The Knick

Series premiere. In 1900, John W. Thackery, a brilliant yet tortured doctor working at The Knickerbocker Hospital in New York, ascends to the role of chief surgeon after the unexpected departure of his mentor, J.M. Christiansen. Though Thackery wants his own protege, Everett Gallinger, to take over the assistant chief position, Corneila Robertson, daughter of the hospital's major benefactor, insists that he hire Algernon Edwards, a talented doctor who trained in London and Paris. Edwards encounters enmity and resentment on his first day at The Knick - but his desire to remain prevails after joining Thackery, Everett, Dr. Bertie Chickering Jr. and Nurse Lucy Elkins in the operating theater for a daring surgical procedure.

Already fuming over the hospital's faulty new electrical system, Thackery tasks Herman Barrow, The Knick's crooked superintendent, to deliver more cadavers so that he and his team can test out novel surgical procedures. With more patients dying, Algernon offers to share a procedure he learned in France, but is rebuffed by Thackery and Everett. Cornelia addresses a typhoid-fever outbreak; Lucy is taken into Thackery's confidence; Sister Harriet breaks a taboo. Algernon finds an alternative way to perform his duties.

Thackery weighs performing surgery on a former flame, and orders Everett and Bertie to experiment on pigs. Barrow goes to extremes in order to pay off a debt and recover a missing tooth. After a bad day at work, Algernon takes out his frustrations at a local bar. Cornelia is relieved when her pleas about treating a patient with typhoid fever are finally heard.

Algernon forces Thackery's hand during surgery, angering Gallinger. Abigail, in recovery, regrets her past choices involving Thackery. Cleary and Sister Harriet strike one deal, then another. Bertie's father, Dr. Bertram Chickering, Sr., scolds his son for his career choices. Lucy learns of Thackery's secret life.

After testing out a new procedure, Thackery and Bertie vow to reverse a series of failures in the operating theatre. Euphoric after helping Speight track down a typhoid carrier, Cornelia finds herself less than enthusiastic about her status as the future Mrs. Phillip Showalter. Thackery entertains a salesman's pitch; Everett considers how to help Eleanor with her grief; Barrow haggles over used merchandise. Edwards finds his clinic, and his career, in jeopardy after a surprise encounter.