The Knick

The Knick (2014) 

Pilot: Absolute top-notch series competing with True Detective to become the series of the year. Soderbergh lets the reality of the environment work to the full. During the first operation I couldn’t finish my dinner. Story-wise, very interestingly outlined subplots. Concentrated acting performances, Clive Owen excels, of course. This kind of role was just what he needed. Season one: The following episodes don’t achieve the perfection of the first one, but The Knick just maintains the event of the year standard in each of its ten episodes. Perfect work with characters, the setting of the mood flawless. If you find True Detective too bookish try The Knick – it has more or less the traditional structure of a series and doesn’t put so much stress on viewer’s attention. Acting performances spotless, except Owen the black guy - Holland draws the attention. A dark reflection of traditional medical series. You may find Gray’s Anatomy and Dr. House a bit of a weak broth in comparison. Soderbergh rules. Season two: Hospital pleasures, economic games and social troubles ingeniously interconnected (an effort to make the story follow the concept of season one) through the investigation of the death of a medical inspector. On top of that, whites and blacks mingle and not everybody is happy about that. Women discover feminism and squeeze men’s balls (literally) to get what they want and then also, oh yes...the beginnings of pornography. The evolution of the characters is getting more and more interesting and viewers sympathies are fluid and constantly changing direction. The Knick introduces something very refreshing in the shape of familiar procedures and predictable development which the authors skillfully disrupt at the last minute or turn it around and wait and see what happens. It is about taking on challenges, discovery and also obsession. About death, life and reality. This season was less shocking, still in the same style – the brain operation is incredibly chilling – it still has a lot to offer and is absolutely engrossing. I’d love to be able to see a third season, but the ending of this season would make for a perfect unscrupulous circus-like finale. (23/08/2014)