The Knick

This is it. If ever you've wondered what is the greatest tv show in history that no one watched it's definitely The Knick. I couldn't believe what an utter masterpiece this show was when I started watching it on HBOMAX. It's near perfect. The acting, writing, set designs and cinematography is second to none. A Cinemax original to my surprise but HBOMAX has it now and there is talk of a revival and of a third season in the works. This is a show that is so unexpectedly great I couldn't believe what I was watching when I hit play. A period piece starting in 1900 about early medicine in New York City. An absolute gem and a must watch for people who appreciate great television.

The Knick is an excellent series that sadly ends to fast. If it was up to me they could have made much more seasons because the subject is a bottomless pit. The show is about discovering new techniques of surgery and medicine at the turn of the 20th century. I'm glad I could just watch it on television then living it for myself because let's be honest there are some pretty scary procedures in The Knick. It doesn't look very sterile at all. And having a surgery in an auditorium while a bunch of people are looking at you isn't my idea of a safe environment for a surgery. But the show itself is fabulous with great acting performances and with an excellent story. All actors and actresses were great in The Knick. I really wished there would be more then two seasons because The Knick is so much better then most of the other shows that seems to keep going on forever. Certainly one of my favorite shows of this year.

As a physician, I watched the entire House MD, Scrubs, most of ER and grey's anatomy. As a dedicated reader, I read a lot in medicine history. I'd like to reassure everyone who is afraid of watching another regular medical drama, this show is about medical history with it's bizarre and crazy events (which truly happened allover the course of medicine History), but in the same time it's a perfectly crafted piece of art from attention to small details to acting, writing, camera angels, sound tract and of course directing by Soderbergh.

Dr. John Thackery is a character built on 1900s Dr. William Stewart Halsted who is considered the greatest physician of the whole Johns Hopkins group, also Throughout his professional life, he was addicted to cocaine and later to morphine, which were not illegal during that time. The beauty about Thackery character is that it's a true character with his addiction and the predicted mood changes (even if there is some alteration, the character frame still the same, not like the case of G. House who was clearly a fictional character).

I don't want to go in details about the technical elements of the show, but one look over Steven Soderbergh's traffic, Erin Brockovich or even Ocean's eleven will be more than enough to understand that you are facing a spectacular show which has more and more to offer with each new episode (no wonder it was renewed for a second season before airing the first one).

The Knick is a too much sophisticated show to be compared with other shows from the same genre and IMO it shouldn't be compared with them at all. My advice to every one: see the first season now because if you're a TV person you will end up watching it anyway.

I would not imagine that a series equivalent to unholy alliance of House and Sherlock would be on Cinemax. The Knick is a collection of dysfunctional characters that roam the street of last century New York, dressed as doctors, nurses, and even high class patrons. It's an utter delight to see their shenanigans as well as depravities. This is the period of obviousness, medical advancement, racial profiling and all of these are presented like Sherlock with morphine overdose.

Everyone is flawed here, even if their motive might be just, the moral ambiguity plagued any on-screen persona. Clive Owen plays as Dr. Thackery, the head surgeon of the less profitable partial altruistic hospital The Knick. I can't imagine Clive Owen without the stache anymore, this is a character with such determination that the only drive rivaling it is his addiction. Other notable character is Dr. Edwards by Andre Holland who's a brilliant colored doctor who must deal with racism and his own vices.

The pace wastes no time to introduce many subplots and characters. It's rare that nearly every perspective is appealing. On other series they have strong leads and probably one or two well written supporting cast. This is not so with The Knick, audience would find something endearing in the unorthodox characters as they all have their unique slightly destructive charm.

With Steven Soderbergh at helm, the artistic vibe just oozes from the dirty New York. Continuous scenes happen so often that they can adsorb audience in the immersive atmosphere. The soundtracks are intriguingly contagious, they are modernized version of old school tune. It's strange, catchy and really set up the quirky mood. Furthermore, it has some of the most convincing practical effects for anatomical and cringe purpose.

The Knick is a top shelf drama, administered with style and not only embracing all of its undesirable oddities, but put them in proud display.

I miss watching this. Great portrayal of the beginning stages of medicine and the healthcare system in the US.