SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from the Cinemax series The Knick.
Episode 6
Whoa, the health inspector says they are looking for “Typhoid Mary!” She is a cook that has (unfortunately) come into contact w/ many people in the city. After that scene, Cornelia and Algernon have a nice chat (they were tight- growing up in the same household.) Hmmm… I wonder if this is just a brother-sister vibe? I doubt it, seeing a few of the S2 promos.
Awww, Lilian died! Dr. G tried to save her, but couldn’t. How will this affect him and his wife?
Bertie and Elkins are out on a date, strolling arm in arm, and chatting. They are having a good time. Both express their admiration for Dr. T. Elkins says that being close to such work as “intoxicating.”
Barrow is amazed by the x-ray machine; he says the x-ray is “like looking into his soul” (LOL- bet it’s a pretty dirty one)!
Dr. G’s wife won’t accept that their baby is dead. Harriet offers a solution- maybe she can take care of the baby girl that was recently left at the doorstep of her orphanage. It could ease some “melancholia” (depression).
Dr. T and Bertie perform (successfully, this time) the surgery that Dr. Christensen had tried so many times. Dr. T gives part of the credit to Bertie; the young man is VERY happy/proud.
Later that night, Dr. T discovers the secret clinic that Dr. E has created. He is pissed off, but then he sees the advancement that Dr. E came up w/ re: hernias. (The “colored folks” hold jobs that cause hernias a LOT, Dr. E adds.) “This is good… This is more than good,” Dr. T comments w/ admiration.
Typhoid Mary was found and captured, thanks in part to Cornelia. She is congratulated by her father, fiance, and even his father. Ewww, what was up w/ that (super-creepy) scene w/ Cornelia and her soon-to-be father-in-law!? Is she going to be in danger if she joins that family? She better break off that engagement! I thought that something horrible was going to happen!
Episode 7
A mob attacks the hospital after the death of a policeman who was trying to break up a street fight between a black man and a white man (he had insulted the black man’s lady by assuming she was a pro). A few of the staff has to move out the Negro patients- fast. While they’re downstairs, they (of course) pass through Dr. E’s clinic. Cornelia is VERY impressed; Barrow is astonished/angry. Dr. E says he purchased most of the equipment- didn’t steal. Dr. T says he stole the obstetric equipment (we know he and Bertie experimented on the Chinese pros in the previous ep).
When they come to the Negro hospital in “Little Africa,” there is a doctor there, Moses, attended Harvard (like Dr. E) Cornelia helps out- she’s no shrinking violet (and she even brings up a funny childhood moment she shared w/ Dr. E.)
Later that night, Cornelia and Algernon go back to check on the damage at The Knick. They’re surprised to find that the secret clinic is intact. Cornelia compliments him on ALL he’s accomplished. Then she admits that she was SO scared for him. They share a long, passionate kiss (whoa, BIT of a surprise there)! Then he bends her over one of the examining tables. I’m going to say that those two have been IN LOVE for a LONG time!
Dr. T walks Nurse Elkins home, she invites him in, then even into her room. Her roommate is not home this night. She asks for help to take off her uniform (was NOT surprised by her boldness there). They spend the night together.
Episode 8
We see John’s bedroom- he and Lucy Elkins lying in bed; she feels guilty about sleeping w/ him (w/o marriage). He tells her that here and now is all there is. We learn that his father was devout, but also a drunk and mean. If she wants to be w/ him, then that’s all that matters.
“We need cocaine to exist!” Dr. T tells Bertie while he’s trying to ask Elkins out on another date (LOL- that young’un doesn’t realize that she’s NOT interested anymore!) Cocaine is not available- the VERY little out there has already been claimed.
We learn that Drs. T and E have published a paper together which will be presented at the Metropolitan Surgical Society. (Of course, Dr. E can’t go.) Dr. T notices that there is something different about Dr. E (that’s love, we know).
Before the presentation, Dr. T injects himself w/ cocaine. A Jewish doctor presents after Dr. T- he is impressed w/ this man’s work. (We know that the Jews have a separate hospital.) Bertie’s father is at this event (ugh, what a jerk)! He says that his son “worships” Dr. T, but he wants a different life for Bertie. Dr. T says he has invested a LOT into Bertie, and that he has “talent.” (That’s good to hear!)
Dr. G’s wife is freaked out when he and Harriet bring the new baby girl over, understandably. Dr. G eventually calms her, explaining that this child needs them. (Awww, he cares so much already!)
Cornelia heads off to the hotel where Dr. G lives; she insists that Jesse go home (b/c she’ll be working late). At the hotel, they joke a bit, then Algernon seriously: “Aren’t you scared about what we’re doing?” She’s only scared that “I won’t be able to stop.” (Yowza, it’s gotten hot! But I’m kinda scared for them.)
During a consultation, Dr. T gets mad when asked if he’s OK by Dr. E. Seems like MANY people have been asking him that lately.
Barrow continues asking around for money, going to a bigwig, then to the head of an Orthodox church.
Poor Bertie- he tells his father he’s in love w/ a nurse at his job! His father, who suggests he work w/ that talented Jewish doctor from the seminar, seems happy about that. (Isn’t that how it goes sometimes though? The guy that is seen as suitable to marry isn’t the one that a gal wants in her heart!)
We see Typhoid Mary being questioned in court in 2 separate scenes. She may not have symptoms, but still have the disease; Bertie tries to explain this to the judge, but he lets Mary out of prison. The inspector, Cornelia, and Bertie are greatly disappointed.
Dr. T has to leave the operating room- he doesn’t look well. (Uh oh, that’s NOT a good sign!) Elkins tries to go after him, but is needed to bring supplies. (I think that gal is going to get her heart broken, sooner or later.)
At Woo’s, Dr. T asks for 3 bowls of opium (that’s a LOT apparently). Woo is also indebted to him, we learn. In his sleep, Dr. T dreams of the moment when he discovered Jules dead. But the weird thing- he sees himself through Jules’ eyes! (Is HE getting close to death? Yikes!)
Episode 9
Dr. T breaks into a pharmacy… and gets caught! Barrow and Capt. Robertson come to talk to the police, then give bribes to get the tall, dark, and destructive man out. Whoa, the financier knew about Dr. T’s addiction all along! Barrow suspected it, but didn’t want to believe such a thing.
Lucy comes to Dr. T’s house, worried and wanting to help. He’s going through withdrawal- acting paranoid and feeling that there are bedbugs on his skin. And we already know re: his energy and hallucinations.
Dr. T is in the papers- even Collier knows what’s going on! He offers to get some coke (or any other drug); Barrow can’t believe his ears.
Back at the hospital, some of the staff are talking re: Dr. T’s arrest and addiction. Dr. E says that he showed ALL the signs.
Whoa, Cornelia is pregnant! Algernon kisses her and says that he wants to keep the child. She says that she would, too (but he’s a colored man, he finishes). We can tell that he’s VERY disappointed/upset. She asks if there is any other way, but he tells her that surgery is the only option.
Lucy goes to see Woo and asks about getting cocaine. (This gal is in deep now!) He propositions her after complimenting her “dainty” foot. Eww!
Harriet is upset b/c Grace is now also dead, like Lilian. She wonders how Everett will cope. Cornelia mentions faith, but the nun says “faith isn’t always a comfort.” (Yes, religious folk can have doubts, too!)
Lucy lies to John, saying that she got coke by selling her bike (she didn’t). She also sneaked into the Jewish hospital (called “German Hospital”) and stole more coke. (She’s in VERY deep!)
Eleanor is taken away (in a straightjacket) to the insane asylum. Dr. G helps by providing the cloth doused w/ chloroform.
Episode 10
Awww, such a tough ep, esp. the scene where Algernon tells Cornelia: “I can’t kill my own child.” She gets a ride from Cleary (MANY of her class have needed his help); she is surprised when she sees Harriet. They are friends, but never revealed these things to each other. Algernon broke up w/ Cornelia (saying “our affair was a mistake”) before her bridal shower/luncheon. She is in tears; she meant that having the abortion was a mistake.
Poor Eleanor has had her teeth removed, Dr. G is shocked to see. The doctor at the asylum says it’s common practice. (Ouch!)
Dr. Zindberg comes to observe at The Knick- this makes Dr. T mad (and also jealous). Later, Dr. T says he’ll devote himself to research; Dr. E will take the lead in surgeries. Dr. T asks Bertie to spy on Zindberg for him.
Barrow wants to get introduced to Woo; he wants to kills Collier b/c he owes the man $10,000. Dr. T says that Woo is not the type of man one wants to get involved w/ (thinks he can’t die).
It turns out that the generous Dr. Z DOES want to collaborate w/ Dr. T, he tells Bertie in his office. He’s getting close to finding a way to do blood transfusions, he reveals.
Barrow goes (alone) to see Woo, saying that Dr. T wants Collier dead. (Whoa, this guy has SOME nerve!)
“I don’t care what you like. I need to work,” Dr. T tells Nurse Elkins when she comments on the effects of his drug use. Dr. E tells her not to give the coke to him, but she says the alternative is worse.
The night before the wedding, Cornelia’s brother (Philip) reveals that their father has NOT been making good business decisions lately. Philip has been living/working in San Francisco; he has also traveled the world and hunted. He’s NOT keen on this marriage.
Cornelia has a sleepless night. Algernon gets ready for her wedding, but we can see that he’s upset. While Cornelia gets married in the church, Algernon boxes w/ a big man out on the street. He eventually gets knocked out!
After the ceremony, a frantic Lucy finds Bertie, then begs him to help John. The young doc gets angry, shouting: “I don’t have to do anything!”
We see Dr. T and he nurse next in another doctor’s office. He has seen many such coke addicts recently, esp. wealthy women.
The board decides to move The Knick uptown (in that time, this meant any area above 14th St). We know that Dr. G has fallen out w/ Dr. T, who himself is no good now. And the only one w/ skills (Dr. E) is a black man.
Dr. T has killed a young girl (transfusion gone wrong)- OMG, what can happen next!? He’s taken by Elkins and Bertie to a private hospital that specializes in the treatment of cocaine addiction. “Time to start getting better,” a doctor calmly tells him as he gets into a bed. The camera closes up on a bottle marked “heroine.”