If you’re into ‘The Pitt‘, you already know the appeal. The show moves fast, throws doctors into nonstop emergencies, and shows how heavy hospital life can get when every decision matters.
Now imagine all of that pressure inside a hospital where medicine barely works, mistakes are common, and one risky decision can change everything, because that’s exactly where this underrated Clive Owen series, ‘The Knick‘, begins. Clive Owen has taken on many powerful roles, but one of his strongest performances still doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
The Epic Clive Owen Drama Series You Probably Missed
The show we are talking about is ‘The Knick‘, set in a New York hospital in 1900, long before modern medicine made things safer. Doctors don’t have antibiotics, proper equipment, or proven procedures.
Surgery is risky, infections spread fast, and many patients don’t survive, no matter how hard the doctors try. That constant danger should feel familiar to ‘The Pitt‘ fans.
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Much like ‘The Pitt‘, every patient feels urgent. The difference is that in ‘The Knick‘, doctors don’t even know if the tools they’re using will help or hurt. Sometimes they save a life. Sometimes they make things worse. And they don’t always know which one it will be.
The main character here is Dr. John Thackery, the hospital’s top surgeon, who’s genuinely brilliant at what he does. At the same time, he believes medicine only moves forward when someone is willing to take big risks, and he’s always willing to be that person.
However, those risks don’t stay limited to the operating room. As the series goes on, it becomes clear that Thackery is also struggling with a serious cocaine addiction. That addiction starts affecting his judgment, his work, and the people around him.
Why The Medical Drama Feels Just As Stressful As ‘The Pitt’
Much like ‘The Pitt‘, the show doesn’t pretend everything will work out. Surgeries fail. Patients die. However, everything doesn’t stay limited to the operating room. As the series goes on, it becomes clear that Thackery is also struggling with a serious cocaine addiction. That addiction starts affecting his judgment, his work, and the people around him.
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While Thackery drives the main story, ‘The Knick‘ slowly pulls focus to the people around him. One of the most important storylines belongs to Dr. Algernon Edwards. He’s a talented Black doctor who faces constant racism inside the hospital. When he’s blocked from advancing, he secretly treats patients in a basement clinic just to keep doing the work he trained for.
At the same time, Cornelia Robertson works with the hospital’s board and handles social welfare cases. In a system where women have very little authority, she’s often the only one questioning how far doctors should be allowed to go.
On top of that, the show gives space to nurses, ambulance drivers, and support staff. Together, these stories help the hospital feel busy, stressful, and real.
‘The Knick‘ ran for two seasons before ending, despite receiving strong reviews. Since then, there’s been occasional talk about continuing the story, including rumors involving Barry Jenkins, but nothing has been confirmed.
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