The Knick is an American television drama series on Cinemax created by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler and directed by Steven Soderbergh. The series follows Dr. John W. Thackery (Clive Owen) and the staff at a fictionalized version of the Knickerbocker Hospital (the "Knick") in New York during the early twentieth century. Amiel and Begler write the majority of the episodes and are executive producers. Owen, Soderbergh, Gregory Jacobs, and Michael Sugar (Anonymous Content) are also executive producers. Steven Katz is the supervising producer and also writer, Michael Polaire is the producer and David Kirchner is the associate producer. The show premiered on Cinemax on August 8, 2014.[1] On July 10, 2014, Cinemax renewed The Knick for a ten-episode second season,[2] which premiered on October 16, 2015.[3]
Premise
In New York City in 1900, the Knickerbocker Hospital operates with innovative surgeons, nurses and staff who have to overcome the limitations of current medical understanding and practice, to prevent staggeringly high mortality. Dr. John Thackery (partially based on historical figure William Stewart Halsted[4]), the new leader of the surgery staff, battles his cocaine and opium addictions with his ambition for medical discovery and his reputation among his peers. Dr. Algernon Edwards, a Harvard-educated, European-trained black surgeon (probably based on the historical Daniel Hale Williams and Louis T. Wright),[5] must fight for respect within the all-white hospital, as well as the racially charged city. While struggling to keep the lights on, the hospital attempts to attract a wealthy clientele, without sacrificing quality care.
Cast
Main
- Clive Owen as Dr. John W. "Thack" Thackery: Chief surgeon at the Knickerbocker Hospital, highly talented and respected in the operating room. However, he is also a drug addict, regularly injecting cocaine during the day and spending nights at a Chinatown opium den.[1]
- Andre Holland as Dr. Algernon C. Edwards: New African-American assistant chief surgeon at the Knick, who manages an after-hours clinic in the basement for those turned away by the hospital. He is disrespected by many of the white doctors and patients.[1]
- Jeremy Bobb as Herman Barrow: Manager of the Knick. He is constantly striving to finance the hospital with wealthy patrons and patients. Having mismanaged hospital funds, he is in debt to ruthless mobster Bunky Collier.[1]
- Juliet Rylance as Cornelia Robertson: Head of the Knick’s social welfare office. Daughter to Captain August Robertson, she serves as his representative on the board of directors. She is a longtime friend of Edwards, whose parents have worked for her family for years.[1]
- Eve Hewson as Lucy Elkins: Nurse at the Knick. A West Virginia native, she grows close to Thack and Bertie.[1]
- Michael Angarano as Dr. Bertram "Bertie" Chickering, Jr.: A young surgeon at the Knick. He is the son of Dr. Bertram Chickering, Sr. who is displeased with his son's choice of hospitals and admiration of Thack.[1]
- Chris Sullivan as Tom Cleary: Ambulance driver. He augments his income by stealing possessions off those he picks up, as well as earning a fee from Barrow for delivering patients who can pay.[1]
- Cara Seymour as Sister Harriet: Catholic nun and midwife who runs the orphanage affiliated with the Knick. She secretly conducts abortions in her off-hours.[1]
- Eric Johnson as Dr. Everett Gallinger: Surgeon at the Knick. He resents Edwards for taking the assistant chief surgeon position, which Thack promised to Gallinger.[1]
- David Fierro as Jacob Speight: Health department inspector. Although rude and abrasive, he works closely with Cornelia to identify the source of outbreaks.[1]
- Maya Kazan as Eleanor Gallinger (née Walcott): Everett Gallinger’s wife. The two have a baby daughter named Lillian.[1]
- Leon Addison Brown as Jesse Edwards: Dr. Edwards' father who works for Captain Robertson as carriage driver.[1]
- Grainger Hines as Captain August Robertson: Cornelia's father, a shipping tycoon and member of the Knick's board of directors. He is fond of Edwards and supports his medical career, which led to his appointment at the Knick.[1]
- Matt Frewer as Dr. J. M. Christiansen: Former chief surgeon at the Knick and Thackery's mentor, who committed suicide after a fatal placenta previa operation. After his death, he appears in flashbacks and Thackery's visions. (season 1)[1]
- Zaraah Abrahams as Opal Edwards: Algernon's wife. (season 2)
- Charles Aitken as Henry Robertson: Cornelia's brother. (recurring season 1, starring season 2)[6]
- LaTonya Borsay as Evaline Edwards: Dr. Edwards' mother. (recurring season 1, starring season 2)
- Rachel Korine as Junia: a local prostitute whom Barrow is in love with. (recurring season 1, starring season 2)
- Tom Lipinski as Phillip Showalter: Cornelia's husband. (recurring season 1, starring season 2)[6]
- Michael Nathanson as Dr. Levi Zinberg: Surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital whom Thackery views as a rival. (recurring season 1, starring season 2)
Recurring
- Jennifer Ferrin as Abigail Alford: Thackery's former lover who comes to him seeking medical help.
- Perry Yung as Ping Wu: Owner of the opium den on Mott Street which Thackery frequents.
- Reg Rogers as Dr. Bertram Chickering, Sr.: Bertie's father.
- Suzanne Savoy as Victoria Robertson: Cornelia's mother.
- Gary Simpson as Hobart Showalter: Phillip's father.
- Molly Price as Effie Barrow: Herman's wife.
- Johanna Day as Eunice Showalter: Phillip's mother.
- Happy Anderson as Mr. James "Jimmy" Fester: Bunky Collier's associate.
- Lucas Papaelias as Eldon Pouncey: Tom Cleary's colleague at the Knick.
- Zuzanna Szadkowski as Nurse Pell: Nurse at the Knick.
- Ylfa Edelstein as Nurse Baker: Nurse at the Knick.
- Ying Ying Li as Lin-Lin: Prostitute owned by Ping Wu.
- Frank Wood as Mr. Havershorn
- Richard James Porter as Monsignor Joseph Mills Lawlor
- John Hodgman as Dr. Henry Cotton
- Emily Bergl as Mrs. Hemming: Dr. Thackery's patient. (season 1)
- Danny Hoch as Bunky Collier: New York mobster to whom Barrow is heavily indebted. (season 1)
- Collin Meath as Phineas "Phinny" Sears: Irish-born New York City cop who tries to figure out how to get his piece of the pie.[7] (season 1)
- Tom Papa as Luff (season 1)
- Arielle Goldman as Genevieve Everidge: Investigative reporter. (season 2)
- Stephen Spinella as A.D. Elkins: Revival preacher and Lucy's father. (season 2)
- Linda Emond as Anne Chickering: Bertie's mother. (season 2)
- Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as D.W. Garrison Carr: an influential African-American intellectual. (season 2)
- Emily Kinney as Nurse Daisy Ryan. (season 2)
- Annabelle Attanasio as Dorothy Walcott: Eleanor Gallinger's sister. (season 2)
- Andrew Rannells as Frazier H. Wingo: Architect of the new Knick. (season 2)
- Ben Livingston as Dr. William H. Mays, a general practitioner who joins the Knick's surgical staff (season 2)
- Colman Domingo as Dr. Russell Daniels. (season 2)
- Fred Weller as Mr. Brockhurst (season 2)
Production
Production for season 1 began in September 2013 in New York City.[1][8] Dr. Stanley Burns, founder and CEO of The Burns Archive, served as the on-set medical adviser on the series, and worked closely with production and the actors to make the hospital scenes realistic and authentic to the period.[1] As medical adviser, Dr. Burns provides immersive tutorials in the sometimes gruesome world of early-20th-century surgery, complete with plenty of hands-on practice on silicone limbs. Images from the Burns Archive became important references for everything from the antiseptic atomizers in the operating theater to an early X-ray machine, to the prosthetic worn by a recurring character.[9]
Jack Amiel and Michael Begler wrote the majority of the first season episodes, and Steven Soderbergh directed all 10 episodes in the first season.[10] Soderbergh was also the director of photography and editor, under his usual pseudonyms Peter Andrews and Mary Ann Bernard, respectively.[11]
After the conclusion of the second season on December 18, 2015, it was announced that Cinemax had ordered a script for the season three premiere and a season outline, with negotiations for a third season.[12] In a December 2015 interview with director Steven Soderbergh, he confirmed that Dr. Thackery dies in the season two finale, and that it was all planned from the beginning, and Clive Owen only had a two-year contract for the series. Soderbergh also said, "I told them [Cinemax] that I'm going to do the first two years and then we are going to break out the story for seasons 3 and 4 and try and find a filmmaker or filmmakers to do this the way that I did. This is how we want to do this so that every two years, whoever comes on, has the freedom to create their universe."[13] However, Soderberg decided, depending upon what those futures seasons were, he would like to direct those two future seasons by March 2016. "We always envisioned The Knick in two-year increments and with the idea of annihilating what came before every two years. The network was excited about that and said that sounds cool. I just met with [writers Jack Amiel and Michael Begler] yesterday. We're building our idea of what three and four might look like, to get ready to present [to the network]. It's pretty extreme, but I think it should be. If we can achieve what I'm hoping, story-wise, then I'd like to keep going. What I hope will happen is that we will figure something out that I'll feel like I have to do this".[14]
Episodes
Reception
The cast and crew of The Knick at the 74th Annual Peabody Awards.
The first season of The Knick scored 75 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 37 "generally favorable" reviews.[15] The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an 88% "certified fresh" critics rating with an average rating of 8.5 out of 10 based on 60 reviews. The website consensus reads: "The Knick is sincere, emotional period television that takes a down-to-earth, no-holds-barred approach to vital topics".[16] After the first season aired, IGN reviewer Matt Fowler gave it an 8.6 out of 10 score, saying "The Knick was impressive, intense television - with fascinating, oft-gruesome topics brought ferociously to the forefront by Soderbergh's adept hand. It was hard to watch at times, both due to gore and pure depressing content, but it was always thought-provoking and incredibly well-rendered."[17]
The second season has received critical praise. Metacritic scored it an 85 out of 100 based on 16 reviews.[18] Rotten Tomatoes gave the second season a 100% rating with an average score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 20 reviews, with the critical consensus "The Knick delivers an addictive second season with stunning visuals, knockout performances, and disturbing moments adding up to a period drama that's anything but dated."[19]
Accolades
Home media
The first season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1 on August 11, 2015. The set contains all 10 episodes, plus three audio commentaries by cast and crew, and two-minute behind-the-scenes featurettes for the episodes.[27]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "'The Knick' Starring Clive Owen & Directed by Steven Soderbergh to Premiere August 8 on Cinemax" (Press release). Cinemax. July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ↑ Prudom, Laura (July 10, 2014). "Cinemax’s ‘The Knick’ Renewed for Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ↑ de Moraes, Lisa (July 30, 2015). "‘The Knick’ Digital Marathon Set; ‘Banshee’ Creators Considered Fifth Season – TCA". Deadline.com. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
- ↑ Jurgensen, John (July 24, 2014). "'The Knick' Portrays Gilded-Age Gore". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
- ↑ Deng, Boer (August 8, 2014). "How Accurate Is The Knick’s Take on Medical History?". Slate. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
- 1 2 "Emmy(R)-Winning Drama Series "The Knick," Directed by Oscar(R) and Emmy(R) Winner Steven Soderbergh, And Starring Oscar(R) Nominee Clive Owen, Returns for Its Second Season Oct. 16, Exclusively on Cinemax" (Press release). Cinemax. September 28, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ↑ Kenneally, Tim (October 3, 2013). "'Steven Soderbergh’s Cinemax Series ‘The Knick’ Adds Newcomer". TheWrap. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ↑ "Steven Soderbergh and Clive Owen Team Up for New Cinemax Original Series "The Knick"" (Press release). The Futon Critic. July 25, 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ↑ Schuessler, Jennifer (August 1, 2014). "The Cocaine, the Blood, the Body Count : Modern Medicine, Circa 1900, in Soderbergh’s ‘The Knick’". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- ↑ Stanley, Alessandra (August 7, 2014). "No Leeches, No Rusty Saw, But Hell Nonetheless". The New York Times. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ↑ Sam, Adams (August 6, 2014). "Steven Soderbergh's 'The Knick' Isn't TV's Future, But It Makes You Feel Good About Its Present". Indiewire. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
- ↑ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (December 18, 2015). "‘The Knick’: Cinemax Orders Script for Season 3 Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
- ↑ Perez, Rodrigo (December 21, 2015). "Steven Soderbergh Says More ‘The Knick’ Is Coming, Reveals Rough Plan For Season 3 & Beyond". Indiewire. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
- ↑ Jagernauth, Kevin (April 11, 2016). "Steven Soderbergh's 'The Knick' Isn't TV's Future, But It Makes You Feel Good About Its Present". Indiewire. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ↑ "The Knick : Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
- ↑ "The Knick: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
- ↑ Fowler, Matt (October 29, 2014). "The Knick: Season 1 Review". IGN. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ↑ "The Knick : Season 2". Metacritic. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ↑ "The Knick: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Golden Globe Winners 2015: Complete List". Variety. January 11, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
- ↑ Pond, Steve (February 16, 2015). "Satellite Awards: Complete Winners List". TheWrap. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
- ↑ McNary, Dave (February 14, 2015). "‘Grand Budapest Hotel,’ ‘True Detective’ Top WGA Awards". Variety. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
- ↑ Holston, Noel. "74th Annual Peabody Award Winners". Peabody Awards. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ↑ "The Knick". Emmys.com. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (January 17, 2016). "Critics' Choice Awards: TV Winners Include Fargo, Mr. Robot, Master of None, Rachel Bloom and Carrie Coon". TVLine. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ↑ Kilday, Gregg (February 6, 2016). "2016 DGA Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ↑ Brown, Kenneth (August 8, 2015). "The Knick: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
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