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| Clive Owen |
When The Knick premiered last year, it marked the unexpected resurgence of director Stephen Soderbergh in the TV medium. It was a medical drama that didn't follow suit of its network counterparts. It followed the journey of surgeons in the turn of the 20th century at The Knickerbocker as they performed some of the most terrifying surgeries in history. The show was unapologetic, never shying from the grotesque realism of the 1900's medical practice. At the center was Dr. Thackery (Clive Owen), of whom was a cocaine-addled psychopath whose ideas ranged from brilliant to devastating. By the end of season two, he was no longer the main reason to tune into the show, but it helped that he was around. If season two had any advantage, it was that it was more confident, beautiful, and unapologetic in how it chose to test audiences willing to watch brain surgeries and conjoined twin separation. It was gross, but oh so beautiful.
In a time where auteur TV is being tested with such scrutiny, it's safe to say that Soderbergh rules with a mighty fist. Having quit film directing in 2013, this series has shown him possibly becoming even more ambitious on every front. The cinematography is cold and the sets are so beautiful to look at. With an electric score by Cliff Martinez, the entire show feels like it's being held together by bolts of electricity; sizzling through each frame as the characters commiserate. For fans of the show, season two is very much the same show in that it revels in perverse operations and characters willing to risk lives for it. With direction to match, the series is itself a work of art.
One of the most relieving aspects of season two was its willingness to let other characters take focus. While the show has largely been an ensemble, season one felt like an entryway via Thackery and the racially challenging world surrounding Algernon (Andre Holland). The very practice was being challenged at every turn. Now, we get a better idea of who the supporting players are, getting exploits regarding budding relationships, failed operations from season one, and a better sense of community. The Knick has moved on from just being about The Knickerbocker. Now it's about the world it inhabits as immigrants arrive and illness spreads like wildfire. Thankfully, it's never overstated and the results are slowly leering towards an inspiring conclusion.
What's probably most impressive about the show is that it can remain shocking even in times of predictability. We know that Thackery is a lunatic. Yet somehow various operations keep showing his ambitions becoming too out of control. This is largely thanks to the special effects company, of whom is probably the secret weapon to the show's success. Countless times, there have been limbs spliced off and organs damaged all within uncomfortable distance of the camera. For the weak at heart, the show serves as an endurance test at times, only saved by its excellent direction and story. Despite it pushing the limits of what can be shown on TV, it still remains the definitive reason to subscribe to Cinemax. The final episode of this season is itself one of the most intense and powerful moments of TV this year as Thackery's madness gets the best of him - in an ambiguous fashion. Will he be around next season? Who even knows.
The Knick is prestige TV that refuses to take that term nicely. It's not just that Soderbergh is attached, either. Everyone involved does excellent work for every episode. The scenery is so intricately detailed and the anachronistic score adds a certain iconography to the entire thing. The world of The Knick is somewhat unpleasant, but it's so easy to become immersed in it. If it wasn't for the surgical scenes, more people would likely be talking about its brilliance. However, it's nothing without it. It's a show that revolutionizes TV's understanding of surgery and even removes the glamour. It's repulsive and beautiful. It's what TV can achieve with no censorship, and Soderbergh uses it properly to convey the correct story.
The Knick continues to be one of the best series on TV with no exception. Yes, it may be hard to stomach for some, but it's still a show that feels of a singular piece. While True Detective failed to muster steam for season two and Fargo is fine jumping from era to era; The Knick feels grounded in an almost more cinematic and focused way. It brings the landscape to life through following a specific pattern, and one that no other TV show has dared to ape. Everything about this show is great, and I will be sad if it doesn't come back. If this is the end, it's both the conclusion to a great story and an unfortunately vague way to go. It's still brilliant, but as long as there's years to cover, The Knick should definitely exist long enough to show it. Medicine has never been as fascinating in a fictional landscape as it is here.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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