Be honest. How much did you know about medical science around the turn of the 20th century? For an average viewer, myself included, the answer would be absolutely nothing. Sure, we may assume that procedures have improved, but to think of the barbaric origins of many surgeries and diagnoses isn't something that consumes more than a brief consideration. With Cinemax's collaboration with Steven Soderbergh on The Knick, it is time to become more thankful. Life used to be a lot, lot more scary. With figures like Dr. Thackery (Clive Owen) performing his experimental operations on patients, there was no guarantee that anything would work. Along with accompanying medical facts that prelude every episode, the show set out to dramatize a history lesson that is much deserved. Its importance manages to outweigh its sometimes meandering nature.
Those expecting a sanitized, gradual entryway into 1900's medical practices will be unfortunately thrown into the discomfort of the times. While injecting patients with cocaine to numb the pain, the opening 10 minutes features a rather discomforting surgery in which all of the medical tools get to be used. There's a nurse using a hand crank to pump the blood into a jar. Many other primitive tools and understandings come into play. While the image of a c-section operation is enough to turn many viewers off, the scary part is that it actually resulted in a death. Within the first 10 minutes of the introduction of Thackery, he goes from hanging out in a brothel while high to performing surgery. This man is a god who puts people's lives in his power. Over the course of the next 10 episodes, he continues to up the ante by mixing addiction with a search for cures.
Along with a supporting cast that includes revelations on how blacks practiced medicine via Dr. Edwards (Andre Holland) and rival doctors threatening to outshine Thackery, the entire practice is explored in great detail. It wasn't just because of the times, but because of the mindset. Racism was rampant and the effects of now considered hard drugs weren't known. When the final shot of Thackery going to rehab to fight his cocaine addiction ends up with him using heroin, the horror continues more. Still, life as doctors in 1900 operating out of the Knickerbocker in New York is a fascinating life. With constant visits from nuns and patients who have primitive skin grafts, the exploits are horrific but deeply fascinating.
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| Maya Kazan |
Probably the most interesting aspect is the way that the atmosphere and tone could impact a scene. With Soderbergh providing his own cinematography, the authentic and cold walls of the scenery added a haunting sense of dread. While it was the birth of modern medicine, there was still the reality that knowing would create panic. Through the many tests, the results would be made clear, but the lives lost were insurmountable. This was perfectly represented by the anachronistic score by Cliff Martinez. While the synth-heavy music felt at first out of place, it quickly came to be the undertone. It played like machinery lighting up and primitive ways were being left behind. It felt like Thackery's psyche as he rode from a brothel to The Knick for surgery. It represented a futuristic hope and ambition to be better than ever. The truth itself was stranger than fiction. The soundtrack reflected that well.
Even if the series never became as gruesome as the early episodes, it did seem like a necessary evolution. Without those first repulsive scenes, there wouldn't be any draw. The medical advancement wouldn't be quite as triumphant. Even if the final surgery of the season features probably the tamest-looking surgery of the group, it also has a strange sense of misunderstanding. While there have been patents and new machines set into place to fix these problems, the patient was still dying and Thackery still had a drug problem. Also, the medical practice was being threatened with removal from The Knick. For all of the season's achievements, it still had that haunting reality that the understanding of health and science in 1900 was way different.
Still, there's been progress, and that's what makes The Knick so fascinating. While it is slow, cold and calculated in ways that hurt the show, it still feels authentic and engrossing for those interested in better understanding medical practices. As someone with zero knowledge going in, there were countless riveting moments that not only made me understand how far we've come, but also a glimpse into the societal state. Everyone was racist and even if Dr. Edwards was more than qualified, he wasn't allowed in most places to the point of having to pull a door-to-door stint to find someplace to operate. While it is about Thackery's addiction and discoveries, it is also about understanding the human body. With the final shot landing on a bottle of heroin, it's clear that there's not that much yet.
Of the cast, Clive Owen delivers the most consistent performance. With his stern mannerisms, he demands screen time and manages to hide addiction very well. He is confident and can deliver promises to his surgical partners that sound very baffling. Andre Holland is also excellent as the doctor who must practice in basements and deal with the reality that his credibility is secondary to his race. He gets probably the most personal of stories as he befriends people and slowly gets betrayed because of societal norms. Even Thackery turns on Edwards at times, which only shows that The Knick isn't about friendships. It's about work. Rounding out the memorable cast is Eleanor (Maya Kazan), who plays Thackery's personal assistant with a nuanced professionalism. She is there to help when necessary, but much like the racism issue, gender politics dictate that she doesn't get involved in too many things. Still, the supporting players were rather great and memorable and give hope that season 2 will continue to expand upon their involvement.
Soderbergh clearly had some interest in the subject matter, and I am thankful that he created The Knick. However, where he was a prolific and often interesting movie director, he doesn't seem as prestigious here. It could be because of budgetary issues or that the sprawling narrative requested less liberties. Even then, there are shots that feel wholly beautiful and realized. "Get the Rope" manages to turn dragging an ambulance around into an intense and engaging source of narration. Soderbergh still gives the project his all and along with great performances, it works well enough. Still, beyond any bland shot here or there is a moment that will become unsettling for viewers. In the finale, there were a few. From the aforementioned heroin bottle to a doctor pulling out his wife's teeth because they may make her sick, there's a sense that we're our own worst enemy, even if we're trying to help each other.
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