The Knick

Photo by Mary Cybulski/Cinemax

It has been long established that medical dramas are among audience's favorites all around the world. 
Think ER, House MD, Grey's Anatomy to mention but a few, and think of the many successful seasons that they had and you will know that the world love medical drama series! 

Personally, I'm somewhat indifferent to the specific context, whether is a doctors' or lawyers', or mafia's world, I don't particularly care for that.
What I do care is if I like the cast and the story, basically is the show interesting or not?  
I recently started watching  The Knick which aired on August 8th 2014 in the USA and thus far there are only 2 episodes out of the total 10 for season 1.

MODERN  MEDICINE HAD TO START SOMEWHERE

The new medical drama directed by Steven Soderbergh,  follows the professional and private lives of the staff at the New York's Knickerbocker Hospital at the beginning of the 20th century.  

During those years, medicine progressed incredibly both in the States and in Europe, and it was customary for doctors to carry out some important operations, as well as experimental surgery in front of an audience made of other physicians.  
The drama which gets quite gore at times, touches various issues, from racial integration, to drugs, to science development.  As an after thought, it made me think that in some ways, besides the medical progress,  100 odd years later we are still dealing with similar social, personal and professional situations.

The  main  cast

It's early days as I have seen only 2 episodes, but the characters are developing quickly before our eyes.  As it's a fairly big cast I will only list the 3 characters that I like the most so far: 

Photo courtesy of Cinemax

Dr. John W. Thackery

Clive Owen plays Dr. John Thackery: a surgeon that suddenly finds himself to head The Knick. What we know thus far about the professional life of John, is that he is passionate about his work. The impression I had though, was that he seems more interested in the science aspect of being a doctor than the compassionate part. I mean, doctors usually become doctors because they want to help others right? And I'm sure John does too, but I feel he is more preoccupied with developing the science than else. He comes across very clinical and arrogant and he surely has personal demons to deal with in his

private life, so I'm excited to see where this character will take us.  From the first moment I saw him he reminded me of Dr. House. Same moody, even rude attitude, but very, very good at his job.  As far as Clive Owen playing this character goes, I like the choice: his persona and looks lend themselves well to the period drama set. 

 Dr. Algernon  Edwards

Andre` Holland, that we have seen sporadically in both TV and Film plays young Dr. Algernon Edwards, who has been trained and has practices at top hospitals in Paris and London. Now, on the next step of his career, through an overruling by the hospital chief trustee Cornelia Robertson,  Dr. Edwards is hired for the role of Deputy Chief of Surgery, something that Dr. Thackary refuses to accept. 
Encountering apathy and manners that today would result in a court suit, he has to deal with being judged not by his skills or experience but by the color of his skin. 

Photo courtesy of Cinemax

Dr. Thackary spares no doubt on how he feels about Dr. Algernon Edwards when he tells him: "You can only run away and join the circus, if the circus wants you, and I don't want you in my circus".

Dr. Edwards thus far seems the total opposite of Dr. Thackary. He is humble and compassionate, and it does make me wonder whether these 2 opposites will attract eventually of if the feud will last. 

Photo by Mary Cybulski/Cinemax

Lucy ELKINS

Irish born, Eve Hewson plays nurse Lucy Elkins, one of the nurses working at The Knick. 
Lucy is your typical early 20th century girl: naive, shy and modest. She is often overshadowed  by the personalities of the doctors and often they (particularly Dr. Thackary) are oblivious to her work and even humiliate her in public. 

I have the feeling though, that nurse Elkins, will come through in the coming episodes and will grow to be an asset. 

So in my opinion she is one to watch. 

WHY DO I LIKE THE KNICK

In few words, I like it because the storytelling is fabulous. 

Steven Soderbergh has directed some of my favorite movies of all times. like Erin Brokovich, The Ocean trilogy, Traffic and many, many others. 

I think there are few people that can get into a thematic as he does.  The Knick for me, proved to be another hit.  
I love the cast, how the story is unfolding and I love the setting: an early 1900 New York, plays as backdrop to the events.  Great details are seen in the costumes and the dialogues. 
It's a bloody show, after all it deals with a hospital, but then, if you think is not real blood...you get used to it pretty quickly as I did, and you when the gore parts are showing you will focus instead by the tools and method of surgery they were using. 

The show plays on Cinemax, HBO's sister network and they have already signed off a second season, I can only hope it gets to see more because it's very enjoyable!

If you want to follow or find The Knick on Social Media use #AtTheKnick of click on the icons below. 

The Knick airs on 
Cinemax at 10PM on Fridays

Did you watch The Knick? 
Tell us what you think in the comments below.