick is not for the "faint of heart". Its themes are "perverse" and "bloody," ranging from syphilis and infanticide to the burgeoning and dangerous field of eugenics. The show treats racism as a "disease in the social fabric," most notably depicted in a harrowing sequence involving a race riot in the streets of New York.
The visual style reinforces this grimness. Set just before the widespread use of electric lights, the show’s environment is one of unrelenting gloom, with shadowy characters inhabiting dark corners and pallid tenement buildings. This atmosphere, described as being like a "gothic horror novel," emphasizes the "harsh, dirty, and dangerous" reality of the era.
Critics’ Response and Accolades
Despite its quality, The Knick struggled in the ratings, particularly during its second season when it aired in the Friday night "death slot". However, critics were nearly unanimous in their praise. The first season earned a 75/100 on Metacritic, while the second season rose to an 85/100. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 97% approval rating for the second season, praising its "stunning visuals" and "knockout performances".
The series received significant accolades, including:
• A Peabody Award.
• Satellite Awards for Best Drama Series and Best Ensemble.
• A Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Production Design.
• A Golden Globe nomination for Clive Owen for Best Actor.
Distribution, Cancellation, and Future Spin-offs
The series was distributed via Cinemax and later released on Blu-ray and DVD, featuring audio commentaries and behind-the-scenes looks at the costumes and sets. In March 2017, Cinemax officially canceled the series as the network shifted its focus back to high-octane action dramas. Steven Soderbergh revealed that the plan was always for Thackery to die in the season two finale, as Owen only had a two-year contract.
The legacy of the show continues, however. In 2020, Soderbergh confirmed that a spin-off series was in development, led by Barry Jenkins. In 2023, it was further confirmed that the pilot for this new iteration would be set in 1919 Harlem, continuing the show’s tradition of exploring medicine through the lens of racial and social history.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Release Data: Aired from 2014–2015 on Cinemax (United States).
🗝️ Format: 2 Seasons, 20 Episodes.
🗝️ Creative Team: Directed by Steven Soderbergh; Starring Clive Owen and André Holland.
🗝️ Core Plot: Follows the brilliant but addicted Dr. John Thackery at the Knickerbocker Hospital in 1900.
🗝️ Main Themes: Medical innovation, systemic racism, addiction, and the squalor of early 20th-century New York.
🗝️ Critical Status: Highly acclaimed with Peabody, Emmy, and Satellite Awards, though it suffered from low ratings.
🗝️ The Future: A spin-off set in 1919 Harlem is currently in development under Barry Jenkins.
🌐 External sources
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The Knick Review
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