American medical series aren’t exactly lacking in the audiovisual landscape. Between Grey’s Anatomy, Nip/Tuck, ER, Chicago Med, Body of Proof, Dr House, New Amsterdam, to name just a handful, medical series are an absolutely no-go genre.
But in this vast ocean of scalpels, operating theatres, but also dramas and love stories, some stand out for their uniqueness. This is the case with The Knick, which is available on the Amazon platform through Warner pass.
Electrified immersion in modern medicine
Inspired by the life of William Halstead, an authentic 19th century physician who is considered one of the forerunners of the surgical world, Nick Follows the battle led by Dr. Thacker (Clive Owens) in a New York hospital where the death rate is skyrocketing while most antibiotics have yet to see the light of day.
At a time when surgical operations are being performed publicly in the amphitheater, he becomes the new head of the surgical department. He takes over after his mentor’s suicide, following an operation that claimed the life of their patient.
Thacker constantly pushes the boundaries of his discipline—notably by creating his own surgical instruments—but suffers from a more serious cocaine addiction.
He soon finds himself in conflict with Cornelia Robertson: a young woman whose father finances the hospital, assigning him a new assistant, the brilliant Algernon Edwards. But according to Thackeray, his patients would never agree to be operated on by a black doctor…
And while “Nick” sees the arrival of electricity, the most archaic trafficking continues, between the corruption of the health services, the trade in corpses and the threat of the mafia…
Steven Soderbergh directed the entire first season Nick It has two. Unfortunately, it didn’t last until a third season, despite not having enough of an audience and great reviews.
High on the quality of his interpreters, Clive Owen takes the lead, portraying a complex and avant-garde character, set off by a superb soundtrack by Cliff Martinez, which first surprises with its completely unusual side to the theme and context. series, but which ultimately fits incredibly well, Nick There is also an absolutely fascinating historical X-ray of the era.
In this case, in the city of New York at the turn of the century, in 1900. A cosmopolitan city, full of life, with its immigrant candidates.The American way of life but without money. Its dirtiest misery, its class struggle, its all kinds of affairs. Its the usual racism of which Dr. Algernon Edwards is the victim.
The progress (or not) of modern medicine (this is also the controversial line of the series: “Modern medicine has to start somewhere”), both are guided by the ideal of progress, but also – already – by mercantile considerations.
With the exceptional sophistication of the writing, the elegance of the staging, the quality of the interpretation, as well as the realistic approach (surgical interventions, both restorative and aesthetic, with shocking scenes), Soderbergh takes the point of view of an entomologist. An abundant and charming chair. Unreleased.
Source: Allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
